Sikorsky Raider X - FARA contender

[Lonewolf_50]

Will you please unbold that?

[noneofyourbusiness]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf_50

Will you please unbold that?

The bold had copied over from the article. All caps is shouting, not sure why bold bothers you. But ok.

[Lonewolf_50]

Thank you.

[SplineDrive]

So... how long until the Army decides that an armed, crewed scout helicopter is worth having and launches a new competition? If history holds, a program will appear in the 2028-2029 timeframe. Anyone think the defense OEMs will agree to cost-share the development this time around?

[Commando Cody]

Originally Posted by SplineDrive

So... how long until the Army decides that an armed, crewed scout helicopter is worth having and launches a new competition? If history holds, a program will appear in the 2028-2029 timeframe. Anyone think the defense OEMs will agree to cost-share the development this time around?

This is already starting. Northrop Grumman pulled out of the T-X competition, even after having flown a prototype of their entry in the program, because they felt that the program was not going to provide a decent return on what they'd have to invest. They said they were not going to bid on AF's NGAD program for similar reasons. Lockheed has intimated they may not submit a bid if the program doesn't make business sense. You might remember the various exercises AF went through to field a light turboprop attack aircraft for Special Operations and low intensity situations. Contractors had to come up with lots o money and go through multiple flight tests and demonstrations only to have AF decide each time, "eh, we're not interested after all--but thanks for all the money you put up.".

Given that this was the sixth attempt to replace the OH-58 I also wonder if in the future OEMs will be willing to put up a bunch of money up front for whatever comes next.

[Lonewolf_50]

I don't think there will be another go at this.
The war in Ukraine put paid to it.
Read up on RMA.

[Commando Cody]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf_50

I don't think there will be another go at this.
The war in Ukraine put paid to it.
Read up on RMA.

If this was in response to my comment, FWIW I must say that I believe the Ukraine War was an excuse, not a reason. The use of drones was new, but they actually weren't that capable in the aggregate. For one thing, the average distance of a drone mission was 7 km which is quite limiting. I personally believe that FARA was canceled because:

1. The mission was poorly thought out.. I have actually heard this from folks involved with one of the design teams. They were bidding anyway because of the potential size of the contract award.

2. The aircraft as specified couldn't be built. Even the Program Manager acknowledged this, and substantially changing the specs this late in the game would be embarrassing, expensive and could introduce all kinds of contract issues.

3. Despite what appears in the general press regarding the S-97 reducing risk, there was a very good chance that Bell would win. If they build both FLRAA and FARA, all kinds of industrial base issues come into play...what happens with Sikorsky?

Ukraine, IMHO, was a face saving explanation to get themselves out of a hole they had dug themselves into.