# Army Repurposes Navy MQ-8C Helicopters

The U.S. Army is flight-testing four retired Navy MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopters as testbeds for Army sensor packages, reusing the aircraft and support equipment instead of buying new test platforms. The Navy approved the transfer in May 2025, and the aircraft and control systems arrived by July 2025; flight testing was underway by October 2026. The transfer reportedly avoided just over $70 million in procurement costs, but it was an asset transfer—not a contract award—and the report identifies no open solicitation or procurement contact.

- The transferred assets include four helicopters, two Mobile Mission Control Systems, spare engines, and support equipment. The testing involves Redstone Arsenal in Alabama and Dugway Proving Ground in Utah.
- Contractors with sensor-integration, flight-test support, maintenance, or communications-equipment capabilities may find adjacent work as the Army tests and supports the aircraft; the signal identifies no current bid opportunity.
- The transfer illustrates how agencies can reuse available assets to reduce platform-acquisition costs. Businesses should distinguish potential follow-on support needs from the completed inter-service transfer.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Published:** October 23, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Army (Army)
- U.S. Navy (Navy)
- Redstone Test Center (RTC)
- Naval Air Systems Command, Multi-Mission Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Office (PMA-266)
- Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP)

### Vendors
- Northrop Grumman (MQ-8C aircraft manufacturer)
- Bell (Manufacturer of the commercial Bell 407 airframe used as the MQ-8C's basis)

### Key Quotes
> 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.
> — Col. Leigh Irwin, PMA-266 Program Manager

### Sources
- [U.S. Army takes over retired U.S. Navy drone helicopters](https://defence-blog.com/u-s-army-takes-over-retired-u-s-navy-drone-helicopters) - The Defence Blog