Defiant first flight slips

a reply to: Blackfinger

More of a Kiowa folllow-on than a Loach. They're using the Apache in that role currently for the interim, which is not ideal for a variety of reasons. The Kiowas found plenty of uses for armament.

a reply to: RadioRobert

youtu.be...

a reply to: RadioRobert

What's the issue with the Kiowa? Simply age, or is there something else going on? Upgrade issues, or something like that?

a reply to: seagull

Nothing. The Army rotary wing aviation plan called for simplification by using a mix of AH-64s and drones to scout and for the attack mission. Then pretty much as soon as the last Kiowa was gone, they starting complaining that they needed a new armed scout.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Ah. So it's just another case of SNAFU for Army appropriations...

a reply to: seagull

SNAFU and Army are interchangeable when it comes to appropriations.

originally posted by: seagull
a reply to: RadioRobert

What's the issue with the Kiowa? Simply age, or is there something else going on? Upgrade issues, or something like that?

It was age, really. Getting expensive to keep them up and there were questions about survivability.

So they started Comanche. Which died an ugly death in mid-2000s(ish) because of program mismanagement (but was probably doomed from the start). By the time we're into Afghanistan, Iraq, the Kiowas aren't any younger. Hot and high performance was underwhelming. And we're losing airframes that there aren't any replacements for.

So they started the ARH program for a replacement, chose an updated 407 in the Arapaho which was basically the next -gen JetRanger/Kiowa. Program costs rose, so they cancelled it over protests from Army Aviation.

They told everyone to make do with drones which would be cheaper.

Surprising very few people in the field, even brass was quickly convinced that in many environments (urban, dense foilage) there is no replacement for human eyeballs and the ability to hover -- despite however many nifty sensors (typically with a very narrow FOV) and displays you have on a drone.

Big and heavy Apaches were quickly assigned the task, which is less than ideal (for economy reasons, but especially as it means you're stretching the Apache fleet). Also, Apache guys can't wait to be off that mission and be back to purely fire-support missions.

Shockingly, the Army has actually decided it needs to fast track a replacement as part of FVL (whereafter they will be shocked at the price tag and walk away and tell the people in the field to make do with drones if history is any indicator.)

Cross your fingers.

Wasnt there a lot of noise about mini drones carried by the infantry to provide localized recon while on patrol?Or was that just manufacturers uptalking the Drone trend for sales to the military?

a reply to: Blackfinger

Sure, but that isn't going to carry out the sort of reconnaissance that the aerial scouts perform. There's a demand for mini-rpv/uav system, but they don't have range, endurance, or the sensors needed for the aerial scout role.

Ground Run Test Video:

www.defensenews.com...

a reply to: anzha

www.flightglobal.com...

The Defiant had its 4th ground test.

The Blackhawk replacement is now called FLRAA, Future Long-range Assault Aircraft.

The Army saying 2030, but is hinting the PoCs from Sikorsky/Boeing and Bell are mature enough they can go faster.

Defiant flew for 30 minutes.

www.defensenews.com...

breakingdefense.com...

two flights. 50 ft. 10 kts. 2 hours.

www.thedrive.com...

a reply to: anzha

Van Buiten: "We have executed a study contract looking at a 100,000 lb variant of this configuration."

That's the only eyebrow raising comment. I think we're at the limit of what is feasible with material science right now. Would be interested in seeing the scope and direction of the study.

They got in a SARA plug, too.

Defiant grounded for propulsion issues:

www.thedrive.com...

cool! Not much of a helo guy but I did go out there where this is flying at and sit in the Camanche and watch some flights back in the day.

I would imagine it is vibration control and/or rotor stiffness, and not power plant per se, but that is pure guesswork.