The United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) have signed an agreement to guarantee cooperation in future direct lifting (FVL) programs.
“Under a plan signed by Maj. Gen. Walter ‘Wally’ Rugen, team leader for the US Army Future Command’s Future Vertical Lift Cross-Functional Team, and Major-General James Bowder, Director Futures, the two nations will share information about their future rotorcraft. needs and programs, ”according to the statement.
The ‘Performance Monitoring of a Positive Future Improvement Program’ agreement will allow for interoperability between services within the FVL domain. In addition, countries will “explore and analyze new ideas” for a joint military aircraft.
“With this joint analysis, the U.S. and the U.S. will be able to evaluate the benefits, risks and the full potential of rotorcraft partnerships between the two partners,” the statement added. Among other things, the new program also aims to reduce costs, improve rotorcraft collaboration, and create future collaboration strategies.
Both countries will seek ways to work together in areas such as research, development, testing, evaluation, and production, sustainability, and subsequent development.
The information obtained will be used in the national decision-making process, according to the statement. The agreement also includes the development of arrangements for the United Kingdom to participate in future stages of the Pentagon FVL program.
At the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, American soldiers conducted two rounds of a learning campaign called ‘Project Convergence’, which included a co-operation case last fall. The service aims to include the United Nations, including the UK, in a major collaborative study this year, focusing on FVL’s capabilities.
“Arrangements such as these will ultimately improve our skills and strengthen our capacity, focusing on collective killing, survival and access, while ensuring access to both of our countries,” Maj. General Wally Rugen, who oversees the modern US Army FVL, in a statement. .
“Our deep collaboration of science and technology is an important part of this and makes us both competitive,” said Maj. Gen. James Bowder of the British Army in a statement. “Today’s agreement formally validates our partnership to help determine the future of the aircraft in competitions and disputes.”
Future Vertical Lift Program
The US military has strongly followed FVL programs such as Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA), Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA), and Air-Launched Effects (ALE).
This year, the service will choose between Bell and Lockheed Martin (Sikorsky-Boeing) to produce FLRAA. Bell and Lockheed are also seeking a contract to produce FARA prototypes, which are expected to fly in 2023.
As the US prepares for greater power competition with China and Russia, FVL – organized as a new rotorcraft family – is one of the most important modern service features. These planes will replace helicopters attacking Black Hawk and Apache.
Last month, the Lockheed Martin SB team said the FLRAA technology supervisor had successfully completed its first equipment profile, which included low-performance aircraft operations and seating in an enclosed space.
Although the company is currently bidding for the contract, the first unit will not be ready until 2030. The Future Vertical Lift Cross-Functional Team oversees the FLRAA program.
The Sikorsky-Boeing Defiant X, built with a coaxial rotor system, is provided by Lockheed. During the flight test, Defiant reached 236 knots and quickly landed at the landing, according to the company.
Defiant Court once indicated “appropriate” cargo by dragging the 5,300-pound Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System, according to the announcement. It also demonstrated low speed performance with fly-by-wire controls. The field had already exceeded 245 knots during the flight test.
Bell Before Sikorsky-Boeing?
Bell throws a V-280 Valor tiltrotor of the FLRAA system and a FARA 360 Invictus helicopter. According to the company, the production process of the V-280 has already been improved, with a 40 percent reduction in cost and a 80 percent reduction in lead time for the production of most of its components.
Bell has tested software that will allow Valor to fly independently, without the need for a human pilot (the pilot is always riding as a backup). The same software has been tried for simulation by Sikorsky-Boeing, but has not yet come to the real Defiant aircraft.
Although Bell says current controls allow him to use the aircraft properly during a clear flight test, the company believes that having more computer help to detect and avoid obstacles during high-speed, low-altitude flights at night or in bad weather can be a life saver.
Since its first appearance in December 2017, the Bell prototype has entered more than 170 flight hours, including some with military pilots. The technology supervisor, SB-1 Defiant, had to wait until March 2019 for me to give birth for the first time due to the challenges of producing solid rotors that are critical to their performance, including subsequent mechanical concerns.