PAUL LEWIS / ORLANDO
Northrop Grumman encouraged by growing international interest despite lack of US Navy support for programme
Northrop Grumman is pinning its hopes for its RQ-8A Fire Scout winning a place on the US Coast Guard Deepwater programme on prime contractor Lockheed Martin calling for a round of best and final offers from potential suppliers.
At the same time it plans missile firing trials from the rotary-wing tactical unmanned air vehicle (UAV) and to fund a second demonstration vehicle in an effort to win back US Navy support and solicit overseas interest in the programme.
Northrop Grumman RQ-8A programme manager Scott Winship says it is hoped Lockheed Martin will select Fire Scout for Deepwater, although the proposal accepted by the USCG was based on the Bell Eagle Eye (UAV). Northrop Grumman has already submitted a proposal to Deepwater partner Lockheed Martin and is hoping for a chance to improve its pricing. The USCG requires 60 shipboard UAVs.
"We won over Eagle Eye for the navy's [vertical take-off and landing tactical UAV] programme and expect to do so again," says Winship, arguing that the Fire Scout is lower risk, as it is already flying, and will cost the USCG $400 million less to develop and produce. Winship acknowledges that Fire Scout, unlike Eagle Eye, does not meet the requirement for high speed, but the company hopes this will be waived in return for extended time on station.
Meanwhile, Northrop Grumman is planning to fire a Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire anti-armour missile and a low-cost precision kill weapon (LCPKW) from Fire Scout in September. Fire Scout can carry two Hellfires and 14 rockets mounted above the landing skid and, with the addition of a planned new four-blade rotor, still maintain 6h endurance.
Northrop Grumman is also considering its Brilliant Anti-Tank munition. "We're looking to demonstrate the added capability of the vehicle, not just to carry an electro-optical/infrared sensor and laser designator, but fire its own weapon." The new rotor will increase Fire Scout's payload by 160kg (350lb). The privately funded trials are being monitored by the USN, which despite cutting production funding for the RQ-8A beyond five machines, is increasingly concerned about swarm-type surface attacks on its vessels. The army is also interested in using Fire Scout to help develop requirements for the future unmanned combat armed rotorcraft.
Northrop Grumman hopes to secure additional funds next year to build its own ground control station and a second demonstrator. There is growing international interest in the UAV, including a draft request for proposals from the Japanese Defence Agency.
Source: Flight International
