US Army begins MQ-8C Fire Scout flight tests after Navy asset transfer

The U.S. Army has begun flight testing four MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopters transferred from Navy stocks for use as Redstone Test Center aviation-test assets. The transfer included two mobile mission-control systems, spare engines and support equipment, with testing conducted at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, and Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. Ground evaluations preceded flight trials beginning in August 2026, allowing aircrews and maintenance personnel to gain familiarity with the systems before their use as captive-carry testbeds. Repurposing the aircraft and associated equipment is estimated to save more than $70 million compared with procuring and establishing equivalent test capabilities.