MQ-8 Fire Scout Icing Solution Challenges

The MQ-8 (Fire Scout) is a vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operated by the U S Navy (USN) as an Intelligence, Search and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform operating in both sea and land based environments. In its current configuration, the standard operating procedure is for the air vehicle (AV) to avoid operations in known and forecasted icing conditions. The Navy and Marine Corps Multi-Mission Tactical Unmanned Air Systems Program (PMA-266) has launched a trade study to develop a system that will notify the operator well in advance of flying into an impending icing environment, thereby, reducing the probability of loss of AV. This paper discusses how the MQ-8 UAS current concept of operations (CONOPS) is addressing in-flight icing challenges along with details of the study undertaken to develop an enhanced icing solutions roadmap for improved mission effectiveness while maintaining safe operations.