Kill Chain In The Sky With Data: Army’s Project Convergence

Kill Chain In The Sky With Data: Army’s Project Convergence
Kill Chain In The Sky With Data: Army’s Project Convergence

Over the southwest desert, drones large and small are autonomously avoiding anti-aircraft threats while feeding real-time targeting data over an AI network to troops on the ground.

COVID Can’t Stop A Busy Summer For Army FVL

COVID Can’t Stop A Busy Summer For Army FVL
COVID Can’t Stop A Busy Summer For Army FVL

Despite disruptions worldwide, Future Vertical Lift flight tests, virtual industry days, and design reviews are all moving ahead on schedule or mere weeks behind.

Army’s Shift To FVL Poses Big Risks For Small Suppliers

Army’s Shift To FVL Poses Big Risks For Small Suppliers
Army’s Shift To FVL Poses Big Risks For Small Suppliers

After decades of building traditional helicopters in traditional ways, contractors must get ready for the Army’s new high-speed Future Vertical Lift aircraft. Small makers of key parts need help.

FVL: The Army’s 10-Year Plan For FARA Scout

FVL: The Army’s 10-Year Plan For FARA Scout
FVL: The Army’s 10-Year Plan For FARA Scout

The Army’s urgently developing new air-launched drones, long-range missiles, and electronic architecture to go on the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft that Bell and Sikorsky are vying to build.

FVL Q&A: 7 Leaders On The Future Of Army Aviation

FVL Q&A: 7 Leaders On The Future Of Army Aviation
FVL Q&A: 7 Leaders On The Future Of Army Aviation

New Future Vertical Lift aircraft are just part of the solution. So are new tactics and technology upgrades for existing helicopters.

FVL: Bell, Sikorsky-Boeing Split $181M To Finalize FLRAA Designs

FVL: Bell, Sikorsky-Boeing Split $181M To Finalize FLRAA Designs
FVL: Bell, Sikorsky-Boeing Split $181M To Finalize FLRAA Designs

After two years of intensive digital engineering, in 2022 the Army will pick either a Bell tiltrotor or a Sikorsky-Boeing compound helicopter to replace the UH-60 Black Hawk.

MOSA: The Invisible, Digital Backbone Of FVL

MOSA: The Invisible, Digital Backbone Of FVL
MOSA: The Invisible, Digital Backbone Of FVL

To seamlessly share data on everything from target coordinates to engine diagnostics, the Army is developing a standardized Modular Open System Architecture for all its Future Vertical Lift aircraft.

FVL: Attack Of The Drones

FVL: Attack Of The Drones
FVL: Attack Of The Drones

Before manned aircraft enter hostile airspace, three different types of drones – long-range, tactical, and miniaturized – will rip open the seams in the enemy’s defenses.

Beyond The Black Hawk: Defiant Vs. Valor

Beyond The Black Hawk: Defiant Vs. Valor
Beyond The Black Hawk: Defiant Vs. Valor

After decades of R&D, the race to replace the UH-60 helicopter is entering its last few years.

Can Army Break The Comanche Curse?

Can Army Break The Comanche Curse?
Can Army Break The Comanche Curse?

“The Army has learned its lesson” from past acquisition disasters, said Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who’s “very pleased” with FVL. This program is truly different, agreed one of the fathers of the cancelled Comanche, retired Maj. Gen. Rudy Ostovich.

FARA: Five-Way Fight For Army’s Future Scout

FARA: Five-Way Fight For Army’s Future Scout
FARA: Five-Way Fight For Army’s Future Scout

AVX/L3, Bell, Boeing, Karem, and Sikorsky have submitted their designs for the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft. None of them is a conventional helicopter.

Future Vertical Lift: Army’s Aerial Vanguard

Future Vertical Lift: Army’s Aerial Vanguard
Future Vertical Lift: Army’s Aerial Vanguard

The Army isn’t just replacing old helicopters. It’s building a networked “ecosystem” of mutually supporting manned and unmanned weapons that can drive a flying wedge into Russian and Chinese air defenses.

V-280 Tiltrotor Can Fly Unmanned, Bell Says

V-280 Tiltrotor Can Fly Unmanned, Bell Says
V-280 Tiltrotor Can Fly Unmanned, Bell Says

The Army is skeptical that early models of the Future Vertical Lift aircraft will be able to fly unmanned. But Bell says it’s already flight-tested all the essential automation.

Rival Shadow Drone Replacements Head To Combat Units For Tests

Rival Shadow Drone Replacements Head To Combat Units For Tests
Rival Shadow Drone Replacements Head To Combat Units For Tests

The Army aims to replace its RQ-7 Shadow with a new, more nimble drone that doesn’t require a runway, to better scout and survive in fast-moving conflicts with great powers.