U.S. Army Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft

[OceanBonfire]

MESA, Ariz., March 3, 2020 —Boeing is offering the U.S. Army an agile, fully integrated, purpose-built system for the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) prototype competition.

Boeing FARA is designed to meet the Army’s current mission needs while evolving as technologies and missions change. The thrust compounded single-main rotor helicopter boasts a six-bladed rotor system, a single engine, tandem seating and a modular, state-of-the-art cockpit with a reconfigurable large area display and autonomous capabilities.

“We’re offering more than a helicopter – we’re offering an affordable and fully integrated system for the Army, the mission and the future. We’ve blended innovation, ingenuity and proven rotorcraft experience with extensive testing and advanced analysis to offer a very compelling solution,” said Mark Cherry, vice president and general manager of Boeing’s Phantom Works.

The fly-by-wire design leverages more than 65 years of rotorcraft experience, proven advanced and additive manufacturing technology, and product commonality driving down risk and costs. The system will provide seamless capability within the Army ecosystem to include Long-Range Precision Fires and air-launched effects.

“We listened to the Army, assessed all alternatives, and optimized our design to provide the right aircraft to meet the requirements,” said Shane Openshaw, Boeing FARA program manager. “We are offering a very reliable, sustainable and flexible aircraft with a focus on safety and the future fight.”

FARA will fill a critical gap in Army aviation for an advanced light attack and reconnaissance capability, previously held by the now-retired Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8bXB3milTA

https://boeing.mediaroom.com/2020-03-03-Boeing-reveals-its-U-S-Army-Future-Attack-Reconnaissance-Aircraft-design

 

[tomahawk6]

The chopper looks pretty mean.

 

[daftandbarmy]

The chopper looks pretty mean.

Mainly because there is no crew, right?

 

[KevinB]

And it’s gone.

US Army spent billions on a new helicopter that now will never fly

The Army said it sees the cancellation of the FARA program as an adjustment to technological advancements and the changing character of warfare.

www.defensenews.com

 

[Good2Golf]

And it’s gone.

US Army spent billions on a new helicopter that now will never fly

The Army said it sees the cancellation of the FARA program as an adjustment to technological advancements and the changing character of warfare.

www.defensenews.com

Interesting times indeed!

On the plus side, Hook Block II will be giving the BUFF a run for membership in the Century club.

 

[Good2Golf]

And Hookers keep getting more popular…

Army CH-47s Fill In For Grounded Marine MV-22s In White House Airlift Role

With the entire fleet of V-22 tilt-rotors grounded, the White House is calling upon different helicopter types to support presidential travel.

www.twz.com

 

[GK .Dundas]

And Hookers keep getting more popular…

Army CH-47s Fill In For Grounded Marine MV-22s In White House Airlift Role

With the entire fleet of V-22 tilt-rotors grounded, the White House is calling upon different helicopter types to support presidential travel.

www.twz.com

So is the White House going to get blackjack too ?

 

[dapaterson]

And Hookers keep getting more popular…

Army CH-47s Fill In For Grounded Marine MV-22s In White House Airlift Role

With the entire fleet of V-22 tilt-rotors grounded, the White House is calling upon different helicopter types to support presidential travel.

www.twz.com

Just ask Kingston.

 

[Good2Golf]

So is the White House going to get blackjack too ?

Do you mean Black Hawk? They already have those for POTUS transport internationally when the VH-3 Sea Kings aren’t there. The Chinooks are supporting the ‘Green Top’ (support) role, vice the ‘White Top’ (POTUS carriage) role.

 

[GK .Dundas]

Its

Do you mean Black Hawk? They already have those for POTUS transport internationally when the VH-3 Sea Kings aren’t there. The Chinooks are supporting the ‘Green Top’ (support) role, vice the ‘White Top’ (POTUS carriage) role.

It's not funny if you have to explain it.
It's a Futurama quote more or less.
Hooker's and blackjack .
I forgot the joke emoji.

 

[dapaterson]

So is the White House going to get blackjack too ?

 

[Good2Golf]

Its

It's not funny if you have to explain it.
It's a Futurama quote more or less.
Hooker's and blackjack .
I forgot the joke emoji.

If you had listed blackjack first, I would have twigged to Bender’s quote right away…

 

[dapaterson]

So is the White House going to get blackjack too ?

What do the polls for the Presidential election day?

 

[Colin Parkinson]

And it’s gone.

US Army spent billions on a new helicopter that now will never fly

The Army said it sees the cancellation of the FARA program as an adjustment to technological advancements and the changing character of warfare.

www.defensenews.com

Comanche 2.0

 

[Good2Golf]

Comanche 2.0

TBH, there’s just so much going on in the UCAV capability space right now (and not just in UKR) that I’m not surprised by this. I also will not at all be surprised if the FLRAA #s for V280 are throttled back in the near future. The plus up to existing UH-60 fleets and solid growth path for extending CH-47 Block II capabilities throughout the Army’s conventional heavy-lift force are pretty interesting signals.

 

[KevinB]

TBH, there’s just so much going on in the UCAV capability space right now (and not just in UKR) that I’m not surprised by this. I also will not at all be surprised if the FLRAA #s for V280 are throttled back in the near future. The plus up to existing UH-60 fleets and solid growth path for extending CH-47 Block II capabilities throughout the Army’s conventional heavy-lift force are pretty interesting signals.

Well we are divesting older UH-60 models, and getting new, so I suspect you are 100% on FLRAA. The Hook increase is just the nail on that coffin for the 280.
(interestingly the Hook fulfills that mission better anyway and is cheaper, flies faster, flies longer, and requires a smaller LZ…

 

[Good2Golf]

The Hook increase is just the nail on that coffin for the 280.
(interestingly the Hook fulfills that mission better anyway and is cheaper, flies faster, flies longer, and requires a smaller LZ…

 

[Kirkhill]

Army Rethink Of Aviation Priorities Is A Big Boost For Boeing

Boeing rotorcraft plants in Arizona and Pennsylvania will benefit.

www.forbes.com

By killing the scout helicopter, the Army has freed up enough funding to make a long-term commitment to the company’s upgrade of the CH-47F Chinook—a heavy-lift helicopter produced at Boeing’s plant in suburban Philadelphia.

Although Chinook is expected to remain in the force until 2060, the Army has never officially committed to upgrades beyond 69 much-needed special operations variants.

Now it appears that the other 465 Chinooks in the Army and National Guard will be enhanced to a “Block II” configuration—keeping the Philadelphia plant humming through the 2030s.

The Army’s realignment is also good news for Boeing’s other major rotorcraft plant in Mesa, Arizona, where the AH-64E Apache attack helicopter is built.

Boeing is currently in the midst of remanufacturing or replacing over 800 Apaches, restoring the helicopters to zero-time condition in the expectation they will remain the Army’s premier tank-killer for the next 30 years.

But the company will complete this work in 2028, and there was no comprehensive plan for follow-on improvements. By terminating the planned scout helicopter, the Army guarantees Apache will continue to perform the manned recon mission for many years to come—perhaps decades.

That means additional upgrades as Apache transitions to controlling a new generation of reconnaissance drones on future battlefields.

Since Apache is already highly valued for its anti-armor capabilities, there is no danger its role will be eclipsed as unmanned systems proliferate. The more likely outcome is that Apache will be permanently ensconced in that portion of the recon mission that still requires a manned airframe.

Army leaders have thus shored up a critical part of their aviation industrial base at a time when Boeing can really use the cashflow. They have also kept the door open for foreign customers to continue ordering Boeing’s two iconic helicopters, secure in the knowledge those aircraft will remain at the cutting edge.

Last year, Germany committed to buying 60 Block II Chinooks, while Poland announced plans to purchase 96 Apaches—making it the second biggest operator of Apaches in the world.

The Army’s rebalance also provided good news to its other two rotorcraft integrators, Bell TextronTXT +0.7% and Sikorsky. Bell will continue developing a next-generation assault aircraft based on its unique tiltrotor technology, and Sikorsky will get another multiyear contract to keep its ubiquitous Black Hawk in production.

The Army has even added an R&D funding line to the Black Hawk program to help Sikorsky keep its engineering team intact.