• Air Warfare

  US Army cancels FARA helicopter programmes to fund UAS and Black Hawk procurement

  9th February 2024

  The cancellation of the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) has reflected a shift in focus towards uncrewed systems in response to evolving battlefield dynamics and lessons learned from recent conflicts.

• Air Warfare

  US Army delivers FARA engines to Bell and Sikorsky

  24th October 2023

  In a significant development for the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) programme, the first two T901 flight test engines have been delivered for the Bell 360 Invictus and Sikorsky Raider X Competitive Prototypes.

• Air Warfare

  Boeing’s upgraded AH-64 Apache attack helicopter completes first flight

  16th October 2023

  The latest version of the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter has been developed with optimised route and attack planning, advanced Link 16 capabilities and integration with open-systems interfaces.

• Air Warfare

  US Army accepts first FARA helicopter engine prototype

  5th October 2023

  Sikorsky has planned to start the installation process of the GE T901 engine in advance of ground testing and eventual flight testing of its FARA prototype.

• Naval Warfare

  IMDEX 2023: ADSB in talks with Indo-Pacific countries for potential ship deals

  4th May 2023

  The UAE's Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) is in talks with regional players, including Malaysia and Indonesia, for potential ship deals.

• Air Warfare

  Lockheed hopeful of Armed Black Hawk deal for Polish Army amid increased defence spending

  8th June 2023

  The Polish government is significantly increasing its defence budget and looks to grow its armed forces in an efforts to counter Russia's perceived threat. Under these plans, there is place for Armed Black Hawk attack helicopters next to the AW149s and Apaches.

• Air Warfare

  US Army FARA prototypes 95% complete while FLRAA stays on full halt

  13th February 2023

  Sikorsky and Bell helicopter proposals are drawing close to completion for the US Army's Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft competition.

• Air Warfare

  How the US Army’s FLRAA decision can affect other helicopter programmes

  14th December 2022

  Following the award of the US Army’s largest helicopter procurement in decades to the Bell V-280, questions remain as to what this means for the US's Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft competition and helicopter procurement elsewhere.

• Defence Helicopter

  US Army looks for ‘efficiencies’ to protect FARA production timeline

  9th June 2022

  The US Army has spoken of how it expects to manage the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft effort, after a delay in engine development had a knock-on effect on aircraft prototype flight tests.

• Defence Helicopter

  GE begins T901 turboshaft engine tests for US Army

  24th March 2022

  General Electric has begun tests of the first T901-GE-900 engine that will equip US Army helicopters.

• Defence Helicopter

  FARA fly-off on track but only if T901 engine tests keep pace

  4th March 2022

  As General Electric prepares to test imminently a fully assembled T901 engine for the first time, the US Army will monitor developments closely as it sticks to a plan of holding a Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) fly-off in 2023.

• Defence Notes

  Watchdog suggests changes to DoD acquisition process

  3rd November 2021

  The US Government Accountability Office has released a report criticising US defence procurement as ‘inefficient, cumbersome, and bureaucratic’.

• Defence Helicopter

  Bell not ruling out 360 Invictus design tweaks

  16th October 2020

  Bell will determine whether or not to make design changes on a newly developed light scout helicopter once the US Army confirms FARA weapons systems requirements.

• Defence Helicopter

  US Army ahead of ITEP schedule despite CDR delay

  11th May 2020

  The Critical Design Review (CDR) phase of the US Army's Improved Turbine Engine Programme (ITEP) has been delayed by two weeks because of COVID-19 issues. …

• Defence Notes

  Podcast: Revolutions in Vertical Flight S1 E2: The Dawn of the Helicopter

  20th December 2019

  Welcome to Shephard Studio’s podcast series on Revolutions in Vertical Flight, sponsored by our partner Bell. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more. The Revolutions in Vertical Flight …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Military helicopters - attack

  Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) [USA]

  Programme Background Requirement In 2018, the US Army initiated the FARA project to develop a replacement for Army attack and scout helicopters, such as the OH-58D Kiowa and AH-64 ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Fast attack/patrol craft and interceptors

  160 Inshore Tactical and Engagement Platform

  The 160 Inshore Tactical and Engagement Platform (ITEP) is a family of interceptor craft designed by Abu Dhabi Ship Building. The 160 ITEP is available ...

• Helicopter engines

  T901

  The Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP) is the US Army's effort to build a 50% more powerful and 25% more fuel-efficient engine for its Black ...