Sea Power Magazine reports that the U.S. Navy intends to consolidate all its MQ-8 unmanned helicopter operations to the West Coast in 2023.
211222-N-FA490-1213 APRA HARBOR, Guam (Dec. 22, 2021) An MQ-8C Fire Scout attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23, on the flight deck of the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Jackson (LCS 6). HSC-23 and Jackson, part of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7, are on a rotational deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operation to enhance interoperability with partners and serve as a ready-response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Andrew Langholf)
HSC-22, the current East Coast MQ-8 squadron, will be deactivated in 2023. HSC-21 and HSC-23 will then be the only two squadrons that operate the drone. Both will fly the MQ-8C.
