RQ-8 Fire Scout Unmanned Rotorcraft Successfully Fires Rockets

Released on Monday, July 25, 2005

Northrop Grumman Corporation's RQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned air vehicle (UAV) reached another important milestone July 22 when the UAV successfully fired two test rockets. This is the first successful live weapons fire from an autonomous unmanned helicopter. This event proves Fire Scout's ability to perform strike missions and subsequently expands its capabilities.

The test supports the US Navy's and US Army's interest in weaponizing Fire Scout, which fired two 2.75-inch Mark 66 unguided rockets at Arizona's Yuma Proving Grounds. To date, the Fire Scout has been available for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance applications.

Once the Fire Scout lifted off, it traveled approximately 10 miles (16 km) to the firing range where the first rocket was fired. Fire Scout was in forward flight at about 40 mph (65+ kph) during the first firing. A second rocket launch was conducted later in the day as Fire Scout increased speed, traveling at 52 mph (80+ kph).

The weapons loading, mission planning and execution took place as planned. The successful tests and information obtained from them are critical to the evolution of weapons capabilities for both the Navy and Army Fire Scout.