Fire Scout Ops Paused

By Christopher J. Castelli / April 9, 2012 at 11:46 PM

The Navy has paused operations involving MQ-8B Fire Scout drones pending crash-investigation results, according to Naval Air Systems Command.

On March 30, an MQ-8B operating from the frigate Simpson (FFG-56) settled into the water after failing to acquire the automated recovery system. “The air vehicle was unable to achieve UAS Common Automated Recovery System (UCARS) lock on, a requirement for recovery at sea. It's a system that provides aircraft relative position to the ship while landing,” Navy spokeswoman Jamie Cosgrove told InsideDefense.com. Naval personnel on the ship later performed a recovery of the aircraft at night, she said, noting the cause of the damage has not been determined.

The incident occurred near the western coast of Africa when an MQ-8B Fire Scout was returning from a routine maritime surveillance mission in support of the Africa Partnership Station, Cosgrove said. “Operations aboard USS Simpson are suspended pending review of the Aircraft Mishap Board,” she said via email, noting the suspension took effect right after the incident. There is no history of the drone failing to acquire the automated recovery system, Cosgrove said.

“The Aircraft Reporting Custodian, Naval Test Wing Atlantic, requested to pause Fire Scout operations that do not require operational necessity,” Cosgrove said. The Simpson deployment is the only ongoing shipboard deployment for the MQ-8B but the Fire Scout team is conducting work ups on the frigate Klakring (FFG-42), Cosgrove said, noting there also is a Fire Scout detachment deployed in Afghanistan.

In an April 6 statement, NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) disclosed that a rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicle crashed in northern Afghanistan that day. “We are not able to provide details of the type of UAV involved in this incident,” ISAF's public affairs shop said via email. "The cause of the crash is currently being assessed, however initial reporting indicates there was no enemy activity in the area," NATO's statement said.

Flight International reported today on the crash of the MQ-8B, noting that it prompted a halt to flights of the drone there.

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