23 juin 2022 | International, Aérospatial

Le projet d'un hélicoptère de nouvelle génération (NGRC) avance

A l'occasion d'une réunion des ministres de la Défense à Bruxelles, six pays de l'Otan ont signé un mémorandum d'entente pour travailler conjointement sur les concepts d'un hélicoptère de prochaine génération, destiné entre autres à remplacer des machines telles que l'AW-101. La France, l'Allemagne, la Grèce, l'Italie, les Pays-Bas et le Royaume-Uni se sont engagés à verser 26,7 M€ pour le projet de capacité d'hélicoptère de prochaine génération (NGRC, acronyme de Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability). Ces pays se pencheront sur l'amélioration de l'autonomie et de la vitesse d'un hélicoptère de transport moyen, ses capacités dans un scénario de guerre électronique pour commencer. Les missions envisagées pour cet appareil comprennent le transport, l'évacuation médicale, la recherche et le sauvetage et l'assaut. Le nouvel aéronef devra avoir un rayon d'action de plus de 1 650 km sans ravitaillement, avec une endurance de huit heures et une capacité de charge comprise entre 10 et 17 tonnes. L'objectif, à l'image du programme NH90, qui est jusqu'alors est le dernier programme d'étude et de construction d'un hélicoptère polyvalent ayant réuni plusieurs industriels européens, est de développer une cellule commune pour les variantes terrestres, aériennes et maritimes.

Sur le même sujet

  • Lockheed offers drones to complement Poland’s future F-35 jets

    9 septembre 2020 | International, Aérospatial

    Lockheed offers drones to complement Poland’s future F-35 jets

    By: Jaroslaw Adamowski KIELCE, Poland — With Poland set to acquire 32 F-35A fighter jets under a deal signed in January, the aircraft's manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, is gearing up to supply the country with long-range drones to enhance the F-35′s operational capacities. “Both the U.S. and Poland are interested in a next-generation UAS capability,” Jack O'Banion, the vice president for strategy and customer requirements at Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works division, said at a press briefing ahead of the MSPO defense industry show. “We've seen the Polish Ministry of Defence's Technical Modernization Plan, which was released last year, which outlines the UAS need." O'Banion said the company saw “a significant overlap” between the U.S. and Polish tactical requirements for new drones, and it is highly interested in creating partnerships with local defense manufacturers to jointly develop and produce unmanned aerial systems. Deliveries of the F-35 are expected to begin in 2024. Poland will add the fighters to its fleet of 48 F-16 C/D Block 52+ jets. The $4.6 billion contract for the jets will allow Poland to replace its outdated Soviet-designed Sukhoi Su-22 and Mikoyan MiG-29 aircraft with fifth-generation fighters. https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2020/09/08/lockheed-offers-drones-to-complement-polands-future-f-35-jets/

  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - mAY 8, 2019

    9 mai 2019 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité, Autre défense

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - mAY 8, 2019

    ARMY BFBC, Bozeman, Montana (W9126G-19-D-0018); Texas Sterling Construction Co., Houston, Texas (W9126G-19-D-0019); Bristol Construction Services LLC,* Anchorage, Alaska (W9126G-19-D-0023); Burgos Group LLC,* Albuquerque, New Mexico (W9126G-19-D-0026); Gibraltar-Caddell JV, Montgomery, Alabama (W9126G-19-D-0022); Fisher Sand & Gravel, Dickinson, North Dakota (W9126G-19-D-0027); Southwest Valley Constructors Co., Albuquerque, New Mexico (W9126G-19-D-0017); Randy Kinder Excavating Inc.,* Dexter, Missouri (W9126G-19-D-0024); Martin Brothers Construction,* Sacramento, California (W9126G-19-D-0028); SLSCO Ltd., Galveston, Texas (W9126G-19-D-0021); Posillico Civil Inc. Coastal Environmental Group Inc., Farmingdale, New York (W9126G-19-D-0020); and CJW JV, Santa Ana, California (W9126G-19-D-0025), will compete for each order of the $5,000,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for design-build, design-bid-build horizontal construction task orders in support of the Department of Homeland Security San Diego, El Centro, Yuma and Tucson Border Patrol sectors, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers South-Western Division and South Pacific Division. Bids were solicited via the internet with 38 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of May 7, 2024. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth, Texas, is the contracting activity. Science and Engineering Services LLC,* Huntsville, Alabama (W58RGZ-19-D-0045); Y-Tech Services Inc.,* Huntsville, Alabama (W58RGZ-19-D-0046); and Tyonek Worldwide Services Inc.,* Madison, Alabama (W58RGZ-19-D-0047), will compete for each order of the $2,440,000,000 hybrid (cost, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee, and firm-fixed-price) contract to provide modifications to aviation systems. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of May 3, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Ashridge Inc.,* St. Stephen, South Carolina, was awarded a $16,951,622 firm-fixed-price contract for the Savannah Harbor oysterbed revetment repair, rock along the shoreline to prevent erosion, repairing the boat dock, and repairing the barge dock. Bids were solicited via the internet with eight received. Work will be performed in Hardeeville, South Carolina, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 29, 2020. Fiscal 2018 civil works; and operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $16,951,622 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah, Georgia, is the contracting activity (W912HN-19-C-5003). Southeast Cherokee Construction Inc.,* Montgomery, Alabama, was awarded a $13,341,000 firm-fixed-price contract for Judge Advocate General School expansion. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Montgomery, Alabama, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 20, 2020. Fiscal 2017 military construction funds in the amount of $13,341,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W91278-19-C-0017). NAVY ICF Inc. LLC, Fairfax, Virginia, is awarded a $330,714,321 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for professional technical and management support services to establish and maintain cyberspace operations and enable product lines, programs and projects to include interoperability of systems, services and capabilities at the tactical, operational and strategic levels. This is one of nine multiple award contracts. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This three-year contract includes two two-year option periods which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $802,045,896. All work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed May 6, 2022. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through May 6, 2026. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued using research, development, test, and evaluation (Navy); other procurement (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy); and potential other funding to include Defense Working Capital Fund and Foreign Military Sales funding. This contract was competitively procured via request for proposal N66001-18-R-0001 which was published on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Eighteen offers were received and nine were selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-3409). Leidos Inc., Reston, Virginia, is being awarded a $304,326,147 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for professional technical and management support services to establish and maintain cyberspace operations and enable product lines, programs and projects to include interoperability of systems, services and capabilities at the tactical, operational and strategic levels. This is one of nine multiple award contracts. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This three-year contract includes two two-year option periods which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $741,278,402. All work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed May 6, 2022. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through May 6, 2026. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued using research, development, test, and evaluation (Navy); other procurement (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy); and potential other funding to include Defense Working Capital Fund and Foreign Military Sales funding. This contract was competitively procured via request for proposal N66001-18-R-0001 which was published on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Eighteen offers were received and nine were selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-3410). Perspecta Engineering Inc., Chantilly, Virginia, is awarded a $303,565,184 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for professional technical and management support services to establish and maintain cyberspace operations and enable product lines, programs and projects to include interoperability of systems, services and capabilities at the tactical, operational and strategic levels. This is one of nine multiple award contracts. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This three-year contract includes two two-year option periods which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $739,941,512. All work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed May 6, 2022. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through May 6, 2026. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued using research, development, test, and evaluation (Navy); other procurement (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy); and potential other funding to include Defense Working Capital Fund and Foreign Military Sales funding. This contract was competitively procured via request for proposal N66001-18-R-0001 which was published on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Eighteen offers were received and nine were selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-3415). Parsons Government Services Inc., Pasadena, California, is awarded a $293,786,547 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for professional technical and management support services to establish and maintain cyberspace operations and enable product lines, programs and projects to include interoperability of systems, services and capabilities at the tactical, operational and strategic levels. This is one of nine multiple award contracts. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This three-year contract includes two two-year option periods which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $710,979,159. All work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed May 6, 2022. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through May 6, 2026. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued using research, development, test, and evaluation (Navy); other procurement (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy); and potential other funding to include Defense Working Capital Fund and Foreign Military Sales funding. This contract was competitively procured via request for proposal N66001-18-R-0001 which was published on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Eighteen offers were received and nine were selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-3412). BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services Inc., Rockville, Maryland, is awarded a $276,573,342 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for professional technical and management support services to establish and maintain cyberspace operations and enable product lines, programs and projects to include interoperability of systems, services and capabilities at the tactical, operational and strategic levels. This is one of nine multiple award contracts. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This three-year contract includes two two-year option periods which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $677,769,136. All work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed May 6, 2022. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through May 6, 2026. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued using research, development, test, and evaluation (Navy); other procurement (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy); and potential other funding to include Defense Working Capital Fund and Foreign Military Sales funding. This contract was competitively procured via request for proposal N66001-18-R-0001 which was published on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Eighteen offers were received and nine were selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-3407). Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., McLean, Virginia, is awarded a $273,941,498 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for professional technical and management support services to establish and maintain cyberspace operations and enable product lines, programs and projects to include interoperability of systems, services and capabilities at the tactical, operational and strategic levels. This is one of nine multiple award contracts. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This three-year contract includes two two-year option periods which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $672,034,026. All work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed May 6, 2022. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through May 6, 2026. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued using research, development, test, and evaluation (Navy); other procurement (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy); and potential other funding to include Defense Working Capital Fund and Foreign Military Sales funding. This contract was competitively procured via request for proposal N66001-18-R-0001 which was published on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Eighteen offers were received and nine were selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-3408). Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Herndon, Virginia, is awarded a $273,242,902 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for professional technical and management support services to establish and maintain cyberspace operations and enable product lines, programs and projects to include interoperability of systems, services and capabilities at the tactical, operational and strategic levels. This is one of nine multiple award contracts. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This three-year contract includes two two-year option periods which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $673,172,297. All work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed May 6, 2022. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through May 6, 2026. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued using research, development, test, and evaluation (Navy); other procurement (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy); and potential other funding to include Defense Working Capital Fund and Foreign Military Sales funding. This contract was competitively procured via request for proposal N66001-18-R-0001 which was published on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Eighteen offers were received and nine were selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-3411). Scientific Research Corp., Atlanta, Georgia, is awarded a $240,305,587 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for professional technical and management support services to establish and maintain cyberspace operations and enable product lines, programs and projects to include interoperability of systems, services and capabilities at the tactical, operational and strategic levels. This is one of nine multiple award contracts. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This three-year contract includes two two-year option periods which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $577,918,499. All work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed May 6, 2022. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through May 6, 2026. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued using research, development, test, and evaluation (Navy); other procurement (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy); and potential other funding to include Defense Working Capital Fund and Foreign Military Sales funding. This contract was competitively procured via request for proposal N66001-18-R-0001 which was published on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Eighteen offers were received and nine were selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-3414). Science Applications International Corp., Reston, Virginia, is awarded a $234,743,621 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for professional technical and management support services to establish and maintain cyberspace operations and enable product lines, programs and projects to include interoperability of systems, services and capabilities at the tactical, operational and strategic levels. This is one of nine multiple award contracts. All awardees will have the opportunity to compete for task orders during the ordering period. This three-year contract includes two two-year option periods which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to an estimated $569,177,650. All work will be performed in San Diego, California, and work is expected to be completed May 6, 2022. If all options are exercised, the period of performance would extend through May 6, 2026. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated as task orders are issued using research, development, test, and evaluation (Navy); other procurement (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy); and potential other funding to include Defense Working Capital Fund and Foreign Military Sales funding. This contract was competitively procured via request for proposal N66001-18-R-0001 which was published on the Federal Business Opportunities website and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command e-Commerce Central website. Eighteen offers were received and nine were selected for award. Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N66001-19-D-3413). Raytheon Co., Largo, Florida, is awarded a $15,267,422 cost-plus-incentive-fee, firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and cost-only contract for design agent and engineering services efforts to support the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC). The CEC program provides a sensor network with integrated fire control capability that significantly improves strike force air and missile defense capabilities by coordinating measurement data from strike force air search sensors on CEC-equipped units into a single, integrated real-time, composite track air picture. CEC improves battle force effectiveness by improving overall situational awareness and by enabling longer range, cooperative, multiple, or layered engagement strategies. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $279,340,117. Work will be performed in St. Petersburg, Florida (95 percent); and Largo, Florida (5 percent), and is expected to be complete by September 2022. If all options are exercised, work will continue through April 2024. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $8,009,206 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with one offer received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-19-C-5200). Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Aerospace Systems, Melbourne, Florida, is awarded $15,264,314 for modification P00025 to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-14-C-0036). This modification increases the ceiling and period of performance of the contract. In addition, this modification increases the full-scale fatigue repair time on contract to achieve the required simulated flight hours. Work will be performed in El Segundo, California (59 percent); Melbourne, Florida (35 percent); and Bethpage, New York (6 percent), and is expected to be completed in May 2022. No funds will be obligated at time of award. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. L3 Technologies Inc., doing business as L3 KEO, Northampton, Massachusetts, is awarded a $14,110,638 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N00024-16-C-5366 for MK 20 MOD 1 Electro-Optical Sensor Systems, radar cross section kits, shock ring kits, engineering support services, and spares for both the Navy and Coast Guard. The MK 20 Electro-Optical Sensor System is a major component of the MK 34 Gun Weapon Systems employed by the DDG 51 class, CG 47 class and the Coast Guard's offshore patrol centers. The systems procured are required to support the Gun Weapon Systems by performing safety check-sighting, look-point-shoot, target ranges, identification of air and surface targets in support of anti-air warfare and anti-surface warfare. This contract modification includes options, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $79,453,206. Work will be performed in Northampton, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed by August 2021. If all options are exercised, work will continue through November 2021. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 other procurement (Navy); and fiscal 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $14,110,638 will be obligated at time of the award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity. L3 Technologies Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah, is awarded $13,686,773 for modification P00004 to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N0001919C0014) to expand the analysis and design of the Next Generation Jammer Low Band (NGJ LB) controller, receiver, exciter, and power generation subsystems. In addition, this modification provides for NGJ LB technique development, incorporation of updated goals documents, and environmental testing of the transmitter group. Work will be performed in Salt Lake City, Utah (53 percent); Carlsbad, California (15 percent); Boulder, Colorado (14 percent); Stuart, Florida (14 percent); Guthrie, Oklahoma (2 percent); and Fullerton, California (2 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2020. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $13,686,773 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Bethpage, New York, is awarded a $13,517,069 modification (P00003) to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N0001919C0015) to expand the analysis and design of the Next Generation Jammer Low Band (NGJ LB) controller, receiver, exciter, and power generation subsystems. In addition, this modification provides for NGJ LB technique development, incorporation of updated goals documents, and environmental testing of the transmitter group. Work will be performed in Bethpage, New York (40 percent); Linthicum, Maryland (32 percent); North Amityville, New York (12 percent); Tempe, Arizona (12 percent); and Melville, New York (4 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2020. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $13,517,069 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Georgia Tech Research Corp., Atlanta, Georgia, is awarded an $8,138,096 cost reimbursement contract for development of vector sensors and arrays for deep and shallow water applications. Work will be performed at the contractor's facility in Atlanta, Georgia, and is expected to be completed March 31, 2024. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $332,401 will be obligated at the time of award. No funds will expire at end of current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured under long range broad agency announcement (BAA) N00014-18-S-B001 for science and technology projects for advancement and improvement of Navy and Marine Corps operations. Proposals will be received throughout the year under the long range BAA; therefore, the number of proposals received in response to the solicitation is unknown. The Office of Naval Research, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N00014-19-C-2045). AIR FORCE M1 Support Services L.P., Denton, Texas, has been awarded a $23,342,767 firm-fixed-price modification (P00088) to previously awarded contract FA8106-13-C-0008 for C-21 sustainment. This modification provides for the exercise of Option Six, which includes maintenance and repair support of the C-21 fleet. Work will be performed at various locations worldwide, and is expected to be complete by May 31, 2020. This modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $124,152,363. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the full amount are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Arkansas Lighthouse for the Blind,** Little Rock, Arkansas, has been awarded a maximum $11,085,645 modification (P00015) exercising the second one-year option period of a one-year base contract (SPE1C1-17-D-B019) with two-one-year option periods for flame resistant, operational camouflage pattern, intermediate weather outer layer jackets. This is a firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Location of performance is Arkansas, with an Oct. 31, 2020, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2019 through 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. *Small business **Mandatory source https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1842189/source/GovDelivery/

  • Sikorsky Unveils Raider-X Proposal For FARA Armed Scout

    15 octobre 2019 | International, Aérospatial

    Sikorsky Unveils Raider-X Proposal For FARA Armed Scout

    Graham Warwick Sikorsky is emphasizing growth capability to stay ahead of evolving threats as it unveils its offering in the U.S. Army's Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) competition, the Raider-X. The coaxial rigid-rotor compound helicopter is a development of the S-97 Raider prototype now in flight testing. The Raider-X is about 20% larger, with a 14,000-lb. gross weight compared with 11,000 lb. for the S-97, and a 39-ft. rotor diameter compared with 34 ft. for the Raider. The Army requires a rotor diameter of no more than 40 ft. so that FARA can fly between buildings in urban combat. The Raider-X will exceed the FARA's threshold maximum speed of 180 kt. Sikorsky is not saying how fast it will fly, but notes the S-97 has reached 215 kt., and 207 kt. in level flight—exceeding the 205 kt. target in the Army's initial capability document, says Tim Malia, director of Future Vertical Lift - Light. The Army subsequently reduced the threshold maximum speed to enable a wider competition for the FARA program. But Malia says the greater speed and payload capability of Sikorsky's X2 coaxial rigid-rotor compound configuration compared with a conventional helicopter provides growth capacity. “We looked at a single main rotor helicopter for FARA, but it would be minimally compliant in the early 2020s. We need to be able to stay ahead of the threat into the 2030s and 2040s,” he says. Bell is proposing a winged, single-main-rotor helicopter for FARA, while AVX Aircraft is offering a coaxial-rotor, ducted-fan compound. Boeing and Karem Aircraft have yet to unveil their concepts. “Single main rotor will not be able to keep up. It's already tapped out meeting the minimal FARA requirements. It does not have the ability to grow capability over time,” Malia says. “We didn't want to pull out all the stops to be minimally compliant when we had X2 able to carry more payload and go faster.” The Raider-X has four-blade rotors and a pusher propulsor. The coaxial rotors generate lift only on the advancing sides, eliminating retreating-blade stall and enabling higher speed. At high speed, 90% of the engine power goes to the propulsor, says Bill Fell, senior experimental test pilot. The propulsor is declutched at low speed to reduce noise. The Raider-X closely resembles the S-97 prototype, with side-by-side seating. Compared with tandem seating, this improves crew coordination and situational awareness, Malia says. “And we can do it aerodynamically because of the robust performance inherent in X2. We are not trying to get out every last ounce of drag.” Behind the cockpit is a large internal weapons bay. Internal carriage of missiles and unmanned aircraft—which the Army calls air-launched effects (ALE)—is a FARA requirement, but Malia says the cabin-like volume of Raider-X's bay provides growth space for future, larger systems. “The minimum threshold works now, but what if in 2030 there is a new ALE that can be decisive, but can't be carried?” he asks. The Raider-X is powered by a single 3,000-shp-class General Electric T901 turboshaft—government-furnished equipment to all FARA bidders. “We do not have an additional engine to increase speed,” Malia says, referring to the supplemental power unit in Bell's 360 Invictus. This augments power from the single T901 to give the single-main-rotor, tandem-seat Invictus a 185-kt. maximum speed. “We use the power available and have a solid design built around it,” he says. “The T901 provides speeds out of the chute in excess of requirements and, as it improves, we can take direct benefit. We have a growth path to additional speed and payload as the T901 power increases.” Sikorsky is using the industry-funded S-97 prototype to reduce risk for its FARA bid, conducting flight testing to validate design models and optimize the Raider-X. This includes flying new rotor blades designed to reduce drag and vibration. “We are getting exactly the results the models said,” Malia says. With two rotor systems and a propulsor, Sikorsky is paying close attention to the Raider-X's cost. “We have done a complete affordability analysis and design to cost. We are extremely confident we will come in under the cost goal,” he says. Several divisions of parent company Lockheed Martin are part of Sikorsky's FARA team, Malia says, including Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control and Rotary and Mission Systems. Swift Engineering will build the airframe if Sikorsky wins one of two FARA competitive prototype contracts scheduled to be awarded in March 2020. The Army flyoff is planned for 2023, with the first unit to be equipped by 2028. “There is a critical cap in vertical lift, in attack/reconnaissance, and that gap is really impactful to the Army in the 2020s, ‘30s, ‘40s, even ‘50s. So there is a need for a long-term solution,” Malia says. “The threat is projected to evolve rapidly, so we require significant capability growth on our side to stay ahead. Raider-X can provide an asymmetric advantage in the 2030s-50s.” https://aviationweek.com/defense/sikorsky-unveils-raider-x-proposal-fara-armed-scout

Toutes les nouvelles