AVX Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA)

History of the AVX Future Attack and Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA)

The U.S. military is trying to protect an entire line of helicopters to replace an aging inventory of attack, reconnaissance and transport aircraft. These include classic Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, Bell OH-58 Kiowa reconnaissance aircraft and the venerable Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk transport line.

The "Future Vertical Lift" - or ATCO - was set up to find potential successors for the sprawling enterprise, and the program has since expanded to the "Future Attack and Reconnaissance Aircraft" (FARA), two of which are currently high-profile competitors by Bell V-280 "Valor" tilt-rotor helicopter and Sikorsky S-97 "Raider" compound helicopter proposal.

Another entry into the field is a new proposal from AVX Aircraft Corporation (Texas) in partnership with defense industry star L-3 Technologies. The vehicle uses coaxial main rotor blades (like those popularized by several well-known Russian Kamov helicopter designs) and ducted fans for improved maneuverability (arranged through a "compound" propulsion scheme). Concept art for the helicopter includes a two-seater cockpit with side-by-side seating, a chin-mounted triple-turret autocannon as standard armament, and low-mounted stubs for handling air-launched munitions (missiles and rockets) , and an overhead master aircraft for the necessary controls for forward flight in the air. The rear wing is a twin-fin unit.

The coaxial main rotor is located above the fuselage and is expected to have a twin turboshaft powerplant arrangement (performance and survivability) as well as wheeled retractable landing gear.

The AVX design, unveiled on April 15, 2019, is comparable in capabilities to the U.S. Army's obsolete OH-58 Kiowa family of light reconnaissance/light attack helicopters.

About 2,200 of the helicopters have been produced to date and are in use worldwide, fulfilling the service's observation/reconnaissance duties due to its light stature and maneuverability. It can be moderately armed, usually by a cannon pod, minigun or rocket pod mounted on outboard stubs, each containing only one mount point.

Beginning in 1969, the Kiowa family has continued to improve throughout its life cycle to meet the Army's continuing needs for versatile light rotor platforms.

The AVX proposal will face stiff competition from the proposed Sikorsky S-97 Raider, which has already been prototyped and flown.

The U.S. Army will select two bids from a field of five candidates for further development. The initial operational capability (IOC) is tentatively set for 2028, and the service could focus on as many as 500 units before it ends.

Specification

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