Future Vertical Lift Program: the challenge of Sikorsky and Boeing's SB-1 Defiant

(To Matteo Acciaccarelli)
29/06/18

The SB-1 Defiant, developed as a team by Sikorsky and Boeing, will have the difficult task of trying to beat the fierce competition of the V-280 Valor, produced by Bell, in the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program of the Department of Defense of the United States (DoD) to equip the Army, and not only, with a new multirole helicopter.

The Pentagon has requested a new helicopter that can replace the UH-60 over time Black Hawk, produced by Sikorsky himself. The challenge is between giants of the helicopter industry, especially Bell and Sikorsky, with the latter assisted by what is, in terms of numbers, and not only, the leading aerospace company in the world. In this regard, Randy Rotte, commercial director of international sales for transport helicopters and Boeing's FVL program, and Rich Koucheravy, director of economic development for Sikorsky's FVL program, answered some questions, who wanted to express how important it is this synergy between two companies that "together they bring a combined experience of 50 years into the technological development of average assault and attack helicopters. With proven records, performance, experience and innovation, our team offers unprecedented skill and commitment to meet the requirements of the US Department of Defense".

A very important partnership that will be based on the technologies present both in the experimental X2 helicopter and in the S-97 Raider of Sikorsky.

"The rigid design of counter-rotating coaxial propellers represents a step forward in technology that will surpass conventional helicopters". A choice that, however, will not only bring a step forward in technology, because "will also allow you to reach the desired speed and range without compromising the maneuverability and survival capability of the helicopter”, The two managers continued. These aspects, over the years, should bring important economic savings for the end customer. On the other hand, the requests of the DoD are very stringent, also because the tasks of the next US multi-role helicopter will be numerous and the commitments different. Both Boeing and Sikorsky are confident that "the road so far followed, to develop and produce the new aircraft, is encouraging and we are confident that it will revolutionize military operations. All these technologies - have continued the two - they will allow the Defiant to operate at high speeds while improving its operational capabilities, maneuverability, agility, survival and lethality in the areas of operation".

The main innovations will be digital engine control, active vibration control, an integrated thrust engine, a high lift capacity rotor, a low drag design, and a Fly-by-Fly control system. wire. Indeed, this will be the step forward in the helicopter industry, because, as stated by Rotte and Koucheravy: "The Fly-by-wire control system is also a basic requirement for both the automatic helicopter driving and the remote driving of the helicopter. The ability to provide this capability will greatly increase the flexibility for the user in the future". What is still missing, unlike the V-280 Valor, is the first flight and a precise date still does not exist, but presumably will be made towards the end of the 2018 after "awe will have successfully completed integration tests, ground tests, Do Not Exceed limits (DNE) and the ground propulsion system test bench (PSTB, Propulsion System Test Bed)", Confirmed the two interviewees. All in order to make it productive and demonstrating that the SB-1 Defiant fully meets the requirements of the DoD. One thing is certain, for Boeing and for Sikorsky the Defiant will modify the idea of ​​the helicopter itself.

The hope for Boeing and Sikorsky is to win the race against Bell, but also to build a helicopter that marks an era, repeating what Boeing did with the CH-47. Chinook. This too, in a distant future, will have to be replaced and Boeing, always by Randy Rotte, has every intention of working with the DoD to create a new heavy transport helicopter.

"Lo Chinook is the most technologically advanced and technically advanced heavy duty helicopter in service and will continue to play a major role in military operations around the world", Said Rotte, who continued by stating that"Boeing is working to create a new generation of Chinook for the United States Army, as part of the Block II program. At the end of the update the 'new' Chinook will have new rotor blades (ACRB, Advanced Chinook Rotor Blades) and some improvements to the fuel system, transmission and fuselage, all to increase the payload and the ability to fly at higher altitudes and temperatures". As the Block II program, in production at the Philadelphia plant, approaches its first flight scheduled for next year, the Seattle-based company is examining its findings in the latest updates in order to "prepare an update that goes beyond Block II, so as to be able to respond to the changing demands of our customers and to the technological changes taking place", Stressed Rotte. With these updates "it will be possible to bring the CH-47 program and the platform itself to fly even beyond the 2060". A flight that will last about one hundred years, for the symbol of heavy transport helicopters, and not only, present in the skies of almost the whole world.

The other home helicopter Boeing, after the acquisition of McDonnell Douglas (who had previously purchased the Hughes Helicopter) in the 1997, is the AH-64 Apache, or one of the best attack helicopters in the world. THE'Apache it will remain with the Army up to 2048 / 2060, even if Rotte does not rule out that it can remain in service even after this time frame.

"Like previous versions of the Apache (AH-64A and AH-64D), today's AH-64E effectively meets all the demands of soldiers and commanders, thanks and through a well-planned and coordinated technological journey. The modernization continues makes sure that the Apache is aligned to all the demands and needs of the Army, acting as a bridge with the attack variant of the helicopters of the Future Vertical Lift program".

For Boeing, the FVL program is to all intents and purposes the company's main objective, engineers and program managers "continue to develop technologies to upgrade the Apache, to improve its situation awareness (thanks to the sensors), the performances (such as autonomy, speed and payload), lethality (with always new weapons) and sustainability (as regards the economic aspect, the materials used and the monitoring of soldiers' health) ". Obviously, the whole is aimed at the study and development of the new helicopters of the FVL program, as soon as the DoD will communicate the basic requirements for the other configurations foreseen by the program of modernization and technological innovation of the helicopter fleet of the US Armed Forces, and not only.

The next appointment on the calendar is the race to replace the UH-1N, in which Boeing participates with the AW-139 (which we spoke with Boeing Italia president Antonio De Palmas, v.intervista) against the UH-60 Black Hawk of Sikorsky and UH-1Y Venom of Bell, then it will be the turn of the first real helicopter that is part of the FVL program, that is the medium multirole. For the other programs, there will still be many years to wait, in which theApache and the Chinook they will continue to sail the skies of almost the whole world.

(images: Boeing)