Bell's V-247 Vigilant Unmanned Tilt Rotor

Bell V-247 Vigilant

Bell V-247 Vigilant (Copyright Bell Helicopter)

Bell Helicopter's Press Release dated September, 2016 outlines the Unmanned Tilt-Rotor:

"The Bell V-247 Vigilant satisfies the comprehensive spectrum of capabilities outlined in the 2016 Marine Corps Aviation Plan, and could be available for production as early as 2023.

The Bell V-247 Vigilant is a solution designed to address the evolving demands of the military and transportation sectors for unmanned aircraft for a shipborne UAS platform, including:

• The ability to operate successfully without a runway, such as in maritime environments
• Seamless performance in locations without secure runway availability, such as at shrinking land bases in contested areas
• Significant reduction of the logistical footprint while retaining the superior operational performance by combining the vertical lift capability of a helicopter with the speed and range of a conventional fixed-wing aircraft
• The capacity to control the battle space effectively with 24-hour intelligence provided by unmatched long-endurance persistent expeditionary and surveillance capability

A Group 5 UAS, the Bell V-247 Vigilant is designed to combine unparalleled capability with unprecedented flexibility to execute a wide array of mission sets, including electronic warfare, ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance), escort, C4 (Command, Control, Communications, and Computers), persistent fire missions and tactical distribution. The UAS is expected to accomplish all of this with the benefits of extended endurance through plug-and-play mission packages. 

The Bell V-247 Vigilant’s design boasts a number of unrivaled capabilities and transformational features,including:

• A sea-based platform,which can be sized for compatibility with DDG guided missile destroyers shipboard applications
• Single engine tiltrotor unmanned aerial system
• 24-hour persistent ISR with a two aircraft system
• Speed: 250 knots cruise speed; 
• 180 knots endurance speed; 
• >300 knots at maximum continuous power
• Combat range: 450 nautical miles mission radius
• Time on station: 11 hours
• As it sits on the deck, the V-247 Vigilant can hold a combination of fuel, armament, and sensors, up to 13,000 pounds [5.900 kg's] 
• Blade Fold Wing Stow makes V-247 Vigilant DDG hangar compatible
• Expeditionary capability with small logistical footprint
• Open architecture and interfaces
• Air-to-air refueling
• Modular payload system to provide maximum flexibility
• Power distribution system to provide maximum mission capability
• Redundant flight control system
• Electro Optical System and Targeting System

The Bell V-247 Vigilant offers a dynamic profile that is uniquely suited to complete highly versatile operations and support missions. It is designed to provide extended range flying from land or ship, matchless expeditionary capabilities and to remain on-station with heightened loiter times for extended periods. With its signature blade fold wing stow design, it will fit inside a DDG hangar space, and two can be loaded ona C-17 aircraft. The open architecture of the modular payload system enhances flexibility for aircraft customization by mission type. 

The bays on the Bell V-247 Vigilant are designed to carry high definition sensors, fuel, sonar buoys, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) modules, 360-degree surface radar modules, an MK-50 torpedo or Hellfire or JAGM missiles optimally. Regardless of the need, the Bell V-247 Vigilant easily integrates into priority mission sets to complete multiple airborne requirements. 

“Leveraging lessons learned from our extensive history and experience with tiltrotors, we have found the best available solution to fulfill the Marine Corps need for a Group 5 UAS,” said Vince Tobin, vice president, advanced tiltrotor systems at Bell Helicopter. “The Bell V-247 Vigilant will give military customers the capabilities needed to reduce the complexity of deployment, increase speed of employment, reduce mission times and increase response time–all critical elements to completing missions to save lives and protect our freedom.”Bell Helicopter utilized its decades of applied tiltrotor experience to develop this next generation UAS. The Bell V-247 Vigilant design and capabilities bring to bear experience from theV-22 tiltrotor program and UH-1Y/AH-1Z programs, capturing the V-280 Valor’s unmatched design and performance standards in order to provide unparalleled competency to support ship-board compatibility."

Bell Eagle Eye Tiltrotor UAV

Once upon a time there was another Bell unmanned tiltrotor: the Eagle Eye.

Bell Eagle Eye (https://www.flightglobal.com)

It seems both concepts are very similar, with Vigilant being a considerably larger version of Eagle Eye. Vigilant, unlike Eagle Eye, does not have the engines located at the end of wings.

Bell Eagle Eye (http://www.militaryfactory.com)

Dimensional comparison between the two Tiltrotors:

• Wing Span: 
• Eagle Eye: 7.2m
• Vigilant: 19.8m
• Rotor Diameter: 
• Eagle Eye: 2.9m
• Vigilant: 9.1m
• Empty Weight
• Eagle Eye:590 kg
• Vigilant: 7.260 kg (metric)
• Max Gross Weight
• Eagle Eye: 1.020 kg
• Vigilant: 13.400 kg

SuperAV 8x8

Iveco and BAE Systems USMC 8x8 competition contender:

V-22 Tanker Variant for USMC

V-22 Texaco?

According to Marine Corps Times' Dec 28 entry, USMC is going to have an aerial tanker variant of V-22 Osprey as early as 2017.

The image below shows a concept description of the Tanker V-22.

"The V-22 Osprey is getting topped-off with a new capability. An aerial refuelling system is being developed for the tilt-rotor aircraft, turning the cargo and personnel carrier into a tanker that can provide fuel to other aircraft, mid-flight.

"The aerial refueling capability is going to be the next thing," for the Osprey, Maj. Douglas Thumm, the plans officer for the V-22 at Headquarters Marine Corps, said.

The Osprey's tanker system is in the early stages of development and won't be ready until 2017, he said.


When operational, the V-22 could refuel the Corps' fleet of aircraft, including the new F-35B Lightning II. It could also rendezvous with ground vehicles, land, and fill them up, Thumm said. Many of the Corps' ground vehicles can run on aviation fuel, he said..."

The part that is interesting is the aerial-to-ground refueler concept.

Read the rest on  Marine Corps Times.

SuperAv 8x8 BAE Systems & Iveco

The Most Exciting/Breath Taking Swimming

I've seen for an 8x8

Watch the video and don't forget to let your breath go at the end...

The SuperAV is a joint project between BAE Systems (US Side) and Italian Iveco.

It is offered for the USMC's MPC programme now called Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) Phase 1.

"Phase 1 ACV, which would enter service around 2020 (its “Initial Operational Capability” date or IOC). These will be modified versions of an existing US or foreign design, not an all-new vehicle. They’ll also have only limited amphibious capability: enough to cross a river or coastal inlet, but not necessarily enough to move from a ship at sea to the beach on their own power. They will probably have to be carried on some kind of landing craft, at least to within a few miles of a beach. ACV 1 is essentially a re-envisioned and resurrected Marine Personnel Carrier (MPC), a program which was effectively canceled just last year.."

RAYTHEON'S NEW TOW TURRET for USMC LAV-AT

USMC's 

New TOW Turret

 

From Raytheon's website:

"Raytheon Company successfully completed an initial round of live-fire testing with a new U.S. Marine Corps Light Armored Vehicle Anti-Tank (LAV-AT) weapon system. The upgraded, highly mobile, anti-armor LAV-AT weapon system is designed to protect reconnaissance and light infantry. Its mission is to defeat threats at long-range, day or night, and in all weather conditions." Oct 23 - 2013.

USMC is the only remaining user for the Emerson 901A1 Tow Turret in their LAV-AT 8x8 vehicles.

The Emerson TOW turret entered US Army service in 1978 on M113's configured as M901and M981.

The turret was then integrated on the USMC's LAV 8x8 fleet designated as the LAV-AT.

 LAV-AT w/ EMERSON TOW Turret

The turret today is very slow and very difficult to maintain. There are difficult to solve obsolescence issues.

Enter Enhanced LAV-AT

In April 2012, USMC Program Management Office awarded Raytheon to develop a new weapon system for the LAV-AT platform.

The new TOW turret system will provide an enhanced capability over the existing sighting system in terms of the integration of an enhanced TOW system - TOW Improved Target Acquisition System (ITAS) designated as M41 Saber for USMC service. It will provide a second-generation forward looking infra-red, far target location and ability to acquire targets on the move. Turret has got high performance electric drives and folding capability for aerial transport.

 

 

V-22 Osprey Weapon System - How it should be...

V-22 Osprey

Weapon System

 

BAE Systems started developing a remote controlled weapon system for V-22 Osprey in 2005. The system is called Remote Guardian. The resulting solution was a defensive weapon system that provides 360 degrees of coverage through a remotely operated retractable weapon that compensates for platform motion.

The aim is to give effective defensive armament to the Osprey when the it approaches a hot landing zone. 

The MV-22 normally has a M240 7.62mm machine gun pintle at the ramp facing rear as the only armament.

 

Watch the video from 04:16 to end

The Remote Guardian System is an add-on kit that is mounted under the belly and it is retractable. 

It has two turrets, a gun turret with a 7.62mm minigun and a FLIR type sight turret in front of it.  The system is controlled from a display and a playstation type hand controller.

Ref: Helfrich, T., M., Young, D., L., "Arming the Osprey, Summary of Developmental Testing, of V-22 Interim Defensive Weapon System", US Air Force T&E Days, 2010.

Marines have taken 5 systems to Afghanistan. However the feedback from the field is not what's expected.

Here is an excerpt from DefenseTech:

A senior crew chief explains that the controller/targeting station takes up too much room in the cabin (three seats) and needs devotion of a crew chief’s entire attention to running the system.

“And you’d better have a strong stomach,” the gunny said. “Because sitting sideways and trying to keep that thing on target looking at the screen will make you pretty sick.”

Ref: Helfrich, T., M., Young, D., L., "Arming the Osprey, Summary of Developmental Testing, of V-22 Interim Defensive Weapon System", US Air Force T&E Days, 2010.

Plus the added weight of 360kg's is also restricting the payload capacity of the aircraft.

Ref: Helfrich, T., M., Young, D., L., "Arming the Osprey, Summary of Developmental Testing, of V-22 Interim Defensive Weapon System", US Air Force T&E Days, 2010.

One of limitations for arming V-22 is its 12m diameter rotors prevents armament to be mounted under the wings on hard-points. Also side firing guns should be limited in order not to fire to the rotors accidentally.

So it only leaves the fuselage for the armament to be mounted.

Also the add-on weight of the armament system has to be carefully considered not to greatly reduce the payload capacity of the aircraft.

One thing that I would prefer for the armament is that it should use the aircraft's existing FLIR system as the sensor suite, rather than employing another sight like the Remote Guardian did.

Also the underbelly approach has two major drawbacks:

- The turret & sight should be retracted well before landing which will leave the aircraft without the armament when it is in its most vulnerable phase.

- The retraction mechanisms add too much unnecessary weight to the armament kit and thus to the aircraft in the end.

A better approch for arming V-22 Osprey

I've come across a NDIA document for a proposed system for the V-22. (Barton, V., De Pasqual, E., J., "Defensive Armament for the V-22 Selection, Integration and Development", NDIA, 2002.)

The study explains a nose mounted turret for the MV-22 that is controlled from the cocpit via a helmet tracker like the gun control system in AH-64 Apache.

The helmet embedded gun control is the best approach for v-22. I believe it will eliminate the motion sickness problem that the Remote Guardian operator suffers. Motion sickness appears when you are not sitting facing forward and when you are looking at a display below your eye level constantly. 

The nose turret is equipped with a three barrel 12.7mm gatling type gun, which is far more lethal and longer reaching than the Remote Guardian's 7.62mm.

Here are some of the features from the study:

Barton, V., De Pasqual, E., J., "Defensive Armament for the V-22 Selection, Integration and Development", NDIA, 2002.

The conceptual image of the turret installation in V-22 is like this:

Barton, V., De Pasqual, E., J., "Defensive Armament for the V-22 Selection, Integration and Development", NDIA, 2002.

I believe this should be the way V-22 Osprey is weaponized.

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