An unmanned MQ-8B reconnaissance helicopter crashed into the side of the USS Charleston. The vessel suffered significant damage, but was able to continue its work.
According to the Military publication, the incident occurred on the evening of April 26. An unmanned helicopter took off from a San Diego-based coastal-class ship and crashed after losing control.
"The ship's safety net was damaged, as was the area above the waterline, but the ship was able to continue its work," the newspaper reports. An official investigation is being conducted into the drone accident.
Note that the MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopters have been used by the US Navy since 2009. Devices of this type are used for patrolling and monitoring the situation. In addition, the MQ-8B is capable of carrying Hellfire missiles and attacking surface or ground targets.
The drone has a streamlined fuselage with a length of about 9 meters, and a width of 1.9 meters. The height is 2.9 meters. The device is equipped with a four-bladed main rotor with a diameter of 8.4 meters. With a maximum payload, the take-off weight of the machine reaches 1428 kilograms.
The power plant allows you to reach a maximum speed of more than 210 kilometers per hour. The practical ceiling is 6100 meters. The range is up to 200 kilometers. The flight duration is up to 8 hours.
Nikolay Grishchenko
