Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft

{{Short description|US Army helicopter development program initiated in 2019}}

{{Infobox aircraft

|name = Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA)

|image = File:Bell V-280 Valor high speed cruise demo, 2019 Alliance Air Show.jpg

|caption = A Bell V-280 in high-speed cruise configuration

|alt = |aim = Utility/Assault helicopter

|requirement =

|issuer = United States Army

|service =

|value =

|initiated =

|proposals =

|prototypes = Bell V-280 Valor
Sikorsky-Boeing SB-1 Defiant

|concluded =

|outcome = Bell V-280 Valor selected

|predecessors =

|successors =

|related = Future Vertical Lift (FVL)
Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) later cancelled

}}

The Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program was initiated by the United States Army in 2019 to develop a successor to the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopter as part of the Future Vertical Lift program. The UH-60, developed in the early 1970s, has been in service since June 1979. Like the UH-60, FLRAA variants would also serve United States Special Operations Command and the United States Marine Corps. Under the existing Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) program, the Army has been gathering data from flying prototype designs that could fill the FLRAA role.

The Army posted a request for information (RFI) in April 2019, which was intended to identify interested manufacturers. According to the RFI, the Army plans to bring the FLRAA into service in 2030, in anticipation of retiring the UH-60 after a 50-year life.

On December 5, 2022, the Army selected the Bell Textron V-280 Valor powered by Rolls-Royce engines for the FLRAA contract award. {{cite web |date=5 December 2022 |title=Army announces Future Long Range Assault Aircraft contract award |url=https://www.army.mil/article/262523 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604165119/https://www.army.mil/article/262523 |archive-date=4 June 2023 |accessdate=5 December 2022 |website=U.S. Army}} The award was protested by the Sikorsky-Boeing team,{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Soumya |date=29 December 2022 |title=Sikorsky files protest against US Army's FLRAA contract decision |url=https://www.army-technology.com/news/sikorsky-protest-us-armys-flraa/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412220539/https://www.army-technology.com/news/sikorsky-protest-us-armys-flraa/ |archive-date=12 April 2023 |access-date=2 April 2023 |website=Army Technology |language=en-US}} however the Government Accountability Office denied the protest.{{cite web |date=6 April 2023 |title=GAO Statement on Protest of Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, B-421359, B-421359.2 |url=https://www.gao.gov/press-release/gao-statement-protest-sikorsky-aircraft-corporation%2C-b-421359%2C-b-421359.2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001062622/https://www.gao.gov/press-release/gao-statement-protest-sikorsky-aircraft-corporation,-b-421359,-b-421359.2 |archive-date=1 October 2023 |access-date=7 April 2023 |website=U.S. Government Accountability Office}}{{Cite web |last=Roque |first=Ashley |date=6 April 2023 |title=GAO denies Sikorsky-Boeing FLRAA protest; Bell, Army clear to proceed |url=https://breakingdefense.com/2023/04/gao-denies-sikorsky-boeing-flraa-protest-bell-army-clear-to-proceed/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221215236/https://breakingdefense.com/2023/04/gao-denies-sikorsky-boeing-flraa-protest-bell-army-clear-to-proceed/ |archive-date=21 December 2023 |access-date=10 January 2024 |website=Breaking Defense}}

Design goals

According to the RFI, the Army has set a per-unit cost goal of $43 million (in 2018 dollars). The Army envisions combat scenarios where a future scout helicopter being developed under the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program and unmanned drones would control an area or corridor, which would then allow FLRAA to insert troops. FLRAA is intended to be more agile and faster than the existing UH-60.

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;text-align:left;" \|+style="font-size:125%;" \| FLRAA Requirements (April 2019){{cite web \|url=https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=7683549fd2b3248f8db1b821b4f94f4f&tab=core&_cview=0 \|title=RFI Intent \|date=April 4, 2019 \|publisher=United States Army \|accessdate=16 October 2019}}
style="width:16%;" rowspan=2 \| Attribute ! colspan=2 \| Minimum ! colspan=2 \| Desired
style="width:21%;" \| Army ! style="width:21%;" \| USMC ! style="width:21%;" \| Army ! style="width:21%;" \| USMC
Unrefueled Combat Radius \| {{convert\|200\|nmi\|abbr=on}} \| {{convert\|365\|nmi\|abbr=on}}{{efn\|name=Profile\|With 30 minute loiter at max payload, using specified mission profiles.}} \| {{convert\|300\|nmi\|abbr=on}} \| {{convert\|450\|nmi\|abbr=on}}{{efn\|name=Profile}}
One-way Unrefueled Radius \| {{convert\|1725\|nmi\|abbr=on}} \| — \| {{convert\|2440\|nmi\|abbr=on}} \| —
Maximum Continuous Cruise Speed{{efn\|Specified as true airspeed}} \| {{convert\|250\|knot\|abbr=on}} \| {{convert\|275\|to\|305\|knot\|abbr=on}}{{efn\|name=USMC-speed\|Lower value at 90% maximum continuous power. Higher value at 100% intermediate rated power using specified mission profile.}} \| {{convert\|280\|knot\|abbr=on}} \| {{convert\|295\|to\|330\|knot\|abbr=on}}{{efn\|name=USMC-speed}}
Payload (internal) \| Cabin floor capable of {{convert\|300\|lb/ft2\|abbr=on}} \| {{convert\|4400\|lb\|abbr=on}}{{efn\|name=People\|Includes 12 personnel: 8 troops, 2 pilots, and 2 crew}} \| Cabin floor capable of {{convert\|300\|lb/ft2\|abbr=on}} \| {{convert\|5200\|lb\|abbr=on}}{{efn\|name=People}}
Passengers{{efn\|Requirement in addition to aircraft crew.}} \| 12{{efn\|name=Army12\|{{convert\|365\|lb\|abbr=on}} assumed per passenger}} \| 8 \| 12{{efn\|name=Army12\|{{convert\|365\|lb\|abbr=on}} assumed per passenger}} \| 8

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;text-align:left;"

|+style="font-size:125%;" | FLRAA Requirements (April 2019){{cite web |url=https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=7683549fd2b3248f8db1b821b4f94f4f&tab=core&_cview=0 |title=RFI Intent |date=April 4, 2019 |publisher=United States Army |accessdate=16 October 2019}}

style="width:16%;" rowspan=2 | Attribute

! colspan=2 | Minimum

! colspan=2 | Desired

style="width:21%;" | Army

! style="width:21%;" | USMC

! style="width:21%;" | Army

! style="width:21%;" | USMC

Unrefueled Combat Radius

| {{convert|200|nmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|365|nmi|abbr=on}}{{efn|name=Profile|With 30 minute loiter at max payload, using specified mission profiles.}}

| {{convert|300|nmi|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|450|nmi|abbr=on}}{{efn|name=Profile}}

One-way Unrefueled Radius

| {{convert|1725|nmi|abbr=on}}

| —

| {{convert|2440|nmi|abbr=on}}

| —

Maximum Continuous Cruise Speed{{efn|Specified as true airspeed}}

| {{convert|250|knot|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|275|to|305|knot|abbr=on}}{{efn|name=USMC-speed|Lower value at 90% maximum continuous power. Higher value at 100% intermediate rated power using specified mission profile.}}

| {{convert|280|knot|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|295|to|330|knot|abbr=on}}{{efn|name=USMC-speed}}

Payload (internal)

| Cabin floor capable of {{convert|300|lb/ft2|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|4400|lb|abbr=on}}{{efn|name=People|Includes 12 personnel: 8 troops, 2 pilots, and 2 crew}}

| Cabin floor capable of {{convert|300|lb/ft2|abbr=on}}

| {{convert|5200|lb|abbr=on}}{{efn|name=People}}

Passengers{{efn|Requirement in addition to aircraft crew.}}

| 12{{efn|name=Army12|{{convert|365|lb|abbr=on}} assumed per passenger}}

| 8

| 12{{efn|name=Army12|{{convert|365|lb|abbr=on}} assumed per passenger}}

| 8

;Notes

Competition history

File:Sikorsky–Boeing SB-1 Defiant (cropped).jpg

FLRAA is part of the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program; in 2016, Major General William Gayler declared the first FVL aircraft would fill the medium-lift role.{{cite news |author=Judson, Jen |date=29 April 2016 |title=First Future Vertical Lift Helicopters Will Be Medium-Lift |url=https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/aaaa/2016/04/29/first-future-vertical-lift-helicopters-will-be-medium-lift/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181009140319/https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/aaaa/2016/04/29/first-future-vertical-lift-helicopters-will-be-medium-lift/ |archive-date=9 October 2018 |accessdate=16 October 2019 |work=Defense News}} The proposed FLRAA program schedule overlaps with the FARA procurement, which is also part of FVL. FARA would provide a light-lift helicopter for the armed reconnaissance/scout role that was previously filled by the Bell OH-58 Kiowa until its retirement in 2014.{{cite news |author=Judson |first=Jen |date=30 March 2018 |title=Army Future Vertical Lift hones in on attack recon, long-range assault |url=https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/global-force-symposium/2018/03/30/army-future-vertical-lift-hones-in-on-attack-recon-long-range-assault/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180330155106/https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/global-force-symposium/2018/03/30/army-future-vertical-lift-hones-in-on-attack-recon-long-range-assault/ |archive-date=30 March 2018 |accessdate=16 October 2019 |work=Defense News}}

On April 4, 2019, the Army released a formal request for information and outlined its proposed schedule for FLRAA:

Q4FY21 (Jul–Sep 2021): Award contract
Q2FY23 (Jan–Mar 2023): Preliminary design review
Q3FY24 (Apr–Jun 2024): First flight
Q4FY24 (Jul–Sep 2024): Critical design review
Q2FY30 (Jan–Mar 2030): First unit enters service

The FVL program is headed by Brigadier General Wally Rugen; according to Rugen, based on the data gathered during JMR-TD with the Bell V-280 Valor and the Sikorsky–Boeing SB-1 Defiant, the Army was ready to move on to open competition for the FLRAA contract.{{cite news |author=Judson |first=Jen |date=4 April 2019 |title=US Army plans to field a future long-range assault helicopter by 2030 |url=https://www.defensenews.com/land/2019/04/04/us-army-plans-to-field-a-future-long-range-assault-helicopter-by-2030/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240110012712/https://www.defensenews.com/land/2019/04/04/us-army-plans-to-field-a-future-long-range-assault-helicopter-by-2030/ |archive-date=10 January 2024 |accessdate=16 October 2019 |work=Defense News}} In March 2020, the Army awarded competitive demonstration contracts to Bell and Sikorsky/Boeing, who would proceed to complete conceptual designs and explain how the FLRAA requirements were met by the Valor and Defiant candidate designs, respectively.{{cite news |author=Parsons |first=Dan |date=16 March 2020 |title=Bell's Valor, Sikorsky/Boeing Defiant advance in U.S. Army Future Assault Aircraft program |url=https://www.verticalmag.com/news/bell-valor-boeing-sikorsky-defiant-flraa-selection/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409121207/https://verticalmag.com/news/bell-valor-boeing-sikorsky-defiant-flraa-selection/ |archive-date=9 April 2023 |accessdate=26 March 2020 |work=Vertical}}

On 8 February 2024 the US Army ended development of FARA,Jen Judson [https://www.defensenews.com/air/2024/02/08/us-army-spent-billions-on-a-new-helicopter-that-now-will-never-fly/ (8 February 2024) US Army spent billions on a new helicopter that now will never fly]

while

FLRAA development is continuing.Ashley Rocque [https://breakingdefense.com/2024/02/army-cancels-fara-helicopter-program-makes-other-cuts-in-major-aviation-shakeup/ (8 February 2024) Army cancels FARA helicopter program, makes other cuts in major aviation shakeup] FLRAA passed Milestone B in the acquisition process in August 2024.Ashley Rocque [http://breakingdefense.com/2024/08/milestone-b-armys-flraa-helicopter-graduates-to-engineering-and-manufacturing-development-phase/ (2 Aug 2024) Milestone B: Army’s FLRAA tiltrotor graduates to engineering and manufacturing development phase ]

References

External links

[https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=7683549fd2b3248f8db1b821b4f94f4f&tab=core Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA): solicitation]

Category:United States military helicopters

Category:Military aircraft procurement programs of the United States

Category:Helicopter procurement programs