Bell 360 Invictus: Difference between revisions
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Bell unveiled a full-scale [[mockup]] of the 360 at the [[Association of the United States Army]] annual show beginning 14 October 2019.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Jeff |date=21 October 2019 |title=Video: Bell shows off the full-scale Invictus model at AUSA |url=https://www.defensenews.com/newsletters/tv-next-episode/2019/10/21/bell-shows-off-the-full-scale-invictus-model-at-ausa/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240110043455/https://www.defensenews.com/newsletters/tv-next-episode/2019/10/21/bell-shows-off-the-full-scale-invictus-model-at-ausa/ |archive-date=10 January 2024 |access-date= |work=Defense News}}</ref> |
Bell unveiled a full-scale [[mockup]] of the 360 at the [[Association of the United States Army]] annual show beginning 14 October 2019.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Jeff |date=21 October 2019 |title=Video: Bell shows off the full-scale Invictus model at AUSA |url=https://www.defensenews.com/newsletters/tv-next-episode/2019/10/21/bell-shows-off-the-full-scale-invictus-model-at-ausa/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240110043455/https://www.defensenews.com/newsletters/tv-next-episode/2019/10/21/bell-shows-off-the-full-scale-invictus-model-at-ausa/ |archive-date=10 January 2024 |access-date= |work=Defense News}}</ref> |
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The US Army is cancelling its next generation Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program, service officials announced today, taking a potential multi-billion-dollar contract off the table and throwing the service’s long-term aviation plans into doubt. |
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==Specifications (Bell 360)== |
==Specifications (Bell 360)== |
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Revision as of 12:50, 9 February 2024
| Bell 360 Invictus | |
|---|---|
| Role | Reconnaissance and attack helicopter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Bell Textron |
The Bell 360 Invictus is a proposed helicopter design intended to meet the United States Army requirement for a Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA). It is based on technology from the Bell 525 Relentless.[1]
Design and development
Scott C. Donnelly, CEO of Textron, has said in April 2019 that the Bell 360 will be based on the Bell 525.[1][2] The 360 and 525 will share an articulated rotor system, although the 360, which will only seat two (a pilot and gunner), will use a single engine and a four-blade rotor, whereas the 525 uses twin engines and a five-blade rotor and has a nineteen-passenger capacity.[3] Bell has since announced it is developing the 360 with Collins Aerospace,[4] and the Sierra Nevada Corporation is developing the mission systems for the aircraft.[5]
The design was unveiled on 1 October 2019, showing a two-seat tandem cockpit, with sighting optics and/or laser designator above a 20mm cannon gun turret at the chin position below the cockpit, mid-mounted stub wings below the shrouded rotor hub and four 40 foot (12 m) diameter rotor blades, an active horizontal stabilizer and a tilted and shrouded tail rotor. Missiles are mounted on integrated launchers.[1] The rotor diameter is dictated by US Army requirements, which specified that maximum diameter for FARA candidates to allow the rotorcraft to fit between buildings on future battlefields.[3] Its main engine will be a single General Electric T901 turboshaft engine, with supplemental power from a Pratt & Whitney PW207D1 turboshaft.[6]
The US Army requirement calls for a cruising speed in excess of 180 knots (210 mph; 330 km/h), and the 360 is intended to meet this;[1] the Bell 525 rotor system has been tested to exceed 200 knots (230 mph; 370 km/h).[3] The stub wings are intended to provide lift equivalent to approximately 50% of the weight of the aircraft at moderate to high speed.[1] Combat radius will be 135 nautical miles (155 mi; 250 km) with at least 90 minutes time on station. It will use fly-by-wire control.[7]
Bell unveiled a full-scale mockup of the 360 at the Association of the United States Army annual show beginning 14 October 2019.[1][8]
The US Army is cancelling its next generation Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program, service officials announced today, taking a potential multi-billion-dollar contract off the table and throwing the service’s long-term aviation plans into doubt.
Specifications (Bell 360)
Data from Textron[6]
General characteristics
- Crew: two
- Powerplant: 1 × General Electric T901 turboshaft (main powerplant)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney PW207D1 turboshaft, 586 shp (439 kW) (supplemental power unit)
Performance
- Cruise speed: 210 mph (330 km/h, 180 kn)
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Boeing–Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche
- Harbin Z-19
- Kawasaki OH-1
- Leonardo Helicopters AW249
- Sikorsky Raider X
References
- ^ a b c d e f Judson, Jen (2 October 2019). "Bell unshrouds Invictus, its answer for the US Army's future attack recon aircraft". Defense News. Archived from the original on 2 October 2019.
- ^ Wolfe, Frank (22 April 2019). "Bell FARA Offering Based on 525 Technology, Company Says". Defense Daily. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ a b c Reim, Garrett (2 October 2019). "ANALYSIS: Bell reveals 360 Invictus proposal for US Army contest". FlightGlobal. Archived from the original on 26 December 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
- ^ Tadjdeh, Yasmin (9 October 2019). "Army's Future Attack Recon Aircraft Gains Momentum". National Defense. Archived from the original on 16 July 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
- ^ "Bell Adds SNC to Team Invictus for Work on Advanced Mission Systems". Bell Flight. 26 April 2022. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
- ^ a b Reim, Garrett (16 December 2019). "Bell discloses booster engine for 360 Invictus". FlightGlobal. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ "Lethal. Sustainable. Bell Announces 360 Invictus For U.S. Army Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft Competition". Textron. 2 October 2019. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023.
- ^ Martin, Jeff (21 October 2019). "Video: Bell shows off the full-scale Invictus model at AUSA". Defense News. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024.