The Navy is requesting funds in fiscal year 2012 to buy the first 12 Fire-X unmanned helicopters. Called MQ-8C, Fire-X is based on the Bell 407, a larger version of the Fire Scout, MQ-8B, which uses the Schweizer S-333 airframe. In December, Northrop and Bell flew the Fire-X demonstrator to show that a new airframe could be integrated into the unmanned architecture developed for the Fire Scout. The MQ-8C is to be an engineering change proposal to the existing system, using the existing avionics, payloads, command-and-control links and ground control station. (Source: Aviation Week, 02/17/11) Gulf Coast note: Fire Scouts are built in part in Moss Point, Miss.
NEWS: A digest of aerospace, defense and technology news from the Gulf Coast I-10 region
Friday, February 18, 2011
Navy wants Fire-X
The Navy is requesting funds in fiscal year 2012 to buy the first 12 Fire-X unmanned helicopters. Called MQ-8C, Fire-X is based on the Bell 407, a larger version of the Fire Scout, MQ-8B, which uses the Schweizer S-333 airframe. In December, Northrop and Bell flew the Fire-X demonstrator to show that a new airframe could be integrated into the unmanned architecture developed for the Fire Scout. The MQ-8C is to be an engineering change proposal to the existing system, using the existing avionics, payloads, command-and-control links and ground control station. (Source: Aviation Week, 02/17/11) Gulf Coast note: Fire Scouts are built in part in Moss Point, Miss.