MQ-8C Fire Scout: The U.S. Navy's Most Advanced Unmanned Helicopter Explained

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]MQ-8C Fire Scout The MQ-8C Fire Scout is a cutting-edge unmanned autonomous helicopter that first reached initial operational capability in 2019 carrying a unit cost of approximately $15 million.

[00:00:17]Engineered for the US Navy using a modified Bell 407 airframe, it reaches a max speed of 160 mph and an impressive max range of 1,227 nautical miles with a service ceiling of 20,000 ft to accommodate a remote crew of zero on board controlled by operators via a ground station.

[00:00:40]Its lethal armament can include 70-mm APKWS laser-guided rockets, though its primary role is high-endurance surveillance. Historically, it has seen extensive operational use on littoral combat ships LCS for over-the-horizon targeting and maritime reconnaissance.

[00:01:00]Moving into 2026, modern upgrades include the integration of anti-submarine sonobuoy dispensers and enhanced MUM-T capabilities for seamless data sharing with the manned MH-60R Seahawk fleet.