Military and Commercial Technology: US to sell MQ-8B Fire scout ship-borne drones to Taiwan

Tuesday, 16 October 2018

US to sell MQ-8B Fire scout ship-borne drones to Taiwan

MQ-8B Fire scout

Translated by google

[Exclusive] US will sell Taiwan "Fire Scout" ship-borne drones can be vacant for 8 hours to detect a radius of 110 nautical miles

Zhu Ming October 13, 2018, 19:00:00

Sino-US relations have recently criticized China for its highly stern words by the Vice President, and the US military plans to exercise military exercises in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. It is said that the US may adjust the type of arms sales in Taiwan and the United States, and will announce it in the future through individual arms sales. It is pointed out that in the US Defense Against Security Conference (DRT) held in Hawaii in the United States last November (2017), I proposed more than ten military procurement projects to the United States. The US has notified us a few months ago that it agreed to sell the MQ-8B Fire. The Scout "Fire Scout" naval shipborne UAV system, which is an unmanned helicopter, is currently being evaluated by the Department of Defense and the Navy for the deployment and deployment of the future MQ-8B shipborne UAV system, and then determines the time course of procurement.

It is pointed out that in the US Defense Against Security Conference (DRT) held in Hawaii last year, we proposed more than ten military procurement projects for the United States, including the Army M777 155 mm precision artillery system and the Navy MQ-8B Fire Scout "Fire Scout". The carrier-based drone, P-3C anti-submarine aircraft mounted using MK-62 air-drop mines, and the performance improvement of the Air Force C-130 transport aircraft are designed to solve the problem of vanishing commercial sources. After the US review, it belongs to the weapon system follow-up equipment. For example, MK-62 air-drop mines have been approved, but for new projects, the US will evaluate them according to the needs and applications proposed by us.

It is understood that the demand for the MQ-8B carrier-based drone proposed by the Navy is mainly that the unmanned helicopter is a system that can fly directly from a narrow ship deck or flat land. This type of unmanned equipment can provide intelligence for monitoring equipment. Surveillance, target interception and reconnaissance, air fire support, laser indication and combat management services; sustainable flight for 8 hours, detecting areas from the takeoff area of 110 nautical miles, while detecting more than 20 targets.

UAV platform has both offensive and defensive

The MQ-8B drone can carry Hellfire missiles and laser-guided rockets. It also has the ability to support surface and ground targets. The Navy’s vision can be a multi-functional weapon system that undertakes maritime patrol reconnaissance missions. The task of anti-submarine, anti-ship and anti-mine warfare operations makes this type of ship-borne drone with anti-submarine helicopters become another new weapon.

Because the US Navy's standard configuration of the MQ-8B shipborne UAV system is 3 drones, 1 shipboard control station, 1 remote data terminal and 1 set of shipboard automatic recycling system, that is, each ship is equipped with 3 MQs. -8B drones; but whether my Navy will build the same number of racks is still under evaluation.

It is pointed out that the Navy's MD500 anti-submarine helicopter has been used for 40 years. The Navy has coded the code name "Shenying III" to purchase 10 MH-60R Seahawk anti-submarine helicopters from the United States to replace the MD500 anti-submarine helicopters, but each cost is 8000. Ten thousand US dollars (about NT$2.56 billion), the total price is more than 20 billion Taiwan dollars; but in the face of the Navy IDS homemade submarine will start construction of the prototype ship in 2019, the prototype ship of the new generation of missile frigate will also be tendered for construction, etc. The national shipbuilding of the national ship was fully launched. Under the exclusion of the budget, the MH-60R Seahawk anti-submarine helicopter could only be frozen first.

It is pointed out that the Navy considers the use of the future MD500 anti-submarine helicopters, and the future development of the weapon system towards the UAV system, and the US Navy has developed the MQ-8B shipborne UAV system into a new operational mode. After that, he proposed to the US to purchase the MQ-8B shipborne drone system; although the US has notified us to agree to the sale, the entire procurement case must be approved by the Ministry of National Defense, and then submitted to the case and budgeted before it is formally presented to the US. Purchase.

Source: upmedia.mg

Fire Scout Unmanned Aircraft System

Fire Scout is a combat proven, autonomous helicopter system that provides real-time Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Target-acquisition (ISR&T), laser designation, and battle management to tactical users without relying on manned aircraft or space-based assets. Fire Scout has the ability operate from any air-capable ship or land base in support persistent ISR&T requirements.

There are two Fire Scout variants. The smaller MQ-8B Fire Scout has deployed on multiple frigates and is currently deployed on a Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). MQ-8B Fire Scout has also deployed to Afghanistan to support counter- improvised explosive device (IED) operations. This system has completed more than 16,600 flight hours over 6,200 sorties. The Navy has integrated a multi-mode maritime radar on MQ-8B and tested an onboard weapons capability, the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS). The MQ-8B Fire Scout has also demonstrated the ability to operate concurrently with other manned aircraft while operating at-sea.