The US Army has begun flight testing four MQ-8C Fire Scout uncrewed helicopters transferred from a US Navy divestment programme, saving more than $70m in estimated procurement costs.
In a 23 October release, the US Department of War stated that the aircraft are being used by the US Army Redstone Test Center as test assets for its aviation flight-test activities.
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Testing is taking place at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, and Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.
The Army’s request followed the Navy’s decision to retire the MQ-8C fleet. The Navy began divesting the platform in February 2024, with the process scheduled to conclude by the end of fiscal year 2026.
The Multi-Mission Tactical UAS Program Office was about 60% through transferring aircraft, mobile control systems and support equipment to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group in Tucson, Arizona, when the Army proposed taking over some of the equipment.
In November 2024, the programme office assessed whether the MQ-8C could serve as a captive-carry testbed for the Redstone Test Center.
Following a site visit to Point Mugu, California, the centre formally requested four aircraft, two mobile mission-control systems, spare engines and related equipment.
The Navy approved the request in May 2025. By July, the four aircraft, control systems and site-support equipment had been delivered to Redstone Arsenal.
Additional communications-security equipment, including radios, transponders and modems, was recovered from common stock with support from Naval Supply Systems Command. Those assets reached the Army site after a year of negotiations.
Ground testing was completed before flight trials began in August. The activity is intended to build aircrew familiarity with the aircraft and provide maintenance personnel with practical experience.
US Army Redstone Test Center, Aviation Flight Test Directorate, test director and experimental test pilot Army chief warrant officer 4 Taylor Kiel said: “Considering where we started — having zero experience with these systems — it’s quite remarkable what has been accomplished. We are certainly thankful for the many people across various organisations that helped us along the way.”
The transfer and start of flight testing were completed within 14 months of the initial Army request to assess the aircraft’s potential use.
The reported $70m savings extend beyond the aircraft purchase, covering research, development, test and evaluation, flight hours, data collection, contracts, asset sourcing and manpower.
Multi-Mission Tactical UAS Program Office manager US Marine Corps colonel Leigh Irwin said: “Repurposing these MQ-8C assets from storage to active testing is a major acquisition win for both services, demonstrating how we can supercharge existing capabilities and increase acquisition velocity to support joint operations.”
