QH-50 DASH and MQ-8 Fire Scout Similarities

Hosler 1.5 Assignment
While there are many UAS systems that have a long heritage in common with earlier systems the QH-50 DASH and the MQ-8 Fire Scout seem to be especially closely related.  They are both U.S. Navy systems with similar mission objectives and capabilities despite 50 years difference in development.  “In the global war on terrorism, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are continually demonstrating their capabilities to perform numerous chores for forces ashore and afloat. For the Navy, however, UAVs are not a recent development. One airframe that entered service more than four decades ago showed the potential for UAVs current success.” (Winkler, 2006, p. 46)
The QH-50 DASH was revolutionary and ahead of its time in many ways. Current rotary wing UAVs such as the MQ-8 Fire Scout and Boeing’s optionally manned AH-6 brag about their achievements in landing on the back of small Navy Frigates and Destroyers while the “DSN-1 (DASH) successfully landed onboard a destroyer at sea in July 1960.” (Blom, 2010, p. 53)  These systems also talk about how they are revolutionary in giving small warships beyond the horizon weapons and reconnaissance capability. The DASH was doing this in the 1960’s.  A major difference the DASH has with modern naval rotary wing UAVs is that it was made with relatively cheap components because it was not expected to survive its primary mission of anti-submarine warfare. “As DASH was originally designed to drop Mk 57 nuclear depth charges or torpedoes, it was built with the idea that it would not survive the resulting blast.” ("DASH History," 2014, p. 13)  This initial requirement is one of the main reasons that eventually led to the cancellation of the program in the 1970’s.  Despite many firsts and successful deployments to Vietnam like many UAV systems before and after the program was cancelled due to technical and budgetary issues.
The MQ-8 Fire Scout is an impressive system.  The “B” variant has been successfully deployed to Afghanistan to assist in the global war on terror as well as being deployed to anti-piracy missions off of Africa with great success. The new “C” variant promises to bring all the capabilities of the “B” with longer mission time and greater payload capabilities.  While the QH-50 was able to perform shipboard landings it relied on two controllers, one on the flight deck for take-off and landing and another in the CIC for the mission.  The MQ-8 has improved on this by moving away from a man-in-the loop control scheme for landing to a man-on-the-loop system. “The MQ-8B Fire Scout has the ability to autonomously take off and land from any aviation-capable warship and at unprepared landing zones.” ("Fire Scout," 2014, p. 1)  The MQ-8 system continues the tradition of the QH-50 by being able to deploy weapons as well as provide expanded ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) capabilities including maritime radar.  The Fire Scout system can provide continuous surveillance at 110 nm with a two aircraft system with minimal impact on ship operations. ("Fire Scout," 2014)
The MQ-8 system may be more sophisticated and provide longer mission time as well as greater mission capabilities but the QH-50 DASH pioneered these capabilities decades before.  As with any technological system advancements are made on the backs of the previous system and the MQ-8 has a lot to live up to.


References
Blom, J. D. (2010, September 2010). Unmanned Aerial Systems: A Historical Perspective. Occasional Paper 37, 1-153. Retrieved from https://erau.blackboard.com/bbcswebdav/pid-14470938-dt-content-rid-76607724_4/institution/Worldwide_Online/ASCI_GR_Courses/ASCI_530/External_Link/M1_Readings_Unmanned_Aerial_Systems_A_historical_perpective.pdf
DASH History: The Dash Weapon System. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.gyrodynehelicopters.com/dash_history.htm
MQ-8 Fire Scout. (2014). Retrieved March 27, 2014, from www.northropgrumman.com/capabilities/FireScout/pages/default.aspx
Winkler, D. F. (2006). DASH Was Truly A Pioneer UAV. Sea Power, 49(7), 46. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/docview/235992318?accountid=27203