FLRAA
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
FLRAA
As opposed to FARA...
https://www.defensenews.com/land/202...craft-program/
US Army enters final phase of development before kicking off Future Long Range Assault Aircraft program
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army has awarded contracts to both Bell and a Sikorsky-Boeing team to continue into a second phase of competitive development and risk reduction as the service prepares to begin its formal program to acquire a future long-range assault aircraft, or FLRAA, by 2030.
Awarded through the Aviation and Missile Technology Consortium, Bell and the Sikorsky-Boeing team will each conduct a preliminary analysis of requirements for Special Operations Command, including for medical evacuation and features that allow for the aircraft’s export to other countries, according to a March 30 Army statement.
At the start of the official program of record for FLRAA in 2022, the Army will choose a winner between the two teams to build prototypes......
The Army awarded contracts to both teams a year ago to continue conducting analysis to refine requirements, conceptual designs and acquisition approaches needed to successfully execute the FLRAA program.
Through the JMR-TD phase and into CDRR, Bell flew its V-280 Valor tilt-rotor aircraft, and the Sikorsky-Boeing team flew its SB-1 Defiant coaxial demonstrator......
https://www.defensenews.com/land/202...craft-program/
US Army enters final phase of development before kicking off Future Long Range Assault Aircraft program
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army has awarded contracts to both Bell and a Sikorsky-Boeing team to continue into a second phase of competitive development and risk reduction as the service prepares to begin its formal program to acquire a future long-range assault aircraft, or FLRAA, by 2030.
Awarded through the Aviation and Missile Technology Consortium, Bell and the Sikorsky-Boeing team will each conduct a preliminary analysis of requirements for Special Operations Command, including for medical evacuation and features that allow for the aircraft’s export to other countries, according to a March 30 Army statement.
At the start of the official program of record for FLRAA in 2022, the Army will choose a winner between the two teams to build prototypes......
The Army awarded contracts to both teams a year ago to continue conducting analysis to refine requirements, conceptual designs and acquisition approaches needed to successfully execute the FLRAA program.
Through the JMR-TD phase and into CDRR, Bell flew its V-280 Valor tilt-rotor aircraft, and the Sikorsky-Boeing team flew its SB-1 Defiant coaxial demonstrator......
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
https://www.defensenews.com/land/202...t-competition/
US Army triggers competition for future long-range assault aircraft
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army has launched its future long-range assault aircraft competition, quietly releasing a request for proposals limited to two industry teams. The service has also homed in on a schedule to deliver FLRAA prototypes after debating two different options to stay on schedule.
The service weighed the option of pursuing both prototype builds for the airframe and the weapons systems at the same time, or on slightly separate schedules, which would have meant the difference between delivering full prototypes to the Army by the spring or the summer of 2025.
The Army will choose a winner — after a faceoff between Textron’s Bell and a Sikorsky-Boeing team — in the third quarter of fiscal 2022. It appears the service is requiring prototype delivery to start in the third quarter of FY25 and wrap up a year later, according to a review of FY22 budget documents.
The FY21 budget justification documents had FLRAA prototype deliveries scheduled for the second quarter of FY25.
It is unclear whether two separate preliminary design reviews will occur for the airframe and the weapons systems, or if they will be done concurrently. The Army scheduled a preliminary and detailed design review to take place from the third quarter of FY22 to the second quarter of FY24, but that timeline is not broken down further in the FY22 budget documents.…..
US Army triggers competition for future long-range assault aircraft
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army has launched its future long-range assault aircraft competition, quietly releasing a request for proposals limited to two industry teams. The service has also homed in on a schedule to deliver FLRAA prototypes after debating two different options to stay on schedule.
The service weighed the option of pursuing both prototype builds for the airframe and the weapons systems at the same time, or on slightly separate schedules, which would have meant the difference between delivering full prototypes to the Army by the spring or the summer of 2025.
The Army will choose a winner — after a faceoff between Textron’s Bell and a Sikorsky-Boeing team — in the third quarter of fiscal 2022. It appears the service is requiring prototype delivery to start in the third quarter of FY25 and wrap up a year later, according to a review of FY22 budget documents.
The FY21 budget justification documents had FLRAA prototype deliveries scheduled for the second quarter of FY25.
It is unclear whether two separate preliminary design reviews will occur for the airframe and the weapons systems, or if they will be done concurrently. The Army scheduled a preliminary and detailed design review to take place from the third quarter of FY22 to the second quarter of FY24, but that timeline is not broken down further in the FY22 budget documents.…..
Originally Posted by RAFEngO74to09
Competition is between Boeing-Sikorsky Defiant X versus Bell-Textron Valor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnRSGFwA3SI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnRSGFwA3SI
Whilst both are pushing the bounds in a technological sense, I do get the sense both would be very susceptible to battle damage.
Given recent experiences in Ukraine, I wouldn't be surprised if the US Army has a bit of rethink on this.
Given recent experiences in Ukraine, I wouldn't be surprised if the US Army has a bit of rethink on this.
Originally Posted by dead_pan
Whilst both are pushing the bounds in a technological sense, I do get the sense both would be very susceptible to battle damage.
Given recent experiences in Ukraine, I wouldn't be surprised if the US Army has a bit of rethink on this.
Given recent experiences in Ukraine, I wouldn't be surprised if the US Army has a bit of rethink on this.
V-22 is doing well. I say this having flown Seahawks and Blackhawks, which are fine birds.
A lovely conundrum. If the issues surrounding the accidents and failures we had in rotary design, engineering and piloting of helicopters in the development years were reported today, we wouldn’t have helicopters.
Apply the same thought process to the Defiant (instability, tip vortices, blade impact) and the Valour (Osprey history, increased risk of ingestion of rotor vortices, complex engineering, huge “disc” etc) Neither would have passed the drawing board this time. Yet here we are viewing 2 very different but equally incredible pieces of D&T. Well done to both companies/conglomerates.
Apply the same thought process to the Defiant (instability, tip vortices, blade impact) and the Valour (Osprey history, increased risk of ingestion of rotor vortices, complex engineering, huge “disc” etc) Neither would have passed the drawing board this time. Yet here we are viewing 2 very different but equally incredible pieces of D&T. Well done to both companies/conglomerates.
Originally Posted by Lonewolf_50
Given a choice, my vote is for V-280. Osprey worked out most of the bugs in tilt rotor stuff, and this is benefitting from that tech advance.
V-22 is doing well. I say this having flown Seahawks and Blackhawks, which are fine birds.
V-22 is doing well. I say this having flown Seahawks and Blackhawks, which are fine birds.
They both are big and clumsy machines, whose main advantage is greater forward speed, only slightly so in the case of the Sikorsky offering.
Neither seems in any way 'trans-formative'. I'd be more enthused if they offered a huge increase in radius or a big cut in maintenace per flight hour, but that is not offered.
Do the people who were on the sharp end have some insight?
Originally Posted by etudiant
Do the people who were on the sharp end have some insight?
I think he was an Air Force guy, but I've not heard from him lately.
I know a number of Osprey pilots, all of whom flew other stuff first-they all liked it.
But getting one of them to contribute here may not be in the cards.
From the ground commander's point of view, speed and self deployment radius matters.
I do not disagree with you about the problem of expense, but I think that horse is long gone and the barn door is swinging in the wind.
FWIW, the AugustsWestland 609, another tilt rotor, has had its ups and downs but is apparently still alive.
Originally Posted by Wikipedia, grain of salt as needed
Bristow Helicopters intends to order 10 or more.
Michael Bloomberg, the U.S. billionaire businessman and politician, is "near the top" of the list of buyers who have put a deposit down on the AW609 tiltrotor aircraft.
In February 2015, the Italian Army released a white paper documenting its vision of future procurement efforts, it included the intention to procure a force of tiltrotor aircraft for rapid troop-transport and medical evacuation duties; it has been speculated in the media that the AW609 is a likely candidate for the requirement.
On 10 November 2015, United Arab Emirates selected a search and rescue variant of the AW609, signing a memorandum of understanding for three of them, with an option for three more. However, as of May 2019, no contract with the UAE has been signed.In March 2022, Leonardo was projecting entry into service in 2023.[88]
Michael Bloomberg, the U.S. billionaire businessman and politician, is "near the top" of the list of buyers who have put a deposit down on the AW609 tiltrotor aircraft.
In February 2015, the Italian Army released a white paper documenting its vision of future procurement efforts, it included the intention to procure a force of tiltrotor aircraft for rapid troop-transport and medical evacuation duties; it has been speculated in the media that the AW609 is a likely candidate for the requirement.
On 10 November 2015, United Arab Emirates selected a search and rescue variant of the AW609, signing a memorandum of understanding for three of them, with an option for three more. However, as of May 2019, no contract with the UAE has been signed.In March 2022, Leonardo was projecting entry into service in 2023.[88]
Originally Posted by Lonewolf_50
I know a number of Osprey pilots, all of whom flew other stuff first-they all liked it.
I do not disagree with you about the problem of expense, but I think that horse is long gone and the barn door is swinging in the wind.
Farnborough V280, Dutch and Italian musings
It was nice to see the Bell V-280 mock up again after six years (my pics below), though nothigns changed since Heli Expo 2016 Louisville or Farnborough that year
I was told by one of the Bell guys that the Dutch were going to sign an agreement with Us Army to share info on FVL
https://www.defensenews.com/land/202...-developments/
Then the Italians
https://theaviationist.com/2022/08/0...on-priorities/
cheers
I was told by one of the Bell guys that the Dutch were going to sign an agreement with Us Army to share info on FVL
https://www.defensenews.com/land/202...-developments/
Then the Italians
https://theaviationist.com/2022/08/0...on-priorities/
cheers
Italy wants to partner with Sikorsky
Italy is going all cylinders blasting as Aeronautica Militare Italiana Chief General Coretti wants in with Sikorsky on the Defiant / Raiser Co axial push pull prop
https://www.defensenews.com/global/e...r-tech-pronto/
https://www.defensenews.com/global/e...r-tech-pronto/
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Thread Starter
https://www.defensenews.com/digital-...ircraft-award/
US Army nearly ready to make future long-range assault aircraft award
WASHINGTON — The Army is just weeks from revealing its choice for a future long-range assault aircraft, according to the service’s acquisition chief.
The service aims to go public with the winner of the FLRAA competition in October or November, Doug Bush told Defense News in an interview ahead of the Association of the U.S. Army’s annual conference.….
US Army nearly ready to make future long-range assault aircraft award
WASHINGTON — The Army is just weeks from revealing its choice for a future long-range assault aircraft, according to the service’s acquisition chief.
The service aims to go public with the winner of the FLRAA competition in October or November, Doug Bush told Defense News in an interview ahead of the Association of the U.S. Army’s annual conference.….
I’ve maintained that the Valor was the low risk and long range option for the Army. Interesting that the statement also notes that it will supplement, not totally replace, the UH-60….
