Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA)

Competitors for the U.S. Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program have started the certification and installation process of the engine.

GE Aerospace has delivered the second T901 engine for installation in the U.S. Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft prototypes.

The U.S. Army plans to complete its analysis of alternatives (AOA) on the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft by year’s end.

The pending deliveries will allow Sikorsky and Bell to start installing the 3,000-shp-class turboshaft in the prototypes for the Raider X and 360 Invictus, respectively.

GE Aerospace says the first T901 flight test engine for the U.S. Army's FARA contest will be delivered to competitors Bell and Sikorsky in the next few months.

The U.S. Army’s analysis of alternatives for its Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft is underway.

The goal is to achieve size, weight and power savings for Future Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft and other existing Army rotorcraft, the RFI says.

Poland in September 2022 announced plans to buy 96 new-build AH-64Es in an acquisition that could be worth up to $7 billion.

The U.S. Army wants its Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk fleet flying for the next 40 to 60 years.

The U.S. Army had previously planned to include surrogate engines for FARA prototypes in the event of T901 engine delays.

The GAO denial of Sikorsky’s FLRAA protest shows the Army prioritized Bell’s submission detail and open systems architecture over Sikorsky’s much lower cost.

The companies, services and people dependent on today’s promising new generation of aircraft would do well to heed the lessons of the past.

Delivery of the first GE Aerospace T901 engines to Bell and Sikorsky for integration into their FARA prototypes has been delayed until early 2024.