Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft
| Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) | |
|---|---|
| Type: | Transport and attack helicopters |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
desired mid-2024 |
| Commissioning: |
desired 2030 |
Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft ( FLRAA ) is a US Army program that was launched in 2019. The aim is to develop a successor to the UH-60 Black Hawk transport helicopter as part of the Future Vertical Lift . The Black Hawk was developed in the early 1970s and has been in service since June 1979. The United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and the United States Marine Corps (USMC) are involved in the procurement of a UH-60 successor .
In April 2019, the Army issued a request for information (RFI), a request for information intended to identify interested potential manufacturers. According to the RFI, the Army plans to put the FLRAA into service by 2030 to allow the UH-60 to retire after 50 years.
Development goals
According to RFI, a helicopter will cost 43 million US dollars (as of 2018). The Army envisions a deployment scenario in which a future reconnaissance helicopter, which is being developed as part of the FARA ( Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft ) program, as well as unmanned drones would control an area or a corridor, whereby a FLRAA could drop troops. The FLRAA should be much more agile and faster than the existing UH-60.
| Attributes | minimum | Desired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Army | USMC | Army | USMC | |
| Combat range | 200 nmi (370 km; 230 mi) | 365 nmi (676 km; 420 mi) (1) | 300 nmi (560 km; 350 mi) | 450 nmi (830 km; 520 mi) (1) |
| One way reach | 1,725 nmi (3,195 km; 1985 mi) | - | 2,440 nmi (4,520 km; 2,810 mi) | - |
| Maximum continuous cruising speed (2) | 250 kn (460 km / h; 290 mph) | 275 to 305 kn (509 to 565 km / h; 316 to 351 mph) (3) | 280 kn (520 km / h; 320 mph) | 295 to 330 kn (546 to 611 km / h; 339 to 380 mph) (3) |
| Payload (internal) | Cabin floor loading 300 lb / sq ft (1500 kg / m²) |
4400 lb (2000 kg) (4) | Cabin floor loading 300 lb / sq ft (1500 kg / m²) |
5200 lb (2400 kg) (4) |
| Passengers (5) | 12 (6) | 8th | 12 (6) | 8th |
Remarks:
1 With 30 minutes reserve at maximum payload using specified mission profiles.
2 Specified as true airspeed.
3 Lower value at maximum continuous output of 90%. Higher value at 100% mean nominal power using the specified mission profile.
4 Includes 12 people: 8 soldiers, 2 pilots and 2 crew.
5 Requirement in addition to the aircraft crew.
6 365 lb (166 kg) per passenger.
history
FLRAA is part of the Future Vertical Lift (ATCO). In 2016, Major General William Gayler declared that the first ATCO aircraft would take on the role of the JMR medium helicopter. However, the proposed FLRAA program plan overlaps with the FARA procurement, which is also part of the ATCO. FARA would provide a JMR-Light helicopter for the armed reconnaissance role previously performed by the OH-58 Kiowa until it was decommissioned in 2014.
On April 4, 2019, the Army posted a formal request for information and outlined their schedule for the FLRAA:
- Q4FY21 (July to September 2021): contract
- Q2FY23 (January to March 2023): preliminary design review
- Q3FY24 (April to June 2024): First flight
- Q4FY24 (July to September 2024): critical design review
- Q2FY30 (January to March 2030): Commissioning
The ATCO program is led by Brigadier General Wally Rugen. According to Rugen, the Army was ready to start competing for the FLRAA contract based on the data gathered during the JMR-TD (Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator) program. In the JMR-TD program, the Bell V-280 Valor and Sikorsky-Boeing SB-1 Defiant face each other.
In March 2020, the Army awarded concept development contracts to Bell and Sikorsky / Boeing , which should show how the FLRAA requirements can be met by the Valor and Defiant.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c RFI Intent . United States Army. April 4, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
- ^ A b Judson, Jen: Army Future Vertical Lift hones in on attack recon, long-range assault . In: Defense News , March 30, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
- ^ Judson, Jen: First Future Vertical Lift Helicopters Will Be Medium-Lift . In: Defense News , April 29, 2016. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
- ^ Judson, Jen: US Army plans to field a future long-range assault helicopter by 2030 . In: Defense News , April 4, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
- ^ Parsons, Dan: Bell's Valor, Sikorsky / Boeing Defiant advance in US Army Future Assault Aircraft program . In: Vertical , March 16, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2020.