USMC expects optionally manned helicopter from FVL

[Zarvan]

The Bell V-280 is one likely contender for the Pentagon's FVL programme to replace several helicopter types in the US military. The USMC expects for any platform to emerge from the development to be optionally manned. Source: Bell Helicopter
The US Marine Corps (USMC) expects an optionally manned helicopter to emerge from the joint-service Future Vertical Lift (FVL) programme being led by the US Army, the corps' deputy commandant for aviation said on 29 July.

Although the USMC has been using the remotely piloted Lockheed Martin K-MAX unmanned helicopter for cargo operations for several years, Lieutenant General Jon Davis said medium-lift helicopters should still provide the military with the option to put a pilot in the cockpit. "Especially for a high reliability airplane, we view that airplane as a manned platform," he said following a speech at the American Enterprise Institute.

Bell Helicopter and Sikorsky have received army contracts to support the cost of building demonstrator aircraft for the FVL precursor, the Joint Multirole-Technology Demonstrator (JMR-TD) programme, which is set to debut flying prototypes from both contractors next year. Bell is offering its V-280 Valor tiltrotor aircraft and Sikorsky has teamed with Boeing to develop the SB-1 Defiant. The army and the US Navy are expected to acquire replacement helicopters via FVL for at least three classes of helicopters throughout both fleets.

Want to read more? For analysis on this article and access to all our insight content, please enquire about our subscription options　ihs.com/contact




To read the full article, Client Login
(206 of 219 words)

http://www.janes.com/article/62705/usmc-expects-optionally-manned-helicopter-from-fvl