2024 In Review: Rotorcraft

The U.S. Army in February canceled the Future Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program before competitive prototypes built by Bell and Sikorsky could fly. The Army also terminated the UH-60V cockpit upgrade while increasing planned procurement of Sikorsky UH-60Ms and Boeing CH-47F Block IIs.

Sikorsky revealed a tiltwing configuration for its HEX autonomous hybrid-electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing demonstrator in February. Planned to fly in 2026, the 9,000-lb. aircraft will have a 1.2-megawatt turbogenerator based on GE Aerospace ‘s Catalyst turboprop, powering two 600-kW electric motors.

Developed under Europe’s Clean Sky 2 research program, Airbus Helicopter’s Racer high-speed compound rotorcraft demonstrator made its first flight from Marignane, France, on April 25, breaking its speed target when it reached 227 kt. on its seventh flight in June. Airbus is now aiming for 240 kt.

Boeing delivered the first of up to 465 CH-47F Block II Chinook modernized heavy-lift helicopters to the U.S. Army in June after the service overhauled its aviation plans in February. The Block II has new rotor blades, upgraded drivetrain, redesigned fuel system and updated flight controls and avionics.

The Italian Army’s Leonardo AW249 Fenice heavy-attack helicopter made its public debut in June at the Eurosatory defense show in Paris. First flown in August 2022, two of four planned development aircraft are in flight testing. Deliveries of 48 production aircraft are scheduled to begin in 2027.

Consortia led by Airbus, Leonardo and Sikorsky were awarded contracts in July to perform studies for NATO’s Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) program. Partner nations have agreed to identify a single preferred configuration for a new medium battlefield helicopter and naval helicopter before the end of 2027.

After delays in certification and local public opposition, plans by Volocopter and Groupe ADP to debut air taxi services during the 2024 Paris Olympics had to be scaled back to crewed validation flights with the company’s 2X demonstrator in August at the Cyr-l’Ecole aerodrome outside Versailles.

Poland in August signed the largest-ever export deal for Boeing’s Apache attack helicopter, finalizing a $10 billion Foreign Military Sales agreement for 96 AH-64Es. Deliveries are planned for 2028-32 to replace Poland’s Soviet-era Mil Mi-24 Hind gunships.

Lockheed Martin company Sikorsky delivered the 23rd and final VH-92A Patriot to the U.S. Marine Corps in early August, completing the fleet of helicopters that will fly the U.S. president and vice president. After 10 years of development, President Joe Biden flew in the VH-92 for the first time on Aug. 19.

Airbus and Lockheed Martin dropped out of the competition to supply the UK military with a new fleet of medium rotorcraft at the end of August. Leonardo is left as the sole bidder, offering the AW149 for a potential $1.6 billion contract to supply 30-40 helicopters to replace Aerospatiale Pumas.

Turkish Aerospace Industries delivered the first T625 Gokbey twin-turbine light utility helicopter to the country’s Jandarma military police at the end of October. Turkey’s first indigenously developed helicopter is powered by a pair of LHTEC CTS800-4A turboshafts. The T625 made its first flight in June 2019.

Chinese startup United Aircraft rolled out the R6000 6-metric-ton uncrewed tiltrotor in October. With a maximum takeoff weight of 6,100 kg (13,500 lb.) and payload of 2,000-kg the R6000 is designed to reach speeds up to 269 kt. and a service ceiling of 25,000 ft.