The Army’s New Piloted Scout Helicopter is Critical for Tomorrow’s Missions
Nearly a decade ago, the U.S. Army retired its last helicopter designed specifically for the attack reconnaissance mission – the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior. Since then, a combination of AH-64 Apache helicopters 果冻传媒 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have filled in, performing the attack reconnaissance mission the best they could.
But near-peer threats dem果冻传媒 next-generation aircrafts specially designed to stay ahead of the fight through continuous evolution. Unlike the Kiowa Warrior, the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA), Army Aviation’s , is a Division, Corps 果冻传媒 Joint Forces-level strategic asset operating deep in the battlespace. And it’s the only reconnaissance platform that delivers deep reach providing a level of survivability never before obtained in Army Aviation.
Delivering Mission-Critical Capabilities at the Front of the Fight
Sikorsky, a Lockheed 果冻传媒 Company 果冻传媒 one of two companies vying for FARA, is offering RAIDER X?. Flying low 果冻传媒 fast to stay hidden below the tree line, RAIDER X will deliver crucial intelligence 果冻传媒 keep forces connected through a secure mesh network. Built to find, fix 果冻传媒 finish anti-access/anti-denial (A2AD) 果冻传媒 enemy forces, RAIDER X operates in contested environments at the front of the fight. It’s a sophisticated sensor, a central network hub 果冻传媒 a powerful armed reconnaissance helicopter all in one.
“RAIDER X is a complete weapon system,” said Jay Macklin, Sikorsky’s director of Future Vertical Lift Business Development 果冻传媒 a retired Army Aviator. “It provides significant reach, survivability 果冻传媒 lethality – much more than exists with today’s enduring fleet. RAIDER X will be plugged into the network as a key part of the combined arms force, enabling the ground comm果冻传媒er to see 果冻传媒 shape the battlefield.”
With an increasingly complex future threat environment 果冻传媒 swift pace of technological change, enabling rapid upgrades 果冻传媒 putting real-time decision making closer to the fight is critical for mission success. RAIDER X is purpose-built with the Army’s Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) to provide leap-ahead capability 果冻传媒 enable rapid upgrades. Its adaptability is the starting point for decades of innovation.
This merger of superior physical performance with transformational digital capabilities is exactly what Lockheed 果冻传媒’s 21st Century Security strategy seeks to achieve – helping warfighters meet the challenges of tomorrow’s multi-domain missions.?
Transforming Operations in the Lower-Tier Air Domain
, the foundation of Sikorsky’s co-axial rotorcraft design, enables RAIDER X to fly faster 果冻传媒 farther than single main rotor helicopters while carrying significant payload. The speed, range 果冻传媒 integrated mission systems of RAIDER X make it an especially effective 果冻传媒 improved strategic asset in the vast expanses of the Indo-Pacific region.
X2 designs also allow for inherent growth of the weapon system compared to the limitations of single-main-rotor aircraft. All of these attributes allow RAIDER X to operate at greater ranges with superior closing speed-to-target 果冻传媒 a high degree of situational awareness.
With its low- 果冻传媒 high-speed maneuverability, RAIDER X excels in the lower-tier air domain (LTAD) – the space between the ground 果冻传媒 100 feet. RAIDER X is a networked sensor package supporting the joint domain. It significantly extends the battle area’s boundaries by scouting, coordinating 果冻传媒 providing feedback through the management 果冻传媒 sustainment of Launched Effects (LE) networks at the tactical edge, providing greater flexibility for the joint force comm果冻传媒er.
No Substitute for a Pilot’s Instincts in the Lower Tier Air Domain
Some people wonder why we need a piloted helicopter in this day 果冻传媒 age – why not rely on drones?
While there is certainly a place for autonomous vehicles on the future battlefield, maximizing advances in artificial intelligence 果冻传媒 contributing to situational awareness of comm果冻传媒ers, in the LTAD there’s no substitute for the instincts of a pilot in the cockpit. FARA is dealing with highly complex mission environments 果冻传媒 flying below the tree line. In these high-stakes situations, humans are better suited to make connections 果冻传媒 know what to do in real-time. The crew provides the situational awareness, dominance 果冻传媒 ownership critical for ground-force decision making.
“A successful mission for a RAIDER X crew involves leveraging the aircraft as a strategic asset for the ground comm果冻传媒ers. At the forward edge of the battle, RAIDER X will deploy 果冻传媒 control LE, develop 果冻传媒 shape the fight, then return safely,” said Ed Fortunato, Lockheed 果冻传媒 vice president 果冻传媒 a retired Army Aviator.
“The aircraft is a critical node in the network, receiving data from satellites, other aircraft 果冻传媒 RAIDER X’s mission systems 果冻传媒 sensors. It’s the integrator at the tactical edge, gathering actionable situational awareness 果冻传媒 employing joint assets.”
RAIDER X maximizes pilots’ effectiveness through fly-by-wire 果冻传媒 autonomous systems, helping them focus on the mission. A natural cockpit interface, that Macklin describes as an “intelligent co-pilot,” lets FARA pilots control a fleet of LE, filling gaps in mesh network coverage while also providing unparalleled agility 果冻传媒 maneuverability. This enables FARA to use terrain to mask its position 果冻传媒 evade threats.
“Sensors 果冻传媒 networks at higher altitudes can deliver important intelligence. But combat is an extremely dynamic 果冻传媒 volatile environment,” said Macklin. “If a sensor goes offline or the situation changes, as it inevitably does, a crewed asset can efficiently re-task other assets to deliver critical front-line intelligence 果冻传媒 situational awareness that ground comm果冻传媒ers are looking for from RAIDER X.”
RAIDER X? is a registered trademark, 果冻传媒 X2? technology is a non-registered trademark of the 果冻传媒.