4 Designs for US Army's FARA

Scorpion1alpha · by **Scorpion1alpha** » 19 Oct 2020, 12:40

madrat wrote:

Would this thing even be considered a "helicopter"???

aaam wrote:I think I remember reading somewhere that NOTAR tends to lose effectiveness in thinner air, and since the "hot and high" is a major part of FARA (and FLRAA)'s specifications, maybe it was thought it wouldn't give the performance needed?

I don't know, but if I were to guess, you're right.

madrat · by **madrat** » 19 Oct 2020, 13:28

Scorpion1alpha-
It's an Israeli drone with twin fixed-lift rotors and the two rotors in back can swivel. It is considered a helicopter.

Very similar idea to:

There weren't many pictures on it to see the default cant of the two main rotors. I assume they are rotating in opposite directions to counteract torque.

Scorpion1alpha · by **Scorpion1alpha** » 20 Oct 2020, 12:29

Thanks.

KamenRiderBlade · by **KamenRiderBlade** » 11 Jan 2021, 12:59

Bell's EDAT Tail Rotor should be a interesting solution.

https://verticalmag.com/news/bell-elect ... questions/

charlielima223 · by **charlielima223** » 24 Mar 2022, 14:14

Testing for the next generation of turbine engine that will replace existing helicopter engines and will be used in the FARA and FLRAA to begin soon

https://breakingdefense.com/2022/03/arm ... ep-engine/

madrat · by **madrat** » 24 Mar 2022, 22:28

No more T700s? No way.

aaam · by **aaam** » 26 Mar 2022, 21:44

charlielima223 wrote:Testing for the next generation of turbine engine that will replace existing helicopter engines and will be used in the FARA and FLRAA to begin soon

https://breakingdefense.com/2022/03/arm ... ep-engine/

Stand by for acronyms:

The T901 was the winner of the the competition for the ITEP (Improved Turbine Engine Program). It is the engine Army required the FARA bidders to design their aircraft around. In addition, it is planned to replace the T700 in UH-60 and AH-64.

It is too small for FLRAA. The engine the Army was going to develop for that is FATE (Future Affordable Turbine Engine). It may also replace CH-47 engines. Originally Army specified that FLRAA competitors must design around the winner of that competition. However, Army's schedule for FATE does not match that of FLRAA, and it may not be ready in time for initial production of FLRAA. Army has released Bell and Sikorsky from that requirement, at least for EMD and initial production. Bell announced some time back they're going to use the Rolls AE 1107F, and later Sikorsky said they'd use the Honeywell HTS7500.

charlielima223 · by **charlielima223** » 10 Jul 2022, 19:15

The future helicopter engine for the US Army is starting its first real testing

https://breakingdefense.com/2022/07/arm ... irst-test/

Both Sikorsky and Bell's FARA design is almost complete

https://breakingdefense.com/2022/07/sik ... ying-data/

Scorpion1alpha · by **Scorpion1alpha** » 11 Jul 2022, 03:54

charlielima223 wrote:The future helicopter engine for the US Army is starting its first real testing

https://breakingdefense.com/2022/07/arm ... irst-test/

Both Sikorsky and Bell's FARA design is almost complete

https://breakingdefense.com/2022/07/sik ... ying-data/

Both looking good. Personally, I'm still pulling for the Bell's design.

aaam · by **aaam** » 12 Jul 2022, 08:12

charlielima223 wrote:The future helicopter engine for the US Army is starting its first real testing

https://breakingdefense.com/2022/07/arm ... irst-test/

Army earlier had hoped to accelerate ITEP/T901 development by a year to get FARA operational sooner. Unfortunately, due to COVID and some supply chain issues, that didn't work out. Although FARA has slipped from previously announced schedules by about a year, this only puts it back on the original schedule rather than the hoped for accelerated one.

madrat · by **madrat** » 12 Jul 2022, 11:58

If Bell Invictus wins I'd hope the Marines carry the design forward as a Cobra replacement. The Valor is simply too big for the role. The Sikorsky model might make for a nice Sea Hawk alternative.

zerion · by **zerion** » 12 Jul 2022, 23:40

Scorpion1alpha · by **Scorpion1alpha** » 13 Jul 2022, 02:13

That is SEXY. Must admit, it looks a little preggo in the middle though. Sleek, simple and compact otherwise. If looks alone wins, I like the Invictus's chances.

ricnunes · by **ricnunes** » 13 Jul 2022, 12:26

I fully agree that the Invictus's is the best looking of this competition and it's my favourite hands down.

It kinda reminds me the Comanche which IMO should never have been cancelled so I consider it to be a kinda of a "Comanche reborn" (but being different, of course).

sferrin · by **sferrin** » 13 Jul 2022, 14:46

Scorpion1alpha wrote:
charlielima223 wrote:The future helicopter engine for the US Army is starting its first real testing

https://breakingdefense.com/2022/07/arm ... irst-test/

Both Sikorsky and Bell's FARA design is almost complete

https://breakingdefense.com/2022/07/sik ... ying-data/

Both looking good. Personally, I'm still pulling for the Bell's design.

My money says Bell wins the Blackhawk replacement, with the V-280, and Sikorsky gets FARA.