Boeing FARA: U.S. Army Aviation Reconnaissance Helicopter Project

Boeing introduced the concept of a new reconnaissance helicopter for the US military. The new machine has several advantages and will make up for the existing disadvantage of such a technique.

Introduced by Boeing Helicopter specially designed to meet the needs of the army aviation US Army in reconnaissance aircraft. The composite traction helicopter has one engine, a modular modern cockpit with a reconfigurable large-area display and autonomous capabilities.

According to Mark Cherry, vice president of Phantom Works at Boeing, the proposed helicopter concept is an affordable and fully integrated system for upcoming US Army missions. The company combined the existing experience of helicopter engineering and combat use of helicopters with innovative technologies and advanced analysis, which allowed us to offer a very convincing solution.

If adopted, the FARA helicopter will carry out reconnaissance missions, and will be able to conduct a light attack on enemy positions. It is assumed that it will replace the multi-purpose helicopter Bell OH-58D Kiowa, which was used by the U.S. Army aviation from 1969 to 2016, having gone through many conflicts, starting from the Vietnam War and ending with modern military operations in the Near and Middle East.

It was to replace the Bell OH-58D Kiowa that the FARA reconnaissance aircraft program was launched in 2018. By the way, the tasks of modernizing the FVL (Future Vertical Lift) fleet of airborne aircraft are considered by the US military command as one of the six priority development areas, therefore, financing the project and its implementation promises to be generous.

Boeing FARA Design Project

The command of the ground forces expects from the new reconnaissance and attack helicopter more optimal characteristics than were inherent in its predecessor Bell OH-58 Kiowa. We are talking about increasing cruising speed to 333 km / h and top speed to 380 km / h, survival against air defense systems of Russian and Chinese production, high maneuverability in urban conditions, the ability to hide behind obstacles.

In April 2019, concept development contracts were signed with five companies - Bell Helicopter, Boeing, Sikorsky Aircraft (owned by Lockheed Martin), Karem Aircraft and AVX Aircraft (in partnership with L3Harris Technologies). In 2020, two "finalists" of the competition should be selected, and in 2023, prototypes should already fly to the sky. And only in 2028 the American army will stop its final choice on the best example of the two presented.

Thus, the Boeing concept has serious competitors and it is far from the fact that the responsible officials of the US Department of Defense will ultimately choose the company under consideration. By the way, Boeing rivals have already presented their reconnaissance helicopter projects.

Experts believe that one of the most likely candidates for the role of the new army aviation helicopter will be the Sikorsky Aircraft project, which is already at the stage of a flying prototype and, accordingly, has a certain temporary advantage. However, it is still premature to talk about which project will still win the competition.

Comments

[gridasov]

It’s even good that the Americans, as a highly technological advanced country, continue to produce windmills. In Russia, they harness for a long time, but they may understand that it is necessary to change the movers to more efficient ones and move on to the new era of aircraft engines

[Mishiko]

Experts believe that one of the most likely candidates for the role of the new army aviation helicopter will be the Sikorsky Aircraft project, which is already at the stage of a flying prototype and, accordingly, has a certain temporary advantage.

And what is the probability of the probable?

[Maksus]

Another reincarnation of Comanche?

[rocket757]

Handsome of course, but what about the mood for drones everywhere and everywhere?

[bessmertniy]

Indeed, an unmanned version of the device can be both more economical and more promising in use and operation.

[rocket757]

For a scout, there is always a danger and not a joke ... of course, if not in training. here the unmanned option will be the most.
however, they have everything.

[gridasov]

the human brain cannot be replaced by anything for a long time. Therefore, silent movers, high maneuverability and payload are the basis of the prospects for the development of this type of aircraft.

[rocket757]

Everything is possible. Different systems can use.
And yet, automatic systems have their advantages ... they just do not know how to "think" yet.

[Mikhail3]

Indeed, an unmanned version of the device can be both more economical and more promising in use and operation.

Yeah. True, the Pentagon ranks for some reason did not think of what you instantly comprehended. Why would this be?

[Vasily Ponomarev]

"In April 2019, contracts for the development of concepts were signed with five companies" - very interesting concepts, just like a selection, as many as five competitors and all have interesting designs, take the same valor 280

[Vyacheslav Viktorovich]

I support Bell Invictus - as handsome as Comanche (once upon a time).

[Vasily Ponomarev]

Quote: gridasov

It’s even good that the Americans, as a highly technological advanced country, continue to produce windmills. In Russia, they harness for a long time, but they may understand that it is necessary to change the movers to more efficient ones and move on to the new era of aircraft engines

Interesting, like everything was written correctly, but you were bombarded, strange, why?

[gridasov]

Do not be surprised. We are all different. On the pages of the site is a more focused search for people who understand each other. Therefore, they should not be offended. In addition, it is worthwhile to understand that we are talking about a new direction in the research and design of new devices as movers using environmental properties that are now not even theoretically considered.

[Mikhail3]

Perhaps because no one knows the "new movers". To be honest, those simply do not exist.

[gridasov]

I bet! Your life is mine!

[Mikhail3]

Clear. I’ll go to the toilet ...

[Whalebone]

Interestingly, at least one helicopter will survive a sequential salvo of 2 Verb from 3-4 km? The time of manned front-line aviation is running out. MANPADS is 100 times cheaper than a helicopter. And the life of the crew is generally priceless.

[Vasily Ponomarev]

Quote: Vyacheslav Viktorovich

I support Bell Invictus - as handsome as Comanche (once upon a time).

and by the way what are his chips?

[Nikolay R-PM]

against the background of fanfare by Turkish UAVs and Western concepts of using UAVs for reconnaissance, target designation and point strikes, the development of a replacement for oh-58d does not fit in with my fashionable UAV trend. Americans even taught the ah-64e to control the UAV to do without the oh-58d. And here again, a manned reconnaissance-attack helicopter, a helicopter that is not a tenant with modern air defense systems, is slow, noisy, consuming fuel.
Is it possible that the UAVs, with their well-known and generally recognized advantages, are not so "omnipotent" in reconnaissance and the subsequent destruction of reconnoitered targets that the US Army Aviation announces a competition to replace the oh-58? or does the concept of widespread use of reconnaissance and strike drones hide subtle shortcomings revealed by the operation? Why develop a manned aircraft that needs to be "pressed to the ground" and hidden in the terrain, if an uav is cheaper than a similar manned aircraft and the more invaluable life of pilots.
In my opinion, only the implicit flaws of the fashionable dpl-trend caused the initiation of the fara program.

[Pavel57]

Does a battlefield helicopter need to fly at a speed of 500 km / h?