The US Army continues to work on the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) promising reconnaissance and strike aircraft program. Various events are held, the necessary documents are accepted, etc. Companies that claim to win and receive contracts in the future are also actively working. For example, the Sikorsky company is trying to attract a customer not only with a finished project, but also with experimental equipment.
Organizational matters
In December 2020, the Pentagon, through the relevant department, approved the Final Design and Risk Review (FD&RR) for the FARA program, which is part of the larger FVL. Thus, the customer appreciated the projects submitted for the competition and recognized them as suitable for further development and comparison. A more successful model will be adopted in the future and will replace the existing helicopters.
On April 9, a meeting of the Requirements Oversight Council (ROC) took place, during which a new defining document was drawn up and approved. The Abbreviated Capabilities Development Document (A-CDD) approves the tactical and technical requirements for advanced aircraft. Further development of the competition projects will be carried out in accordance with the new A-CDD.
According to the previously formed and now approved requirements, Sikorsky / Lockheed Martin has developed and submitted to the competition a promising Raider X project. Its competitor is the Bell 360 Invictus helicopter. The FARA program management speaks highly of the proposed projects. The developers of the new technology did more than was expected of them, and the resulting projects made the best impression.
Last fall, it was reported that FARA member companies have already begun construction of new prototypes that fully correspond to the developed projects. Prototypes should be ready by the end of FY2022, after which they will begin flight tests. Then the technique of several types will be compared and a more successful model will be selected for further introduction into service.
Demonstration in the troops
Sikorsky participates in the FARA project with the Raider X helicopter project. It is based on technologies previously developed and tested on several experimental machines. An experienced S-97 Raider helicopter is currently being used to test such solutions.
The other day S-97 arrived at the Redstone Arsenal base (Alabama) for demonstration flights. It is reported that the organization of such an event was associated with some difficulties. "Raider" is an initiative development of "Sikorsky" and is only indirectly related to FARA. This, to some extent, made it difficult to organize the show at the army base.
On April 13 and 15, pilots from the development company performed a series of flights. During the event, the S-97 demonstrated its speed and maneuverability characteristics, as well as the ability to solve all major combat and transport missions.
The flights were observed by representatives of the Future Vertical Lift Cross Functional Team (FVL CFT), as well as officers from the Army Aviation and Missile Command Aviation & Missile Command (AMCOM). FVL CLT is responsible for the FVL program and its component FARA, and the AMCOM command in the future will become the main operator of promising technology. Thus, no casual spectators were present on the flights.
It is not known how the representatives of the army reacted to the demonstration flights. At the same time, Sikorsky / Lockheed Martin highly appreciates both the S-97 project itself and the demonstration of the helicopter to the potential customer of the future Raider X. The developers expect that recent flights were the first, but not the last - and the promising Sikorsky helicopters are not yet times will be demonstrated and tested by the Redstone Arsenal.
Not only flights
Recent activities have not been limited to flights alone. The personnel of the Arsenal and representatives of responsible organizations were introduced to the new helicopter, although they were not yet allowed to fly. Also, a meeting was held on the topic of the real possibilities and prospects for the operation of new equipment in the troops.
The development company highlighted the high potential of the S-97 helicopter and the promising Raider X project in terms of operation and maintenance. The new helicopters are equipped with a self-diagnostic system that provides the crew with information about the condition of the materiel and various recommendations.
The Sikorsky Fleet Decision Tool system has also been developed, capable of collecting and processing data from several helicopters. With its help, it is planned to facilitate the organization of the work of entire divisions. In particular, the unit commander will be able to assess the condition of the existing helicopters and, on its basis, determine the sequence of their use in the mission. This will optimize resource consumption and simplify the organization of repairs without compromising the combat readiness of the unit as a whole.
Potential Winners
The new stage of the FARA program involves two projects from Bell and Sikorsky / Lockheed Martin. These projects have the same requirements, but the desired level of performance is achieved in different ways. For example, Bell offers a traditional rotor and tail rotor helicopter that draws on all of its experience in the aircraft industry. Meanwhile, Sikorsky continues to develop its X2 concept. It provides for the use of a carrier system of two coaxial propellers, as well as a pushing tail rotor.
As follows from the available materials, both projects have advantages over each other, which makes it difficult to predict the results of the competition. The strong point of the Raider X project is the fundamental possibility of obtaining a high flight speed. Using a given engine, a helicopter with a maximum mass of 6, 4 tons will be able to reach speeds of up to 450-460 km / h. At the same time, the potential of the proposed design was confirmed in practice with the help of experienced helicopters, one of which was recently shown to representatives of the army.
Bell uses a traditional structure for the 360 project. It has already been tested at speeds up to 370 km / h, which is 40 km / h higher than the customer's maximum speed requirements. Measures are being taken to improve other working and combat characteristics, to simplify operation, etc.
From prototype to contract
Since the fall of last year, two companies involved in the FARA program have been building experimental equipment of their own design. The conditions of the program allow them to take their time, but in the foreseeable future, helicopters of the two new types will go out for tests and "fight" with each other. What project the army will choose is unknown. So far, those in charge have spoken positively about both helicopters from Sikorsky and Bell.
The project participants, in turn, are carrying out already begun work, as well as conducting advertising campaigns, companies to promote their products, trying to interest the army and potential other customers. As always, various project materials are published. In addition, there are alternative ways of promotion, such as the recent demonstration of equipment to the military.
Tests of two helicopters will begin only next year, and the winner of the competition will be announced even later. Whether the current measures will be able to influence the decision of the responsible persons is unknown. But future contracts for FVL and FARA are too profitable to refuse any additional advertising or the opportunity to show their developments to the customer.
