3 novembre 2020 | International, Aérospatial
Tony Osborne October 30, 2020
Bell is pondering how to incorporate advanced technologies developed for its future military platforms into its commercial rotorcraft.
Since its rebranding as more of a technology company than a helicopter OEM, CEO Mitch Snyder has been pushing the company on a course of innovation, investing in autonomous flight and electric propulsion as well as advancing defense capabilities.
But there appears to be little obvious gain for Bell's line of civil rotorcraft. In the last couple of years, its commercial helicopters have received only fairly minor upgrades. The Model 407GXi light single-engine platform had its avionics upgraded so that it can fly under instrument flight rules, while the Model 412 medium twin received new avionics and uprated power. Yet both upgrades were essentially spun off from modifications for military programs.
The 407 update was developed for the U.S. Navy's rotary-wing trainer requirement, which Bell lost to Leonardo, and the 412EPi was born from the type's selection by Japan for its UH-X military utility requirement.
Bell's restraint in further developing commercial rotorcraft likely is due to its prolonged effort to bring the new Model 525 to market. Nor is it a great time to bring a new aircraft to market. Sales remain stubbornly slow in the aftermath of a fall in energy prices that dramatically reduced orders from the lucrative oil-and-gas support market.
Progress in bringing the fly-by-wire, 9.3-metric-ton 525 super-medium to market—it was launched in 2012 and flown for the first time in 2015—has been painfully slow, in part due to the fatal loss of one prototype but also due to the need to convince certification authorities of fly-by-wire technology benefits. “The hurdle is higher now to try and get [the 525] certified,” Snyder told Aviation Week during a virtual roundtable on Oct. 19.
“This technology brings all these benefits and makes the aircraft safer. . . . You have to walk them through and give them time to understand it,” he said.
Snyder believes things are on track. “We feel very good about getting certified in 2021,” he added, noting that the company is finishing up testing and preparing for the submission of certification documentation to the FAA. He said Bell is continuing to evaluate new commercial platforms, although the cost of development and certification is prohibitive.
“We're always looking to see if there's a clean-sheet out there that we may want to do,” he said. “But I can tell you, at least right now, our focus has been around derivatives to our military products and more about adapting upgrades to our existing models.”
The approach appears to be in line with his views at last year's Paris Air Show, where he suggested Bell may not develop a new clean-sheet commercial conventional rotorcraft beyond the 525.
One area of opportunity could be development of a single-engine medium helicopter, he hinted, building on Bell's Model 360 Invictus prototype for the U.S. Army's Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) requirement.
“Bell's got a lot of single-mediums out there,” said Snyder, noting that hundreds of Model 204/205 Iroquois helicopters remain in service with militaries, civilian operators and government agencies. Operators have become reliant on twin-engine helicopters, particularly because in some parts of the world, notably Europe, single-engine rotorcraft are banned from flying over urban areas. But Snyder said the 360 Invictus also features a supplemental power unit that can act as an auxiliary power unit as well as provide additional performance or auto-rotation power, and could be an enabler for a single-engine medium.
It is possible that Bell is looking at a military utility variant of the 360 Invictus, pairing the aircraft with the attack version in the same way that its UH-1Y Venom and AH-1Z Viper platforms have built on the Huey and Cobra. Such a platform could receive interest from the U.S. special operations community, which is looking to replace the Boeing AH-6/MH-6 Little Bird family. Officials have noted that they would like to be able to adapt a FARA platform to carry troops. Sikorsky's Raider X can do so, but the Bell FARA cannot, until a more utilitarian version emerges (AW&ST June 1-14, p. 28).
The Army's selection of Bell's V-280 tiltrotor as the larger Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft could enable a commercial spinoff of the platform, Snyder suggests.
Bell is also looking to make commercial use of its Electrically Distributed Anti-Torque (EDAT) technology, a ducted electric tailrotor system tested on a Bell 429 light-twin. Flight tests for it were only revealed in February, despite the aircraft's flights in plain sight from its Mirabel, Quebec, facility since May 2019. Testing showed that the EDAT reduced noise levels, but there were also benefits in terms of safety, enabling the option of switching off the anti-torque system while the engines and main rotor are still turning. The EDAT eliminates complex tailrotor gearboxes and shafts and requires less costly inspections and maintenance as well.
“We pulled in off-the-shelf technologies to make the demo occur within one year,” said Snyder. “Now we're evaluating what the real technology needs to be as far as repackaging it in the weight and size that we require.”
Snyder said the EDAT technology will be aimed at a commercial rotorcraft, but for which product line or when it might be commercially available has yet to be decided.
4 décembre 2024 | International, C4ISR, Sécurité
Turla hijacks Storm-0156 servers, deploying custom malware on Afghan and Indian networks for covert espionage.
12 mai 2020 | International, Terrestre
Shawn Snow While the Corps plans to scrap its tank battalions the Marines are still in pursuit of a new armored reconnaissance vehicle to replace the legacy light armored vehicle. It's called the Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle, and Marine Corps Systems Command noted in a news release that prototypes from two vendors should be ready for evaluations by the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2020. The Corps says it expects a final request for prototype proposal by spring 2021. In 2019, the Corps announced it had selected two vendors, General Dynamics and SAIC, to design and build full-scale prototypes of the new ARV vehicle. Marine Corps Systems Command detailed in the news release that an assessment had “identified shortfalls and gaps in capability” when the legacy LAV was pitted against a peer threat. Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. David Berger has said that current light armored reconnaissance battalions across the Corps are outmoded for the high-end fight against adversaries like Russia and China. “Light Armored Reconnaissance today is built great for another Desert Shield, Desert Storm,” Berger said previously said. “I don't see that likelihood as being very great.” But the top Marine noted that reconnaissance and counter reconnaissance was vital to a fight against near-peer rivals. “No question in my mind” when going up against a capable adversary “that it pays to be spread out and dispersed,” Berger told reporters in April. “What we have to do now is transition to a lighter footprint, more expeditionary, more in support of a littoral environment,” Berger said. The top Marine said a future LAR unit should be able to collect information even potentially offshore. Marine Corps Systems Command said in the news release that it wants a “battle management system, enhanced vision technologies for increased situational awareness, and target tracking and engagement capabilities,” for its new ARV. An industry day for the ARV was slated to run in May 2020 but has been pushed back to fourth quarter of fiscal year 2020, the release said. https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2020/05/11/no-tanks-but-the-corps-is-still-looking-for-an-lav-replacement/
7 décembre 2018 | International, Aérospatial, Naval, Terrestre, C4ISR, Sécurité
NAVY Astro Mechanical Contractors Inc.,* El Cajon, California (N62473-19-D-2416); Heffler Contracting Group,* El Cajon, California (N62473-19-D-2417); Public Works Contractor Inc., doing business as PWC Inc.,* Spring Valley, California (N62473-19-D-2418); Souza Construction Inc.,* Farmersville, California (N62473-19-D-2419); Ja'nus Ventilation and Mechanical Inc.,* Lakeside, California (N62473-19-D-2420); and Able Heating and Air Conditioning Inc.,* Chula Vista, California (N62473-19-D-2421), are each awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple award construction contract for new construction, renovation, and repair by design-bid, of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system projects at various government installations located in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. The maximum dollar value including a two-year base period and one three-year option period for all six contracts combined is $200,000,000. The work to be performed provides for new construction, renovation, and repair within the North American Industry Classification System code 238220, by design-build, of HVAC system projects. Types of projects may include, but are not limited to: boiler/chiller plants; digital direct controls or energy management control system; HVAC equipment energy optimization; commissioning and retro commissioning; distribution systems including, supply and return air systems, ventilation and exhaust systems, steam, glycol, medical gas, refrigerant, heating hot water and chilled water distribution, associated terminal devices, heat recovery equipment, heat exchangers, sound attenuation, insulation, and associated appurtenances; energy supply including oil, gas, steam, heating hot and chilled water distribution systems and equipment including special cooling and humidity control, dust and fume collectors, air purifiers, paint booth ventilation systems; and system testing and balancing. Astro Mechanical Contractors Inc., is being awarded the initial project task order at $1,618,230 to repair HVAC system in H60 Simulator Facility, Naval Base Coronado (NBC) Building 352 at NBC, San Diego. Work for this task order is expected to be completed by Dec. 19, 2019. All work on these contracts will be performed at various government installations within the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest area of responsibility including, but not limited to, California (90 percent); Arizona (6 percent); Nevada (1 percent); Utah (1 percent); Colorado (1 percent), and New Mexico (1 percent). The terms of the contracts are not to exceed 60 months, with an expected completion date of November 2023. Fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $1,618,230 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by military construction (Navy); operations and maintenance (Navy and Marine Corps); and Navy working capital funds. This contract was competitively procured as a small business set-aside procurement via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with 19 proposals received. These six contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contracts. The NAVFAC Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Connecticut, is awarded a $46,167,531 cost-plus-fixed- fee modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-18-C-4321) for non-nuclear repair services required to support submarine maintenance. The services under this contract are for non-nuclear repair services required to support submarine overhauls, maintenance, repair and modernization upgrades; ship alterations, temporary modifications and field changes; supplies and/or ancillary services and corrective and preventative maintenance. Work will be performed in New London, Connecticut, and is expected to be completed by December 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance (Navy) funding in the amount of $10,100,000 will be obligated at the time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Groton, Connecticut, is the contracting activity. Rockwell Collins Government Systems, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is awarded $10,815,536 for modification P00002 to a firm-fixed-price delivery order (N0042118F0891) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00421-17-G-0003). This delivery order provides fiscal 2019 funding for the Modern Transmission Security and Tactical Secure Voice Suite B, Cryptographic Equipment Application integration for the ARC-210 RT-1939A(C), RT-1990A(C) and RT-2036(C) radios in support of multiple aircraft platforms. Work will be performed in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and is expected to be completed in January 2022. Fiscal 2019 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,815,536 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Huntington Ingalls Inc., Pascagoula, Mississippi, is awarded a $10,782,772 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification to previously awarded contract N00024-12-C-4323 for long lead time material procurement and management services for CG-65 and CG-69. Huntington Ingalls provides necessary engineering, technical, planning, ship configuration, data, and logistics efforts for lifetime support of both maintenance and modernization. Work will be performed in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and is expected to be complete by August 2019. Fiscal 2018 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $10,782,772 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion, and Repair, Gulf Coast, Pascagoula, Mississippi, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, Liverpool, New York, is awarded a $7,078,327 firm-fixed-price modification to previously-awarded contract N00024-14-C-6227 to exercise options for the production of low-cost conformal arrays. Work will be performed in Liverpool, New York (90 percent); Marion, Massachusetts (8 percent); and Owego, New York (2 percent), and is expected to be completed by March 2020. Fiscal 2018 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $6,778,327; and fiscal 2019 other procurement (Navy) funding in the amount of $300,000 will be obligated at time of 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. ARMY AAI Corp., doing business as Textron, Hunt Valley, Maryland, was awarded a $152,707,618 modification (P00080) to contract W911QY-17-C-0013 for logistics services. Work will be performed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, with an estimated completion date of May 29, 2020. Fiscal 2019 other procurement, Army; and operations and maintenance, Army funds in the amount of $27,935,533 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity. AIR FORCE General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., Poway, California, has been awarded a $26,718,824 option (002620) to a previously awarded contract (FA8620-15-G-4040) for MQ-9 contractor logistics support phase three. The contractor will provide an additional period of contractor logistics support for the French Air Force. Work will be performed in Poway, California, and is expected to be completed Dec. 31, 2019. This contract involves 100 percent foreign military sales to France. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contract activity. General Electric (GE) Aviation, Cincinnati, Ohio, has been awarded an $11,116,525 firm-fixed-price contract for engineering and technical services in support of the following engines: F-16 F110-GE-100, A-10 TF-34, KC-135 F-108, B-1 F118, E-6B F108, T700-401C, J85-21B, F110, F16 C/D, F/A-18 and F110-GE-129. This contract provides for on-site proficiency training and advice to elevate the technical skill and abilities of personnel responsible for the operation and maintenance of the GE Aviation equipment/systems to the level of self-sufficiency. Work will be performed at Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado; Baltimore, Maryland; Springfield, Illinois; Tinker AFB, Oklahoma; Naval Air Station North Island, California; Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California; Isa Air Base, Bahrain; Cairo West AB, Egypt; Engine Depot, Israel; Ahmed al Jaber AB; Kuwait and Daegu AB, South Korea, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2020. This contract is the result of a sole-source acquisition. This contract involves 41.6 percent foreign military sales (FMS) to Israel; Egypt; Bahrain; South Korea, and Kuwait. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $5,000,000; and fiscal 2019 FMS funds in the amount of $1,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8604-19-D-8004). L-3 Technologies Inc., Williamsport, Pennsylvania, has been awarded a $7,795,473 firm-fixed price requirements contract for E-3 sustainment. This contract provides for repair and overhaul of E-3 electron tubes. Work will be performed in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and is expected to be completed by June 5, 2024. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated upon issuance of delivery orders. Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (FA8117-19-D-0008). DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EDUCATION ACTIVITY Yellowfin Transportation, Shawnee, Kansas (HE1254-19-D-2001), is awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple-award contract for daily commute and special needs student transportation services in the amount of $8,570,866. The location of performance is Fort Benning, Georgia. The award is for a four-year and seven-month base period ending July 31, 2023; and a five-year option period ending July 31, 2028. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds will be used to fund the initial task order. This contract was competitively procured via request for proposal HE1254-18-R-2016, with two offers received. The contracting activity is the Department of Defense Education Activity, Alexandria, Virginia. (Awarded Dec. 3, 2018) CG Logistics, Ridgeland, Mississippi (HE1254-19-D-2002); is awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple-award contract for daily commute and special needs student transportation services in the amounts of $8,848,772. The location of performance is Fort Benning, Georgia. The award is for a four-year and seven month base period ending July 31, 2023; and a five-year option period ending July 31, 2028. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds will be used to fund the initial task order. This contract was competitively procured via request for proposal HE1254-18-R-2016, with two offers received. The contracting activity is the Department of Defense Education Activity, Alexandria, Virginia. (Awarded Dec. 3, 2018) WASHINGTON HEADQUARTERS SERVICES NetCentrics Corp., Herndon, Virginia, was awarded an $8,156,810 time and material, labor-hours, and firm-fixed-price contract modification. The contract was to obtain Joint Service Provider information technology service delivery support services for Washington Headquarters Services (WHS); the Office of the Secretary of Defense; Pentagon Force Protection Agency; and the WHS-supported organizations. Work performance will take place in the National Capital Region, including the Pentagon, Mark Center and Crystal City, Virginia. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $8,156,810 are being obligated on this award. The expected completion date is May 30, 2019. Washington Headquarters Services, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HQ0034-19-C-0008). (Awarded Nov. 29, 2018) *Small business https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1705364/