Bell 360 Invictus

[sadhu sequencer]

Bell Textron Inc has announced a new rotorcraft, the Bell 360 Invictus.

The aircraft serves as the company’s entrant for the U.S. Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) Competitive Prototype programme.

“The Bell 360 will deliver advanced battlefield situational awareness, as well as lethal options, in support of the maneuver force at an affordable cost” said Vince Tobin, executive vice president of Military Business at Bell in a news release.

“The multi-domain fight will be complex, and our team is delivering a highly capable, low-risk solution to confidently meet operational requirements with a sustainable fleet.”

The Bell 360 Invictus’ design, say the firm, emphasises  proven technologies to fulfill the Army’s FARA requirements at an affordable cost and on schedule.

“One example is the Invictus’ rotor system. This design is based on Bell’s 525 Relentless rotor system which has been tested and proven at speeds in excess of 200 Knots True Air Speed (KTAS). By incorporating proven designs and the best available technologies from commercial and military programs, Bell delivers a low-risk path to a FARA program of record.”

Some of the key 360 Invictus features include:

• Speed: Greater than 185 KTAS
• Combat radius: 135 nm with more than 90 minutes of time on station
• Achieves 4k/95F Hover Out of Ground Effect (HOGE)
• Armed with a 20 mm cannon, integrated munitions launcher with ability to integrate air-launched effects, and future weapons, as well as current inventory of munitions

“Bell is committed to providing the U.S. Army with the most affordable, most sustainable, least complex, and lowest risk solution among the potential FARA configurations, while meeting all requirements,” said Keith Flail, vice president of Advanced Vertical Lift Systems at Bell.

“360 Invictus is an exciting opportunity for us to continue our support of Army modernization. This is the next solution to ensure soldiers have the best equipment available for the multi-domain fight.”

 

 

[╭∩╮ smarnca]

Kaj pa je z onim Sikorsky Raider X

 

A so ga že scrapali?

 

 

[SmukY]

Niso, je neposreden Bellov tekmec. Na razpis je bilo prijavljenih 5 konceptov, zmagala sta Bell in Sikorsky, ostali so izpadli in sedaj bosta tekmovala med sabo kdo bo najbolj ustrezal zahtevam ameriške vojske - isto kot pri Boeing X-32 (ja, to je un hue hue hue avion) vs Lockheed X-35 (ki je sedaj F-35 Lightning II)