US Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron HSC 22 receives first unmanned helicopter MQ-8C


According to information published by the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22 received their first unmanned helicopter MQ-8C Fire Scout on September 15, 2020, aboard Naval Station Norfolk.
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Russian Vyborg Shipyard laid the Purga ice class coastguard ship of project 23550 925 001 U.S. sailors assigned to the littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) monitor flight operations from the helicopter control tower as an MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter prepares to launch. (Picture source U.S. Navy)


HSC-22 marks the first East Coast squadron to operate all three systems to include the MH-60S Knighthawk, MQ-8B Firescout, and MQ-8C Firescout. The newly added capability of the MQ-8C combines the capabilities of the MQ-8B with the MH-60S Knighthawk to improve the Navy’s ability to investigate and target hostile surface contacts.

MQ-8B and C Fire Scout variants are designed for suitably equipped ship-based and land-based autonomous systems. MQ-8B and C Firescout/MH-60S extend Naval Aviation’s capability to support distributed maritime operations providing integrated, over-the-horizon intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting, and combat logistics support. 

While the majority of the flight software in the MQ-8C Fire Scout is similar to the MQ-8B Fire Scout variant, the aircrews must adapt to the new capabilities of upgraded unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to include obtaining additional qualifications required for the maintenance team.

HSC-22’s mission is to provide manned and unmanned maritime attack and combat support capabilities to the fleet. HSC-22's inherent versatility provides full-spectrum warfighting support across multiple mission-sets and diverse and distributed platforms.

The MQ-8C Fire Scout is an unmanned helicopter developed by Northrop Grumman for the United States Navy. The MQ-8C also has autonomous take-off and landing capability. It is designed to provide reconnaissance, situational awareness, aerial fire support and precision targeting support for ground, air and sea forces. 

The MQ-8C Fire Scoucan can be fitted with a wide range of payloads including a laser range finder (LRF), communication relay, electro-optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensor, and an automatic identification system (AIS). It can fly at a maximum speed of 135 k with a maximum cruising range of 1,227 nm. It can operate at an altitude of 16,000 ft and can endure for up to 12 hours.