FVL: Don’t Pick The Tiltrotor, V-22 Test Pilot Tells Army

FVL: Don’t Pick The Tiltrotor, V-22 Test Pilot Tells Army
FVL: Don’t Pick The Tiltrotor, V-22 Test Pilot Tells Army

In the competition for the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft, high agility and low life-cycle costs matter most, a former Marine tiltrotor test pilot argues.

FVL: Sikorsky Shows Off S-97 Scout Chopper For Army

FVL: Sikorsky Shows Off S-97 Scout Chopper For Army
FVL: Sikorsky Shows Off S-97 Scout Chopper For Army

The S-97 Raider is Sikorsky’s proto-prototype for the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft. It’s competing with the Bell 360 Invictus — but unlike the S-97, the 360 isn’t flying yet.

Defiant-X: Sikorsky, Boeing Unveil FLRAA Design

Defiant-X: Sikorsky, Boeing Unveil FLRAA Design
Defiant-X: Sikorsky, Boeing Unveil FLRAA Design

The companies’ proposed Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) to replace the UH-60 is a sleeker, stealthier version of the prototype SB>1 Defiant now in flight tests. Can it beat Bell’s tiltrotor?

FVL: Army’s High-Speed Helicopters Hurtle Ahead

FVL: Army’s High-Speed Helicopters Hurtle Ahead
FVL: Army’s High-Speed Helicopters Hurtle Ahead

Bell and Sikorsky have started building their competing prototypes for the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) ahead of a Final Design Review in November. The vital digital architecture is still in development.

FVL: Sikorsky-Boeing Defiant Hits 235 MPH, Aims For 288

FVL: Sikorsky-Boeing Defiant Hits 235 MPH, Aims For 288
FVL: Sikorsky-Boeing Defiant Hits 235 MPH, Aims For 288

Despite COVID-19, the SB>1 Defiant team is testing furiously to catch up with archrival Bell’s V-280 tiltrotor, which has almost 10 times as many flight hours.

FVL: See The Army’s Future Scout In Flight

FVL: See The Army’s Future Scout In Flight
FVL: See The Army’s Future Scout In Flight

The Army will pick either the Bell 360 Invictus or the Sikorsky Raider-X as its Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft. Get a close-up look at both contenders.

FARA: Sikorsky Touts Cutting-Edge Tech

FARA: Sikorsky Touts Cutting-Edge Tech
FARA: Sikorsky Touts Cutting-Edge Tech

The Raider-X compound helicopter not only meets the Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance needs today, Sikorsky FARA director Tim Malia told us: It has the margin for growth “to be a good investment for the taxpayer for decades to come.”

FVL: Army Picks Bell & Sikorsky For FARA Scout

FVL: Army Picks Bell & Sikorsky For FARA Scout
FVL: Army Picks Bell & Sikorsky For FARA Scout

The Bell 360 Invictus and the Sikorsky Raider-X will vie for the final contract to build FARA, with rival prototypes in flight by 2023. Bell and Sikorsky (with Boeing) are also facing off for the FLRAA transport.

FLRAA In Flight: Watch The SB>1 Defiant & V-280 Valor In The Air

FLRAA In Flight: Watch The SB>1 Defiant & V-280 Valor In The Air
FLRAA In Flight: Watch The SB>1 Defiant & V-280 Valor In The Air

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…

FVL: Zoom In On The Competitors To Replace The Black Hawk

FVL: Zoom In On The Competitors To Replace The Black Hawk
FVL: Zoom In On The Competitors To Replace The Black Hawk

Zoom in on the Sikorsky-Boeing and Bell contenders to replace the UH-60 Black Hawk with exclusive photographs.

Boeing Unveils FARA Scout Design

Boeing Unveils FARA Scout Design
Boeing Unveils FARA Scout Design

Boeing’s famous Phantom Works threw the kitchen sink at the problem: This is an aircraft with a helicopter-style main rotor, a tail rotor, a pusher propeller, and a wing-like “stabilator.”

Beyond The Black Hawk: Defiant Vs. Valor

Beyond The Black Hawk: Defiant Vs. Valor
Beyond The Black Hawk: Defiant Vs. Valor

After decades of R&D, the race to replace the UH-60 helicopter is entering its last few years.

Can Army Break The Comanche Curse?

Can Army Break The Comanche Curse?
Can Army Break The Comanche Curse?

“The Army has learned its lesson” from past acquisition disasters, said Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who’s “very pleased” with FVL. This program is truly different, agreed one of the fathers of the cancelled Comanche, retired Maj. Gen. Rudy Ostovich.

FARA: Five-Way Fight For Army’s Future Scout

FARA: Five-Way Fight For Army’s Future Scout
FARA: Five-Way Fight For Army’s Future Scout

AVX/L3, Bell, Boeing, Karem, and Sikorsky have submitted their designs for the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft. None of them is a conventional helicopter.