Sikorsky-Boeing protest Army’s FLRAA award to Bell Textron

Sikorsky-Boeing protest Army’s FLRAA award to Bell Textron
Sikorsky-Boeing protest Army’s FLRAA award to Bell Textron

GAO has up to 100 days to rule in a bid protest, but the congressional watchdog agency strives to resolve cases as quickly as possible.

Bell Textron’s Valor wins Army’s FLRAA competition to replace Black Hawk

Bell Textron’s Valor wins Army’s FLRAA competition to replace Black Hawk
Bell Textron’s Valor wins Army’s FLRAA competition to replace Black Hawk

The award is worth up to $1.3 billion, but a follow-on production contract could put the program in the range of $70 billion over its lifetime.

Unmanned Black Hawk program in Army’s hands as ALIAS robo-helo takes likely final flight

Unmanned Black Hawk program in Army’s hands as ALIAS robo-helo takes likely final flight
Unmanned Black Hawk program in Army’s hands as ALIAS robo-helo takes likely final flight

As for whether the Army or other military services will adopt the autonomous technology, Stuart Young, DARPA program manager for ALIAS, said he’s “very confident” but “the question has to do in what form or fashion.”

As Project Convergence tries new ‘tech gateways,’ 2 AI algorithms to transition to programs of record

As Project Convergence tries new ‘tech gateways,’ 2 AI algorithms to transition to programs of record
As Project Convergence tries new ‘tech gateways,’ 2 AI algorithms to transition to programs of record

“I would love to say that solving a problem is all that we should be doing at Army Futures Command, but it’s not,” Lt. Gen. Thomas Todd said. “We really have to be designing the Army of 2040 and beyond. In order to do that, you can’t wait on technology in 2040.”

At Project Convergence, Army doubles down on ‘fully autonomous’ Black Hawk experiments

At Project Convergence, Army doubles down on ‘fully autonomous’ Black Hawk experiments
At Project Convergence, Army doubles down on ‘fully autonomous’ Black Hawk experiments

“My requirement was ‘don’t even bring it if it can’t be flown fully autonomous,'” a senior Army Futures Command official said.

Army ‘encouraged’ by IVAS test despite ‘challenges,’ FLRAA decision may come in October

Army ‘encouraged’ by IVAS test despite ‘challenges,’ FLRAA decision may come in October
Army ‘encouraged’ by IVAS test despite ‘challenges,’ FLRAA decision may come in October

“I think there’s further work to do to improve the system. But we saw a lot of positive things as a test,” the Army’s top acquisition official said of IVAS, before separately noting a potential delay in a major future helicopter program contract.

Sikorsky: FARA prototype 90% complete, learning from S-97 Raider’s flying data

Sikorsky: FARA prototype 90% complete, learning from S-97 Raider’s flying data
Sikorsky: FARA prototype 90% complete, learning from S-97 Raider’s flying data

“If we didn’t have an S-97, we’d have to wait another year-plus to be able to fly those data points and to inform our production design,” said Sikorsky’s chief engineer for the company’s Raider-X FARA offering.

Army, Sikorsky ink 10th Black Hawk multiyear deal, worth at least $2.3 billion

Army, Sikorsky ink 10th Black Hawk multiyear deal, worth at least $2.3 billion
Army, Sikorsky ink 10th Black Hawk multiyear deal, worth at least $2.3 billion

If all options are exercised, the contract value could be $4.4 billion.

Germany chooses Chinook for future heavy lift competition

Germany chooses Chinook for future heavy lift competition
Germany chooses Chinook for future heavy lift competition

The Germany Ministry of Defense has selected Boeing’s CH-47F Chinook over Lockheed Martin Sikorsky’s CH-53K.

In Army helo competitions, Sikorsky says factory tech, 3D printing give them an edge

In Army helo competitions, Sikorsky says factory tech, 3D printing give them an edge
In Army helo competitions, Sikorsky says factory tech, 3D printing give them an edge

In plant tour, Sikorsky official says “hundreds” of parts could be 3D printed if chosen for Army’s high-profile FARA and FLRAA competitions.

Sikorsky offers first glimpse of FARA entry, now 85% complete

Sikorsky offers first glimpse of FARA entry, now 85% complete
Sikorsky offers first glimpse of FARA entry, now 85% complete

The company has also built a second fuselage to assist in risk reduction for Increment One.

FLRAA leaves Florida: Sikorsky-Boeing’s prototype assault helo makes longest trip yet

FLRAA leaves Florida: Sikorsky-Boeing’s prototype assault helo makes longest trip yet
FLRAA leaves Florida: Sikorsky-Boeing’s prototype assault helo makes longest trip yet

After a 700 nautical mile trip to show off its FLRAA offering in Nashville, pilot feedback on the SB>1 Defiant was “absolutely boring — the way test pilots like it to be,” a Team Defiant member said.

Air Force ending procurement of HH-60W combat rescue helicopter in FY23

Air Force ending procurement of HH-60W combat rescue helicopter in FY23
Air Force ending procurement of HH-60W combat rescue helicopter in FY23

The Air Force’s decision to curtail the buy raises major questions about the future of the service’s combat search and rescue mission.

A robo-Black Hawk helicopter flew with no pilots for the first time

A robo-Black Hawk helicopter flew with no pilots for the first time
A robo-Black Hawk helicopter flew with no pilots for the first time

The Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System, or ALIAS, was outfitted on a UH-60A Black Hawk at Fort Campbell, KY, for a simulated flight through an “obstacle run” in “Manhattan” with no pilots on board.