Fire Scout data link excels in second sea trial

After completing its second sea trial, the U.S. Navy's MQ-8B Fire Scout is rapidly approaching Operational Evaluation. In May, the Fire Scout successfully completed fully autonomous flight operations aboard the frigate USS McInerney, and that's great news for Cubic Defense Applications, Inc. and its Tactical Common Data Link (TCDL) team.

Cubic developed the Fire Scout TCDL under contract to Northrop Grumman, the manufacturer of the Fire Scout Vertical Takeoff and Landing Unmanned Air Vehicle (VTUAV). Cubic's TCDL transfers intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) information between Fire Scout and the ship. The Fire Scout TCDL is compatible with standard CDL waveforms at data rates up to 10.71Mbps - allowing it to transfer video and radar imagery.

In February, Cubic's TCDL team boarded the McInerney for the first of the rigorous sea trials that will eventually lead to Fire Scout's real-world deployment. Cubic's team was on standby for the second sea trial, which took place in late April and early May, and did not go aboard the frigate.

During the second trial, Fire Scout flew 16 sorties, logged 21.6 flight hours, and tallied 62 launch and recoveries. Cubic's TCDL flawlessly transmitted video sensor information from the Fire Scout to the frigate as it plied the Atlantic Coast.

"The Fire Scout has demonstrated in the past the ability to provide intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance support from a land-based ground control station. This shipboard operation marks a major milestone in Fire Scout's development cycle," stated Capt. Tim Dunigan, Navy VTUAV Program Manager. "When at sea, the most important attribute of a Naval aircraft is to integrate and function well within the shipboard environment and Fire Scout successfully demonstrated that."

TCDL's effectiveness noted
Doug Fronius, MQ-8B Fire Scout VTUAV program director for Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector, reported there was "excellent streaming video over the TCDL link" during the second test period - in one instance from more than 14 nautical miles at 1,100 feet.

The fact that Cubic engineers did not have to be present during the second sea trial is a testimony to the Fire Scout TCDL's design and performance. Shipboard testing is now continuing, and if all goes well, Operational Evaluation will take place by September, and the TCDL could be used for operational missions before the year-end.

The Fire Scout's first use will likely be in drug interdiction efforts in the Caribbean, but the ultimate goal is for it to fly in combat missions operating from Littoral Combat Ships. The U.S. Army, Coast Guard and various countries are also interested in Fire Scout.

An exciting future
Cubic believes the Fire Scout has a bright future and is pleased to be part of that future. In the meantime, Cubic is keeping up with the intense delivery schedule for the remaining Fire Scout components due to be delivered to Northrop Grumman.

"The entire Engineering, Operations and Test team have made this program a huge success," said Rich Smith, Vice President, Product Line. "We are continuing to support our customers in ways that go beyond the four corners of the contract. Cubic has also just completed negotiations with Northrop Grumman for additional units and expects to be on the Fire Scout team for many years to come."