Bell 360 Invictus
| Bell 360 Invictus | |
|---|---|
| Role | Reconnaissance and attack helicopter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Bell Helicopter |
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
Scott C. Donnelly, CEO of Textron, has said in April 2019 that the 360 will be based on the 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 Systems.[4]
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 stabiliser 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] It will be powered by a single engine[3] derived from the Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP) by General Electric.[5]
The US Army requirement calls for a cruising speed in excess of 180 knots (330 km/h), and the 360 is intended to meet this;[1] the 525 rotor system has been tested to exceed 200 knots (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 (250 km) with at least 90 minutes time on station. It will use fly by wire control.[6]
Bell unveiled a full-scale mockup of the 360 at the Association of the United States Army annual show beginning 14 October 2019.[1][7]
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
- ^ a b c d e f Bell unshrouds Invictus, its answer for the US Army’s future attack recon aircraft, Jen Judson, Defense News, 2019-10-02
- ^ Bell FARA Offering Based on 525 Technology, Company Says, Frank Wolfe, Rotor & Wing International, 2019-04-29, accessed 2019-10-03
- ^ a b c d Reim, Garrett (2 October 2019). "ANALYSIS: Bell reveals 360 Invictus proposal for US Army contest". Flight Global. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
- ^ Tadjdeh, Yasmin (9 October 2019). "Army's Future Attack Recon Aircraft Gains Momentum". National Defense. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
- ^ Judson, Jen (October 3, 2018). "US Army triggers design competition for future attack reconnaissance helicopter". Defense News. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
The Army also wants the [FARA candidate] designs to incorporate the Improved Turbine Engine Program, or ITEP, engine that is being competitively developed to replace the engine in Black Hawks and Apaches.
- ^ Lethal. Sustainable. Bell announces 360 invictus for U.S. Army future attack reconnaissance aircraft competition, Textron media release, 2019-10-02
- ^ "Video: Bell shows off the full-scale Invictus model at AUSA". Army Times. 15 October 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.