Sikorsky-Boeing reveal FVL attack helo concept

[Zarvan]

A screenshot of a Sikorsky-Boeing video showing the SB>1 Defiant-based transport (rear) and attack (front) variants for the US Army's FVL concept. Source: Sikorsky-Boeing

Sikorsky-Boeing has revealed a Future Vertical Lift (FVL) attack helicopter concept based on the SB>1 Defiant that it is developing for the US Army's Joint MultiRole-Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD)/FVL effort.

The concept, which features in a promotional video posted online by the partnership on 10 April, shows an attack variant of the SB>1 Defiant co-axial compound helicopter flying alongside the baseline transport helicopter. While both platforms appear to share much in terms of commonality, the attack variant features the twin-seat tandem cockpit, weapon-festooned stub-wings, and chin-mounted gun that are synonymous with this class of rotorcraft.

The Department of Defense (DOD) has launched its JMR-TD/FVL programme to create a family of platforms to replace its current helicopters. This family is to be divided into FVL Medium (to replace the Apache and Black Hawk platforms) and FVL Heavy (to replace the Chinook).

The US Army's current emphasis is on FVL Medium, and it is for this requirement that the SB>1 Defiant and the Bell Helicopter V-280 Valor are being developed (in addition to Boeing-Sikorsky and Bell, the army has awarded contracts to AVX and Karem to continue their research into future helicopter technologies).

While FVL Medium is one requirement, it might not necessarily be satisfied with a single platform. It could be that FVL Medium includes a derived attack platform along the lines of the concept shown in the Sikorsky-Boeing video, or perhaps a bespoke solution such as the Sikorsky S-97 Raider.

Both Sikorsky-Boeing and Bell Helicopter were downselected in October 2014 to develop and demonstrate their SB>1 Defiant and V-280 Valor platforms respectively by the end of 2017.

While Sikorsky-Boeing is building on the former's X2 to develop a compound co-axial helicopter for the Defiant, Bell has opted to continue with its tiltrotor development for the Valor (AVX is maturing its co-axial compound helicopter design, while Karem is focusing on its Optimum Speed Tilt-Rotor [OSTR] concept).

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[Zarvan]

The X2 demonstrator incorporated many of the technologies that will feature in the SB>1 Defiant Programme officials see no problem in scaling-up from the 6,000 lb to the 32,000 lb Defiant. Source: Sikorsky

Sikorsky-Boeing foresees no special challenges in scaling-up the technology developed for the X2 compound helicopter into the larger SB>1 Defiant that is being built for the US Army's Joint MultiRole - Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD)/Future Vertical Lift (FVL) effort.

An artist's impression of the SB>1 Defiant, which Sikorsky-Boeing is developing for the US Army's Joint MultiRole - Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD)/ Future Vertical Lift (FVL) effort. (Sikorsky)

Speaking to reporters on 18 April, programme leaders said that recently aired comments in the media that the X2's rigid co-axial rotor and pusher propeller technology could not be scaled-up into the Defiant were wide of the mark, and that there should be no problems in doing so.

"There have been some comments as to whether the X2 scales-up to the [Defiant]. There are some issues with regard to the loads on the rotors increasing as they increase in size, but at this time they are not a challenge. We had the Critical Design Review at the beginning of 2016, and the design was closed-out at that time. We are meeting all of the predictions, and I don't see any restrictions on what we can do to this vehicle in terms of scalability," Sikorsky Vice-President of Future Vertical Lift and Mission Systems, Dan Spoor, said.

Developed by Sikorsky to cruise comfortably at 250 kt while retaining excellent low-speed handling, efficient hovering, and safe autorotation combined with a seamless and simple transition to high-speed flight, the X2 incorporated a number of advanced technologies that included fly-by-wire flight controls, counter-rotating all-composite rigid rotor blades, hub drag reduction, active vibration control and an integrated auxiliary propulsion system that included a pusher propeller that was driven by the same gear box that also turned the main rotors.

Weighing 6,000 lb (2,722 kg) and accommodating a crew of just two, the X2 was significantly smaller than the 32,000 lb (14,515 kg) and up to 18-person Defiant. Partly in order to help bridge this gap, Sikorsky developed its X-2-derived S-97 Raider, which weighs in at 11,000 lb (4,990 kg) and can accommodate up to eight crew and passengers.

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[HannibalBarca]

The X2 demonstrator incorporated many of the technologies that will feature in the SB>1 Defiant Programme officials see no problem in scaling-up from the 6,000 lb to the 32,000 lb Defiant. Source: Sikorsky

Sikorsky-Boeing foresees no special challenges in scaling-up the technology developed for the X2 compound helicopter into the larger SB>1 Defiant that is being built for the US Army's Joint MultiRole - Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD)/Future Vertical Lift (FVL) effort.

An artist's impression of the SB>1 Defiant, which Sikorsky-Boeing is developing for the US Army's Joint MultiRole - Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD)/ Future Vertical Lift (FVL) effort. (Sikorsky)

Speaking to reporters on 18 April, programme leaders said that recently aired comments in the media that the X2's rigid co-axial rotor and pusher propeller technology could not be scaled-up into the Defiant were wide of the mark, and that there should be no problems in doing so.

"There have been some comments as to whether the X2 scales-up to the [Defiant]. There are some issues with regard to the loads on the rotors increasing as they increase in size, but at this time they are not a challenge. We had the Critical Design Review at the beginning of 2016, and the design was closed-out at that time. We are meeting all of the predictions, and I don't see any restrictions on what we can do to this vehicle in terms of scalability," Sikorsky Vice-President of Future Vertical Lift and Mission Systems, Dan Spoor, said.

Developed by Sikorsky to cruise comfortably at 250 kt while retaining excellent low-speed handling, efficient hovering, and safe autorotation combined with a seamless and simple transition to high-speed flight, the X2 incorporated a number of advanced technologies that included fly-by-wire flight controls, counter-rotating all-composite rigid rotor blades, hub drag reduction, active vibration control and an integrated auxiliary propulsion system that included a pusher propeller that was driven by the same gear box that also turned the main rotors.

Weighing 6,000 lb (2,722 kg) and accommodating a crew of just two, the X2 was significantly smaller than the 32,000 lb (14,515 kg) and up to 18-person Defiant. Partly in order to help bridge this gap, Sikorsky developed its X-2-derived S-97 Raider, which weighs in at 11,000 lb (4,990 kg) and can accommodate up to eight crew and passengers.

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It's a good tech... but My God it's Ugly...

 

[Oldman1]

It's a good tech... but My God it's Ugly...

Looks gorgeous to me.

 

[Penguin]

It's a good tech... but My God it's Ugly...

Depends on the aspect a bit, I think

It's not like this is very pretty...

 

[BHarwana]

Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky has released a new video of the flight testing of their next-generation helicopter prototype, the S-97 Raider.

Billed as "the next big thing in Army aviation," the video shows the coaxial helicopter smoothly gliding through the sky, as well as taking off and landing. The Raider is a small and light helicopter, meant to carry no more than two pilots and six troops.