WASHINGTON: In normal times, this week would see Bell Textron and the Sikorsky-Boeing team showing off their cutting-edge aircraft at AUSA Global Force in Huntsville, with video displays, models, and even full-size mock-ups. With conferences closed down because of the coronavirus, we’re making an all-out push to give you a virtual taste of Huntsville (click…
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.Integrating commercial off-the-shelf computing on military platforms and how to make it work
The systems may be off-the-shelf, but the packaging for integration on vehicles and ships provides cradle-to-grave resiliency.
After decades of R&D, the race to replace the UH-60 helicopter is entering its last few years.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
AVX/L3, Bell, Boeing, Karem, and Sikorsky have submitted their designs for the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft. None of them is a conventional helicopter.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
The Navy’s Osprey differs from the Marine Corps and Air Force versions, boasting an enhanced fuel capacity, which required wing modifications to deal with the greater weight.
By Robbin Laird
“We don’t have the time or luxury to wait for people,” Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said. “They’ve got to keep pace with us if they want to do business with us.”
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
The Army is skeptical that early models of the Future Vertical Lift aircraft will be able to fly unmanned. But Bell says it’s already flight-tested all the essential automation.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
Bell’s snazzy new demonstration center may be the future of how defense contractors pitch their tech to Pentagon and congressional staff.
By Richard Whittle
Capability exists to simulate the future of kill chains at theater scale
A tool to explore what-if scenarios and tradeoffs at the theater-level faster than traditional analysis.
“What you see before you is an aircraft … providing a low-risk path for the Army to meet the timeline, the schedule, and the cost objectives.”
By Richard Whittle Mechanical fixes kept the SB>1 compound helicopter grounded for weeks this summer, but the Sikorsky-Boeing team insists they can catch up.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. Sikorsky says their Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft design will fly faster, with bigger weapons, than archrival Bell’s. Bell says theirs will be cheaper and more reliable.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
With its trademark tiltrotors too big for the Army’s FARA requirement, Bell is squeezing every ounce of performance out of a helicopter. Will it be fast enough?
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) ground forces command want an immediate replacement for the CH-53 . “It is natural that operational needs differ, but this is the task of the highest command to evaluate the needs and make a decision,” a senior Israeli defense official said.
By Arie Egozi
Other companies build planes. Other companies build helicopters. Bell’s “secret sauce,” its CEO says, is its aircraft can be both.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. Critics have argued the tiltrotor aircraft could never be as nimble at low speed and low altitude as a helicopter. Bell says it’s proven them wrong.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
