Originally Posted by
Less Hair
Does Erickson intend to modify their existing commercial ones or do they plan to refurbish boneyard airframes for military use? What is this US Marines camo pattern about?
From the source linked in the original post:
"While a robot brain can increase pilot safety, the S-64 has two big challenges to overcome—it’s old and it’s fuel hungry. That’s why the company isn’t just refurbishing the S-64. Instead, it’ll manufacture a brand new aircraft, possibly up to 100 if the global firefighting effort demands it.
Apart from the Matrix control system, the S-64F+ will feature new in-house designed main rotor, new digitally-controlled turboshaft engines, a fly-by-wire flight control system, digital avionics, and an upgraded forward water cannon."
https://www.popularmechanics.com/mil...ix-helicopter/
The paint scheme is a nod to the remotely piloted Lockheed Martin/Kaman K-MAX UAS operated by the U.S. Marines.
https://www.lockheedmartin.com/conte...X-brochure.pdf
The S-64F+ may seem incredibly ambitious, because it is, but those who have followed Erickson over the last couple of decades are unlikely to doubt their capabilities.