UCAR Competitors Propose High-Performance Rotorcraft

Aviation Week & Space Technology 09/07/04
author: Robert Wall

Two innovative high-performance helicopter concepts are competing in the Unmanned Combat Armed Rotorcraft project, even though managers have long insisted "this is not an air vehicle program."

Although the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) has tried to keep the focus for UCAR on the overall system, not just rotorcraft, Lockheed Martin's program director Dan Rice argues that the platform is critical. "The air vehicle choice [is one] we have to live with for the next 30 years. As much as we hate to change software, it can be changed. But we need to get the platform right."

DARPA PROGRAM manager Don Woodbury notes that both display "really sporty performance." Moreover, they feature extensive survivability characteristics, including the absence of a tail rotor, which is viewed as beneficial to controlling the system's acoustic signature. Radar cross section and infrared signature reductions are being implemented. "The air vehicles they've come back with have given us a lot of flexibility."

Both competitors have, at a minimum, included fully redundant critical systems, to make the designs more survivable when hit by enemy fire. However, since the system is unmanned it isn't built to be crashworthy, saving weight and money, Woodbury said. Early on, managers thought they could also pare down by using less reliable components, but the savings weren't worth it and the strategy was adjusted.

The first two flying prototypes will be built in the next phase of the program. The period beginning in 2006 would cover flight envelope expansion and demonstration of some of UCAR's autonomy features. A more extensive demonstration would follow in phase four of the program, when weapons releases would be performed.