Bell puts faith in FARA redesign
The 360 Invictus FARA competitor undergoes assembly at Bell's Amarillo production facility. (Photo: Bell)
As a FARA flyoff edges closer Bell has made a key design change to the 360 Invictus, one it hopes can produce a competitive advantage over Sikorsky.
The Bell 360 Invictus Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) contender will be redesigned with a new open tail instead of a ducted configuration to improve aircraft performance.
The move arrives ten months after Bell told Shephard it would consider implementing ‘some minor changes’ to the rotorcraft, dependent on the outcome of engineering, manufacturing and development weapons systems requirements laid out by the US Army.
‘We did do a lot of testing on [the ducted fan] and it matched our performance models but a leadership decision was made to have a better growth path,’ said Chris Gehler VP,
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
Read this Article
Get access to this article with a Free Basic Account
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 2 free stories per week
- Daily news round-up email service
- Access to all Decisive Edge email newsletters
Unlimited Access
Access to all our premium news as a Premium News 365 Member. Corporate subscriptions available.
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 14-day free trial (cancel at any time)
- Unlimited access to all published premium news
More from AUSA 2021 News
-
![New ruggedised computer caters for extreme environments]()
New ruggedised computer caters for extreme environments
Sidewinder-Byte has a ruggedised modular/open architecture design compliant with MOSA standards and an unlimited deployment capability.
-
![AUSA 2021: Hanwha Defense eyes US market]()
AUSA 2021: Hanwha Defense eyes US market
South Korean firm Hanwha Defense is keen to team up with US suppliers as a means of accessing DoD procurement programmes.
-
![AUSA 2021: Ultra presents new RAIN information system]()
AUSA 2021: Ultra presents new RAIN information system
RAIN delivers faster information flow to troops and a beta version is set for release, says Ultra.
-
![AUSA 2021: UVision signs cooperation agreement to support HERO in US]()
AUSA 2021: UVision signs cooperation agreement to support HERO in US
UVision and MAG Aerospace will provide operational and training solutions for HERO Loitering Munitions.
-
![AUSA 2021: Raytheon lifts the veil on GhostEye MR]()
AUSA 2021: Raytheon lifts the veil on GhostEye MR
New radar uses LTAMDS technology developed for the US Army.
-
![AUSA 2021 - Curtiss-Wright introduces new open architecture solutions]()
AUSA 2021 - Curtiss-Wright introduces new open architecture solutions
Curtiss-Wright has developed systems that comply with US Army modular open standards.
