A Textron (NYSE: TXT) subsidiary has introduced a rotorcraft platform as its entry for an industry competition to develop the U.S. Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft.
The Bell 360 Invictus offering is designed with a lift-sharing wing technology, a supplemental power unit, fly-by-wire flight control elements and an integrated launcher for multiple munitions and weapon systems, Textron said Wednesday.
Bell recently partnered with Collins Aerospace to integrate the latter’s avionics systems into the open architecture aircraft, which has a rotor system derived from Bell’s 525 Relentless medium-lift helicopter.
Keith Flail, vice president of Bell’s advanced vertical lift systems division, said the business seeks to offer the Army a vehicle that can address the service branch’s FARA requirements and support multidomain operations.
The company noted it intends to apply its work under the Future Vertical Lift program in pursuit of the new program.
