Military

Boeing unveils Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft concept

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Artist's concept of the Boeing FARA helicopter
Boeing
Artist's concept of the Boeing FARA helicopter
Boeing
The Boeing FARA helicopter has tandem seating
Boeing
The Boeing FARA helicopter is designed for greater speed and maneuverability
Boeing
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Boeing has revealed its entry for the US Army's Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) prototype competition. The conceptual rotorcraft is one of five competing designs by Boeing, Bell, AVX Aircraft, Karem Aircraft, and Sikorsky to replace the Army's Cold War-era Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters.

Boeing has so far kept its FARA concept well under wraps and still hasn't released any specifications, but we now have new images and a description of some of the features of the advanced tandem, two-seater combat helicopter. Designed to meet Army requirements, it's intended to not only meet future battlefield threats but also to facilitate easier maintenance and upgradeability.

Boeing says the FARA in its present form uses an all-new, six-bladed, single-main rotor powered by a single engine and controlled by a fly-by-wire system. There is also a push-propeller for greater maneuverability and horizontal flight at speeds exceeding those of current helicopters.

The Boeing FARA helicopter is designed for greater speed and maneuverability
Boeing

Up front, there is an advanced, narrow-cross-section cockpit with tandem seating and an intuitive common control interface for both of the crew. This includes flexible avionics, autonomous capabilities, and a large, reconfigurable display with touch screen capabilities.

When in the hangar, the Boeing FARA has a number of maintenance innovations, including the ability to reload munitions faster by eliminating the need for supplemental lifts. It also has an onboard diagnostics system that operates in real-time and can adjust to degraded conditions. The aircraft is also being designed with open architecture, so it can be readily upgraded.

"We’re offering more than a helicopter – we’re offering an affordable and fully integrated system for the Army, the mission and the future," says Mark Cherry, vice president and general manager of Boeing’s Phantom Works. "We’ve blended innovation, ingenuity and proven rotorcraft experience with extensive testing and advanced analysis to offer a very compelling solution."

Source: Boeing

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6 comments
rbhebron
..im not sure why BOEING is still on a single rotor design/concept.. while its more practical & maneuverable to have a quad design.. the learning curve is very high for a single rotor, while its almost none in a quad.. perhaps, its time to change the focus for BOEING... a quad can easily be a pilot-less aircraft... while a single rotor is a real challenge to be pilot-less.. even attack fighter jets are now seriously considering a pilot-less option.. there is no need to sacrifice the pilot for attack fighter jets...
Nelson Hyde Chick
Cool, a way more efficient way for us to kill our fellow man.
AngryPenguin
@rbhebron The quad layout needs more landing/hangar space relative to payload. For a camera drone, that isn't a problem, but an attack helicopter needs to carry a lot of weight.
Gregg Eshelman
A similar project was already done, the RAH-66 Comanche. The open tail rotor on this FARA design is a step back. What would be better is to combine the NOTAR (NO TAil Rotor) boom with a pusher prop, preferably inside a duct to improve efficiency and protection from damaging the prop or the prop causing damage.
ljaques
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2weyVg_va7g Happy little autonomous single rotor design from Grumman.
ljaques
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2weyVg_va7g Happy little autonomous single rotor design from Grumman.