Another technology that could be evaluated is the coaxial rotor / ducted fan propulsion developed by AVX. This technique was first proposed for a major rework of the Bell Kiowa Warrior.
have had experience with tilt-rotor technol- ogy in the past. For such OEMs, techno- logically specialized companies like US Based AVX Aircraft could become valuable partners, offering both the know-how and domestic work share necessary for such programs to move forward in the USA. The rapid aging and inherent limitations
of the current fleet of medium lift helicop- ters (UH-60), extensively used over the past decade in Iraq and Afghanistan, brought the army to seek a replacement to the current UH-60 class helicopter in the next 10 years. The Future Vertical Lift Family of Systems, proposed by a study group led by the Army Aviation Center of Excellence, foresee that current platforms that have reached the limit of upgradabil- ity should be replaced by new platforms as technological breakthroughs become available. Such new aerial vehicles em- ploying innovating capabilities should dra- matically improve vertical lift, range, speed, payload, survivability, reliability, and reduced logistical footprint. In its call
for proposals, the Army said it is seeking capability improvements in combinations of ambient condition hover, speed, range, fuel efficiencies and troop/payload capac- ities ‘beyond any current rotorcraft.’ It is also understood that these future platforms should also reduce operational costs ‘to a fraction of those for the current fleet.’ Through the three-year JMR Phase 1 program, the Army plans to evaluate Fu- ture Vertical Lift – Medium air vehicle platforms, that should be able to fly at speeds up and above 230 knots, by far ex- ceeding the 170 knots limit of current ro- torcraft. The Army will also focus on efficient transition between low and high speed, light and high efficiency throughout the flight envelope. Efficiency at high speed means using aerodynamically opti- mized aero-structures, low-drag fuselage and efficient housing of communications equipment and sensors. Since higher speed contributes to higher vibration loads, the program will also evaluate means for low- ering potentially damaging loads and vi-
brations induced in the different flight regimes, improving durability, and even- tually increasing Time Between Overhaul (TBO) of components as well as the entire platform.
Proposals for the JMR Phase 1 demon-
stration program are due March 6, 2013. The Army is expected to award several of- fers for initial evaluation and narrow its selection to two platforms to be built and tested under the $200 million technology demonstration program. Preliminary de- sign reviews for the winning programs will be conducted in Q3 of 2014, and flight demonstrations are expected in the fourth quarter of 2017. The current pro- gram will evaluate a scaled down version of the objective platform and will focus on technology demonstration. Full scale development of a future helicopter based on the winning design could follow well into the next decade.
Reprinted with permission from
www.defense-update.com
rotorcraftpro.com 39
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54
