FARNBOROUGH: New US heavy lift helicopter on horizon

Boeing hopes to lead the development of a new class of heavy lift helicopters capable of lifting 20 tonnes of cargo and a range of 300nm range, for the US armed forces within five years, according to the company's general manager for Rotorcraft, Patrick Shanahan. He described the project as his "next big programme".

Although the schedules set out by the three parties jointly seeking this type of aircraft�the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy and NATO�assume a development cycle of up to 20 years, Shanahan said Boeing Rotorcraft could provide a solution far faster by applying lessons learned.

Boeing statement
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