US Army and Navy Partner on MQ-8C Fire Scout Testing for Army Sensor Packages, Reported November 13
The US Army and US Navy have partnered to repurpose the Northrop Grumman MQ-8C Fire Scout as a platform accelerating testing of Army sensor packages, Janes reported on November 13.
The partnership is spearheaded by the Multi-Mission Tactical UAS Program Office, PMA-266, with the Army's Redstone Test Center using the MQ-8C as a captive-carry testbed for its sensor packages.
Christy Barnett, public affairs officer at the Redstone Test Center, told Janes on November 10 that the MQ-8C offers extended flight endurance and specialized capabilities for tracking Group 4 unmanned aircraft systems across complex backgrounds.
The Army's Redstone Test Center acquired four MQ-8C Fire Scout aircraft in July 2025 for developmental test and evaluation activities, according to Navy Program Executive Office Aviation.
The partnership began in November 2024, when PMA-266 received a request to evaluate whether the MQ-8C could test Army sensor packages for the Redstone Test Center.
The MQ-8C had been slated to begin divestment in February 2024, with final sundown scheduled for the end of fiscal year 2026, giving the platform a new testing role beyond its planned retirement.
Source: Janes
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：一架 MQ-8C 火力侦察兵无人直升机在 Webster Field Annex 上空飞行。。US Navy，Public domain，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: 一架 MQ-8C 火力侦察兵无人直升机在 Webster Field Annex 上空飞行。 US Navy，Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
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