MQ-8 UAV

The PE 0305231N: MQ-8 Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) program is a Navy Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) line item focused on the development, integration, and operational support of the MQ-8 Fire Scout Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). The primary goal of this program has been to provide the Navy with a vertical take-off and landing, expeditionary UAS capable of persistent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting (ISR-T) for ship and shore-based operations. The MQ-8 Fire Scout system supports Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) missions, as well as other air-capable ships, enhancing situational awareness and operational flexibility without relying on joint theater or national assets.

The main project under this program element centers on the continued development and integration of advanced mission payloads, avionics, and control systems. Key goals include improving Common Operational Picture (COP) capabilities, increasing range and endurance, and enhancing targeting accuracy. The program has focused on integrating a non-developmental maritime radar, which provides multiple operational modes such as surface search, tracking, Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR), and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for maritime target classification. This radar is fully integrated with ship combat systems and mission control systems, facilitating standardized data dissemination and improved situational awareness for fleet operations.

The MQ-8 Fire Scout program also includes the integration of the Minotaur mission management software, which provides operators with a unified interface for controlling radar, electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR), and automatic information system (AIS) payloads. Minotaur enhances sensor track correlation, map management, and future payload integration, supporting the Navy's evolving mission requirements. Additionally, the program has worked to expand the MQ-8C's data link network capabilities, enabling dissemination of sensor track data to other network participants and supporting Over-the-Horizon Targeting (OTH-T) for Network Enabled Weapon Targeting (NEW-T).

Another significant objective has been the development and integration of an optical sensor system, which allows the MQ-8C to land on ships during emissions control (EMCON) operations without relying on the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Common Automatic Recovery System (UCARS). This increases operational flexibility and mitigates risks associated with UCARS reliability. The optical sensor system also has potential future applications for air-to-air collision avoidance, further enhancing the safety and versatility of the MQ-8 platform.

Additional funding provided by Congress supported specific enhancements, notably the passive Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) targeting capability. The goal was to develop and integrate passive ELINT sensors to improve the MQ-8's ability to detect and classify electronic emissions, thereby supporting advanced targeting and threat identification. However, due to the Navy's decision to divest the MQ-8C inventory at the conclusion of FY 2024, these funds were rescinded and the associated development activities were not executed.

The program's acquisition strategy leveraged existing investments and rapid deployment capabilities, utilizing competitive contracts for hardware and software integration. Key contractors included Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Leonardo MW, and Johns Hopkins University, among others. The program coordinated closely with Commander Naval Air Forces, Commander Naval Surface Forces, Naval Air Systems Command, and Naval Sea Systems Command to align development and operational employment with fleet requirements. As the Navy transitions to divestment, the program's objectives have shifted from ongoing development to completing sundown activities and supporting the final operational deployments through FY 2026.