The US Navy has confirmed it is joining forces with the US Army to buy dozens of a new class of medium-sized, unmanned helicopter that could be mustered into service within five years, according to an acquisition document.
The agreement between the services combines requirements for the navy's medium-range maritime unmanned aircraft system (MRMUAS) and the army's medium-range multi-purpose (MRMP) vertical take-off and landing system.
The navy's goal is to field the first MRMUAS system by fiscal year 2018, but will consider proposals to deliver an "early operational capability" two years sooner, according to a request for information released in late July.
The collaboration recalls the chequered history of the Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout programme.
The army originally launched Fire Scout under the Future Combat Systems (FCS) programme. After the navy joined the programme, however, the army cancelled FCS and terminated its part of the MQ-8B contract.
The USN continued to fund development and production, and deployed three MQ-8Bs earlier this year, including one that was shot down on a mission over Libya.
Both services are now looking for a helicopter with greater capabilities than the Fire Scout.
The navy wants a sea-based aircraft that can rove for 8h and at least 300nm (556km), supporting SEAL teams and counter-piracy missions, according to the July request for information.
Boeing is expected to offer its A160 Hummingbird, and Northrop has proposed the MQ-8C Fire-X, which combines the Fire Scout operating system and the airframe of the Bell Helicopter 407.
Two other UAS builders "- US-based Aurora Flight Sciences and fellow American firm DragonFly Pictures - previously expressed interest in the army's MRMP requirement, but it is not clear if they are pursuing the programmes as a vehicle or subsystem supplier.
The army released a request for information to industry in June, asking for an armed helicopter that could also perform intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
Since then, however, it has agreed to launch the MRMP with the ISR mission as a "first increment" capability, according to the navy.
Source: Flight International
