{"id":23866,"date":"2022-03-31T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-31T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/03\/31\/us-army-faces-key-decisions-to-advance-future-vertical-lift-aircraft-programs\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:08:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:08:34","slug":"us-army-faces-key-decisions-to-advance-future-vertical-lift-aircraft-programs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2022\/03\/31\/us-army-faces-key-decisions-to-advance-future-vertical-lift-aircraft-programs\/","title":{"rendered":"US Army faces key decisions to advance future vertical lift aircraft programs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The Army is nearing critical points on its path to fielding two Future Vertical Lift (FVL) aircraft<\/a>, according to Army officials in charge of the efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The service plans to field both a Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA)<\/a> and a Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA)<\/a> by 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Army is expected to choose this summer one company to build FLRAA<\/a>; prototypes are due to the service by 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the service has overcome some minor delays assembling its first next-generation engine that will not only upgrade current attack and utility helicopters but will also power FARA. Two industry teams are building prototypes now and waiting to receive those new engines to next year compete those aircraft in a fly-off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bell and a Sikorsky-Boeing team have been locked in the competition to build FLRAA for several years. Bell\u2019s offering is the V-280 Valor tiltrotor <\/a>and the Sikorsky-Boeing team\u2019s is the Defiant X<\/a> coaxial aircraft \u2014 two very different airframe designs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congress has continued to support the FLRAA program <\/a>with budget increases over the past several years to help drive down risk as the program enters the critical technology development phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the fiscal 2022 omnibus spending bill <\/b>enacted earlier this month, Congress boosted the program by $77.5 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI see this add from Congress as another opportunity for us to continue to reduce risk<\/a> and make sure that as we enter the program of record, that we fully understand the program\u2019s cost, performance, schedule and capabilities,\u201d Brig. Gen. Rob Barrie, the program executive officer for Army aviation, told Defense News in a March 11 interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both FLRAA demonstrator aircraft have several years and many hours of test flights under their belts as the Army heads into the next phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The service expects to complete preliminary design reviews for FLRAA in the late spring or early summer, Barrie said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The service awarded two contracts to build prototypes for a competitive fly-off for the FARA program in 2020. Bell is building the 360 Invictus<\/a>, while Lockheed Martin\u2019s Sikorsky is offering up the Raider X<\/a>, also a coaxial helicopter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both aircraft are roughly 80% assembled, Barrie noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aircraft both require the Army\u2019s Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP)<\/a> engine. Despite delays on the engine <\/a>last year due to coronavirus pandemic-related supply chain issues, Barrie said it is now assembled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are anticipating this month to have the first engine fired off,\u201d Barrie said, \u201cand that will begin a process of developmental testing of the engine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Army is planning to deliver ITEP engines to the two FARA competitors in November, Barrie said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo we still see a path to fly in \u201823? The answer is yes,\u201d Barrie said. \u201cThere\u2019s risk to that, but, yes, our objective remains to fly in \u201823.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Army provided each competitor with a 3D printed version of the ITEP engine to help reduce risk when the actual engine arrives, Barrie noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All eyes are on the service as it attempts to modernize, particularly given its failures in recent decades to procure new helicopters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Army leaders are offering the program their full support. Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville has continued in recent speaking engagements this month to reiterate what he sees as a clear need for these two future aircraft programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe believe that we need a Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft,\u201d McConville said at the McAleese and Associates defense conference in Washington earlier this month. \u201cIt\u2019s going to take some time to do and we\u2019re going through the acquisition and development process to [make it] happen, we are committed to making that happen. Same thing with the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Army has indicated programmatically a strong support for both programs and there\u2019s a recognition that these capabilities will add significantly to the Army\u2019s future ability to fight and win,\u201d Barrie said. \u201cWe are executing and we\u2019re excited about the capability that both of these programs can provide the Army.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t