Optimization of MQ-8 (Fire Scout) UAS Launch and Recovery Performance

The MQ-8 (Fire Scout) unmanned air system (UAS) has been selected as the ship-based vertical takeoff and landing UAS. The baseline version of Fire Scout, MQ-8B, along with all its improved derivatives are required to undergo ship suitability assessments in the form of dynamic interface (DI) testing, also known as helicopter-ship qualification analysis, aboard the ship. DI testing evaluates all aspects of shipboard helicopter compatibility including the adequacy, effectiveness, and safety of shipboard aviation support facilities and/or procedures for all ship-based helicopter types. Air vehicle specific support facilities include devices used for air vehicle launch and recovery. This paper provides a discussion of the improvements associated with the MQ-8 (Fire Scout) system focusing on the launch and recovery process and equipment, driven by a need for launch and recovery systems requiring few or no people to operate; systems that require reduced time to execute launch and recovery or tempo on the deck; and provides improved system reliability whilst being simple to maintain. Analysis is made of various candidate launch and recovery system approaches on air vehicle responses, comparing the baseline MQ-8 system with its derivatives planned over the next generation. To facilitate the upcoming ship-suitability assessment, a parallel effort was initiated to determine the feasibility of applying simulators and plug-and-play module options in support of unmanned dynamic interface at-sea testing and experimentation. At-sea preliminary validation study results are discussed and compared with simulated scenarios. This computational method employs sufficient performance criteria and correlates well with forecasted quiescent windows of deck motion. Results are presented in relation to deck energy problems normally confronted by a helicopter during recovery in progressively difficult conditions.