Latest news with #militaryaviation
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
See the MV-75 tiltrotor set to be the US Army's next premier air assault vehicle and replace the UH-60 Black Hawk
The US Army designated Bell's V-280 Valor as its next-generation air assault vehicle, the MV-75. The tiltrotor is part of the Army's plan to modernize its aging fleet of military helicopters. The Army plans to replace the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk with the MV-75 by the 2030s. It flies like a helicopter, cruises like a plane, and could redefine how the US Army fights wars within the next decade. The Army chose the Bell V-280 Valor as its next-generation assault aircraft, designed to fly longer and faster than current rotorcraft. Officially designated the MV-75, the Army is betting on the Bell tiltrotor to modernize its aging fleet of military helicopters. For nearly 50 years, the UH-60 Black Hawk has been the Army's airborne workhorse. The Army plans to continue flying the Black Hawk for the next several years as it fast-tracks the rollout of the new tiltrotor replacement fleet in the 2030s. Bell V-280 Valor Developed by Bell Textron, a Texas-based aerospace company, the V-280 was designed with "transformational increases in speed, range, and maneuverability," the Army said in a 2020 release. Propelled by two Rolls-Royce turboshaft engines, the V-280's tiltrotor design allows the aircraft to take off and land vertically like a helicopter and fly like an airplane, like the Bell Boeing MV-22 Osprey. In order to be a contender for the Army's Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft, the competing aircraft were required to cruise at speeds of up to 322 miles per hour — nearly twice as fast as the Black Hawk's cruising speed of 174 mph. The aircraft was expected to carry up to 14 fully equipped passengers or accommodate external payloads of up to 10,000 pounds. The FLRAA also had to be able to operate at 6,000 feet in temperatures up to 95 degrees Fahrenheit and fly at least 1,700 nautical miles without refueling. A 'leap ahead' Gen. James Mingus, the Army's vice chief of staff, described the MV-75 as a "leap ahead in technology and capability." "It delivers operational reach that alters how we close with the enemy," Mingus said at the Army Aviation Association of America conference on May 14. "It brings the right combination of speed, payload, and survivability we've never had in one aircraft." The concept is that each MV-75 can rush over a dozen heavily loaded troopers onto assault missions that can catch an enemy off guard. Next-generation military helicopters Bell's V-280 Valor was selected in 2022 as the Army's Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft, chosen over the Sikorsky-Boeing Defiant X. The FLRAA is part of the Army's broader effort to modernize its aerial fleet, known as Future Vertical Lift. The Army also planned to develop a new armed scout helicopter known as the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft, but the program was canceled earlier this year to prioritize the fielding of the MV-75. The Army is "not just committed to the programme, but how we do it faster as well," Mingus said. Multimission Vertical Takeoff The "M" in the aircraft's designation refers to its multimission purpose, and the "V" represents its vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capability. While the MV-75 design has yet to be finalized, the future tiltrotor is expected to have a baseline variant that will incorporate features to adapt it to special operations. After entering the engineering and manufacturing stage last year, Bell is under contract to build six prototypes of the MV-75. The Texas-based aerospace company projects to complete its first flight in 2026 and low-rate initial production in 2028. The aircraft is slated to be delivered to the Army around 2030. 'Rapid response and enhanced maneuverability' The next-generation aircraft is expected to serve on missions involving vertical lift, air assault, maritime interdiction, medical evacuation, combat search and rescue, humanitarian relief, and tactical resupply. 101st Airborne Division The 101st Airborne Division, the only Army division specializing in air assault operations, is set to be the first frontline unit to field the MV-75. For nearly six decades, the unit's Combat Aviation Brigade has been operating assault helicopters, such as AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters, UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters, and CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters. "The 101st flies into real-world contested environments, across wide terrain, often without the luxury of fixed support infrastructure," Mingus said. "They need speed, endurance, and reliability." Preparing for a fight in the Pacific The modernization of the Army's aerial fleet comes as the US military prepares for a potential conflict with China. The long-range mobility of the Army's future aircraft fleet is essential for the vast Pacific theater, consisting of island chains separated by long distances and limited Army infrastructure in the region. The Future Vertical Lift initiative is also focused on enhancing survivability against Chinese and Russian air defenses by equipping future aircraft with high-speed capabilities and reduced radar signatures. Autonomous and semi-autonomous flight Amid the Pentagon's push for AI use within its ranks, the Army is also looking to integrate autonomous and semi-autonomous flight technology into its systems, including the MV-75. "The Army wants to make sure that aircraft can be unmanned," Textron CEO Scott Donnelly said during an earnings call in April. In December 2019, the V-280 Valor successfully completed an autonomous test flight at the company's research center in Arlington, Texas, though two pilots remained onboard to intervene if necessary. Read the original article on Business Insider
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Misplaced antenna caused military controllers to lose contact with Black Hawk near DCA: report
An Army general recently confirmed that military air traffic controllers lost contact with an Army helicopter, prompting two commercial planes to perform go-arounds to avoid crashing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), where a midair collision in January killed 67 people. On May 1, a Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 and a Republic Airways Embraer E170 at DCA were told to perform go-arounds due to a U.S. Army Black Hawk Priority Air Transport helicopter inbound to the Pentagon Army Heliport, according to statements from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Brig. Gen. Matthew Braman, director of Army Aviation, said a temporary control tower antenna placed in the wrong location caused military air traffic controllers to lose contact with the Black Hawk helicopter for 20 seconds, according to a report from The Associated Press. Two Planes Do 'Go-arounds' To Avoid Military Helicopter Near Reagan Washington National Airport Even though the helicopter should have emitted its exact location, FAA officials reportedly told Braman the data received was "inconclusive," varying up to three-quarters of a mile. "It certainly led to confusion of air traffic control of where they were," Braman told the AP. Read On The Fox News App The antenna, which was set up while a new control tower was being built, has since been relocated to the Pentagon rooftop, the outlet reported. Faa 'Permanently Restricting' Washington Helicopter Traffic After Fatal Midair Collision Near Dc Airport Chris Senn, the FAA's assistant administrator for government and industry affairs, initially said in an email shared with Politico that the go-arounds could have been avoided had the Black Hawk traveled west to the heliport instead of taking "a scenic route." Army Public Affairs said in a statement its internal review found "no deviations from approved flight paths" and "no risk of intersecting air traffic." The Army claims its helicopter, which was not carrying any passengers, was continuously broadcasting via its Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) Out system throughout the flight, and the go-arounds were performed "out of an apparent abundance of caution." "The first go-around occurred before PAT 23 arrived at the Pentagon helipad and was the result of an issue with sequencing of air traffic by DCA Tower," the Army said in the statement. "The second occurred during PAT 23's subsequent traffic pattern and was based on conflicting positional data from legacy tracking systems." The close calls came less than one month after the FAA increased staffing and oversight for the DCA air traffic control team. Two Planes Aborted Landings At Dca Due To Helicopters In Flight Path In Week Before Crash: Report The Army said it supports ongoing efforts to modernize air traffic systems, including initiatives led by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to address "inconsistencies caused by legacy technologies." "We are committed to safe and professional aviation operations in all airspace," Braman said in the statement. "We continue to work closely with the FAA to update procedures prior to resuming Pentagon flight operations in support of national security missions." After the May 1 incident, Duffy took to X to share his frustration. "Our helicopter restrictions around DCA are crystal clear. In addition to investigations from @NTSB and @FAANews, I'll be talking to the @DeptofDefense to ask why the hell our rules were disregarded," Duffy wrote. "Safety must ALWAYS come first. We just lost 67 souls! No more helicopter rides for VIPs or unnecessary training in a congested DCA airspace full of civilians. Take a taxi or Uber – besides most VIPs have black car service." On May 8, Duffy announced a plan to build a new "state-of-the-art" traffic control system that will equip locations with better technology to reduce outages, improve efficiency and reinforce safety. The announcement came after recent outages at Newark Liberty Internal Airport, which Duffy attributed to the previous administration's transfer of airspace control from New York to Philadelphia. The NTSB said in an email to Fox News Digital it is still investigating the May 1 incident. "We can't comment on an open investigation," a spokesperson wrote. The FAA did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for article source: Misplaced antenna caused military controllers to lose contact with Black Hawk near DCA: report
News.com.au
21-05-2025
- General
- News.com.au
Pilot's last manoeuvre may have prevented second helicopter tragedy
A military pilot's last-second evasive manoeuvre likely saved four lives during a catastrophic Army helicopter crash in the Whitsundays, a new investigation has revealed. Captain Danniel Lyon, who died alongside co-pilot Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class 2 Phillip Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs, managed to avoid a mid-air collision despite losing control of his MRH-90 Taipan, according to a 228-page report by the Defence Flight Safety Bureau (DFSB). The crash occurred on July 28, 2023, during Exercise Talisman Sabre, when the Taipan, call sign Bushman 83, plunged into the ocean off Hamilton Island while flying in formation with three other helicopters. The DFSB concluded the primary cause was spatial disorientation, with Captain Lyon and Lieutenant Nugent becoming disoriented for 21 seconds before impact. However, in the final moments, Captain Lyon rolled the aircraft to the right, diverting it from a potential collision course with Bushman 82. 'During the two and a half seconds after the pushover, (flight data recorder) analysis indicates that the relative distance between the two aircraft decreased from approximately 100 metres to 50 metres,' the report said. 'In response to this increasing closure, it is likely (Captain Lyon) acted to avoid a potential mid-air collision with BSMN 82 by executing an avoidance turn to the right.' The report found Captain Lyon's action, taken while the aircraft was 'unrecoverable', likely prevented further loss of life. Cockpit audio captured a calm and focused exchange between Captain Lyon and Lieutenant Nugent just seconds before the crash. 'It's getting dicey,' Captain Lyon said five seconds into a left-hand turn through rain showers. Moments later, he told Lieutenant Nugent, 'I'll just get around the corner for you mate … while we're dealing with the rain shower.' As they climbed, Captain Lyon asked: 'Have you still got em?' referring to the aircraft ahead. Lieutenant Nugent replied, 'Yeah, still get em mate.' Investigators believe this exchange marked the moment Captain Lyon lost visual contact with the Bushman 82 helicopter. He then began climbing through poor visibility and attempted quick manoeuvres to regain sight of the aircraft, rolling sharply right and then left. Neither Captain Lyon nor co-pilot Lieutenant Nugent appeared to notice a critical change in the aircraft's pitch, from nose-up to nose-down, as their helicopter climbed above the rest of the formation Unaware of the aircraft's downward attitude, Captain Lyon pitched down further, inadvertently pushing the aircraft into a fatal nose-down descent. In the final seconds before impact, Captain Lyon recognised that his plummeting helicopter, Bushman 83, was on a collision course with Bushman 82. Despite knowing his own chopper was unrecoverable, he took immediate evasive action, rolling sharply to the right in a final act that likely saved the lives of the four crew aboard Bushman 82. Bushman 83 hit the water at 10:36:25pm, travelling at 259km/h. The four men were killed instantly. The DFSB noted that fatigue likely contributed to the spatial disorientation. Both Captain Lyon and Lieutenant Nugent had been sleeping in tents at Proserpine Airport in the days prior and waited inside the aircraft for two hours before takeoff. The investigation also assessed whether the TopOwl 5.10 helmet, criticised in test reports for its inverted pitch and roll displays when pilots turn their heads, contributed to the crash. The helmet was described by Army test pilots as a 'substantial risk of multiple deaths', but the DFSB found it was 'very unlikely' to have caused the disorientation in this instance. 'While both AATES and Standards Section test and evaluation reports agreed that there were deficiencies relating to attitude presentation, the two agencies disagreed on the severity of the hazard,' the report said. The DFSB made 46 recommendations, including improvements to fatigue management, minimum night flying altitudes over water, and better training for spatial disorientation. The Defence Aviation Authority has accepted all recommendations. The report is one of the most complex aviation investigations conducted by Defence. Separate probes by the Inspector-General of the ADF, Comcare, and the Queensland coroner remain ongoing.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Textron Inc. (TXT) Subsidiary Bell Demonstrates FLRAA Virtual Prototype to Army
Bell, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT), on May 20, announced that it had joined the U.S. Army Program Manager FLRAA office to support the demonstration of the FLRAA virtual prototype. FLRAA Project Manager, Colonel Jeffrey Poquette, said he was thrilled to see the first hardware delivered on the FLRAA program. He also noted that leveraging Congressional authorities would not only deliver two FLRAA virtual prototype cockpit simulators but also help in accelerating the broader program by four years. The virtual prototype is a vital part of the Army's accelerated acquisition approach that uses the Middle Tier of the Acquisition process. The two prototypes will expedite user familiarization, feedback, and the development of TTPs in preparation for FLRAA's transformational range and speed. Over time, these assets are likely to be converted into Flight Training Devices. Ryan Ehinger, Senior VP and FLRAA program director at Bell Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) stated the following on the development: 'I am incredibly proud of the joint team's execution, working together in parallel to the weapon system development to deliver this advanced capability. Having the PM FLRAA team alongside the Bell team as we head into final USG testing and delivery is further evidence of the extensive industry/government collaboration benefitting this program.' Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) manufactures products for consumers across several industries by leveraging its network of aircraft, defense, finance, and industrial businesses. The stock has surged by 15% over the past month, driven mainly by Q1 FY25 results that topped estimates for both revenue and earnings. While we acknowledge the potential of TXT as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than TXT and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 10 Best Drone Stocks to Buy According to Billionaires and 11 Best American Defense Stocks to Buy Now. Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
ABC News
21-05-2025
- ABC News
Defence investigation finds Taipan pilot's actions possibly prevented further fatalities in crash
A defence investigation into an army helicopter crash that killed four soldiers has revealed more lives could have been lost, had the aircraft pilot not taken evasive action to avoid another collision. The Defence Flight Safety Bureau (DFSB) report — which made 196 findings or observations and 46 recommendations to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) — was today released publicly, after it was finalised last month. It concluded it was highly likely the crash, which claimed the lives of Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class 2 Joseph "Phillip" Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs in July 2023, was because of unrecognised spatial disorientation suffered by at least one of the aircraft's pilots. "This refers to a situation where a pilot is unaware of their actual orientation in relation to the earth's surface and the surrounding environment," defence said in a statement. The four men were on board an MRH-90 "Taipan" helicopter with the call sign "Bushman 83" as part of a defence training exercise in Queensland's Whitsunday region. The report identified that, after making a turn while flying in a four aircraft formation, Bushman 83 climbed over 100 feet, before rapidly descending and crashing into the ocean. It took all of 21 seconds for the pilots to lose their orientation, and crash. The report described how the conditions they flew in that night — low level, over water, using night vision devices in a degraded visual environment, while likely fatigued — increased the risk of a person experiencing spatial disorientation. The report stated the pilot, Captain Danniel Lyon, "almost certainly" lost sight of the aircraft ahead of him in formation — Bushman 82 — and tried to regain visual. It stated Captain Lyon likely didn't know Bushman 83 was facing nose down at the time and accelerated quickly "which, combined with a lack of recognition of the aircraft's increasing airspeed, resulted in a very high and unrecoverable rate of descent towards the water". The DFSB said it was more than likely that during this time, Captain Lyon regained sight of the other aircraft and realised he was closer than expected. It said he took evasive manoeuvres to "avoid a mid-air collision" by conducting a "controlled flight into terrain", therefore potentially saving the lives of those on board the other aircraft. The report also identified that the loss of spatial orientation was likely not because of night vision technology used by the pilots of Bushman 83, which had previously been deemed as posing an unacceptable risk. The helmet mounted visor, known as TopOwl 5.10, has been at the centre of bombshell evidence as part of a separate independent inquiry into the crash. The Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force (IGADF) inquiry heard evidence that a defence testing organisation held grave concerns about the technology, as it had a tendency to display serious inconsistencies when compared with real readings. "Regardless [of the risks previously identified], the investigation determined that it was very unlikely the known hazards relating to the HMSD v5.10 contributed to the loss of spatial orientation," the report stated. The ADF described the aviation safety investigation as "one of the most complex conducted by defence in recent history", with the resulting report determining the crash was "not survivable". Defence has faced criticism from the family members and loved ones of the four men during the IGADF inquiry, for how long it took to inform them they were likely dead. It heard for three days, the families were "cruelly" led to believe their loved ones would be found alive, despite many believing very early on, there was next to no chance they would be. "[To tell us they were dead would have been] far less cruel than having us hoping and praying for a miracle that was actually impossible," Captain Danniel Lyon's wife, Caitland Lyon, told the inquiry last year. Corporal Alexander Naggs's partner, Sarah Loft also echoed the sentiment, saying "They knew hope was lost long before we were told hope was lost". Fatigue has been a major focus of the IGADF inquiry, and the DFSB report made findings in relation to the issue. It found Captain Lyon and Lieutenant Nugent were likely fatigued, as a result of disruptive work patterns, burnout and rough sleeping conditions during the defence training exercise. The IGADF inquiry heard the crew were sleeping next to an active fire station and operational airport, in hot tents, while trying to switch their body clocks to night-flying mode. The report found their levels of fatigue likely increased their risk of experiencing spatial disorientation. In its recommendations, the DFSB urged army aviation to review its fatigue management policy, and provide training to pilots about how to recognise spatial disorientation. All 46 recommendations have been accepted by defence, many of which are also being enacted. Hearings as part of the IGADF inquiry wrapped up this month, with its findings and recommendations to be handed down at a later date.
