The U.S. Navy has finished its first round of tests for a military helicopter drone designed to take off and land from warships.
Officials said the aircraft, called the MQ-8C Fire Scout, proved successful in its 32 takeoffs and landings at the USS Jason Dunham in different wind conditions and while the ship was moving at different speeds, according to Live Science. The tests included three flights and ended on Dec. 23.
"The MQ-8C Fire Scout's flights from the USS Dunham represent a significant Navy milestone. This is the first sea-based flight of the MQ-8C, and the first time an unmanned helicopter has operated from a destroyer," said Capt. Jeff Dodge, Fire Scout program manager with Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR).
While the Fire Scout is a modified version of a Bell 407 utility helicopter used by governments and private organizations, the drone is operated remotely from control stations aboard ships and on land. The machine is also different from its predecessor, the smaller MQ-8B, in that it can carry more weight (about 1,000 pounds instead of 600) and stay in the air longer while carrying 300 pounds (12 hours instead of 5.5 hours).
The Navy also designed the MQ-8C to be able to work aboard small ships like the USS Dunham and land and take off vertically, making the giant deck of an aircraft carrier unnecessary for operation, Live Science reported.
Darren Duggan, a commanding officer aboard the USS Dunham, said the Navy's new drone can be used for search and targeting missions.
The MQ-8C is the most recent drone to debut with military purposes in mind, with others including the K-MAX unmanned multi-mission helicopter designed to carry supplies to soldiers in remote or dangerous areas, Live Science reported.
Similar machines in development include an unmanned version of the Black Hawk helicopter being worked on by U.S. defense contractors for bringing cargo and soldiers into the field, a transport copter for medical purposes and drones that can hover like helicopters and fly as fast as airplanes.
