In a striking development that has sent ripples through the strategic rotary-wing assets of the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), the US Army has made the pivotal decision to terminate the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program. Once touted as the future spearhead for armed scout missions and a replacement for the venerable A/MH-6 Little Bird, the cancellation of FARA has forced SOCOM to recalibrate its long-term aviation blueprints.
The immediate consequence of this move is the indefinite extension of the Little Bird’s service life. Steven Smith, USSOCOM’s program executive officer for rotary wing programs, indicated the profound implications of the Army’s decision. “That changed our equation because that was going to become the armed platform that was going to take the role of the [Little Bird],” Smith conveyed at the Special Operations Forces Week conference.
SOCOM has completed substantial upgrades on the Little Bird, including the Block 2.2 modifications, which incorporated next-generation forward-looking infrared systems and tactical radios. The program has now transitioned into the Block 3 enhancements, cheekily renamed A/MH-6R – the R standing not for ‘Romeo,’ but rather symbolically for ‘Resurrection,’ in light of FARA’s cancellation.
Smith outlined the “zero-time fuselage” of the A/MH-6R, produced by Boeing, noting the significant increase in gross weight capacity to 5,000 pounds – a factor that greatly enhances the safety margin of the aircraft. The extensive fuselage overhaul, integrating all prior structural modifications, also presents substantial cost savings in comparison to previous iterations. “So, that’s fantastic capability going forward and greatly simplifies our efforts,” Smith emphasized.
Despite the newfound longevity of the Little Bird, the future still holds questions. The FARA cancellation has put a damper on some potential performance-enhancing projects due to financial constraints. Electrification, once considered a path forward for the Little Bird, is no longer seen as a near-term option. “I just don’t think the funding’s there to support that electrification work,” Smith admitted.
The search for solutions continues, with SOCOM monitoring commercial developments, particularly in advanced rotor blades that could offer future performance improvements. Smith openly invited industry partners to bring forth ideas that could further extend and enhance the Little Bird’s capabilities.
The A/MH-6R fuselage’s projected 15-year service life extension grants SOCOM a buffer period. This interval allows the Army to ascertain its approach to the enduring scout requirement, which could potentially involve a combination of manned and unmanned systems. “FARA’s been canceled, but the requirement itself … to have something that can see, sense, fix adversaries over the horizon … that still exists,” Smith stated.
Relevant articles:
– Little Bird helicopter replacement in question after Army cancels FARA, Defense News, 05/08/2024
– Army’s FARA Cancellation Complicating SOCOM Rotorcraft Plans, National Defense Magazine, 05/07/2024
– SOCOM Considers A/MH-6 Upgrades Following FARA Cancellation, Aviation Week, 05/08/2024