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Future Transport Rotorcraft (FTR)

The Future Transport Rotorcraft (FTR) is envisioned as the next generation heavy cargo rotorcraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) on unprepared surfaces. The FTR will provide true heavy lift and vertical envelopment capabilities for the Objective Force, well beyond the capabilities of the current CH-47 Chinook and CH-53 Super Stallion helicopters. The latest service-life extended versions of these aircraft will begin to reach the end of their planned useful life about 2020-2025, necessitating the need to develop the FTR with deliveries beginning by 2020.

The Future Transport Rotorcraft Integrated Concept Team (ICT) consists of representatives of each of the services along with a selection of government and non-government representatives empowered by their respective organizations to develop future capabilities leading to a Joint Transport Rotorcraft. The exact configuration has yet to be determined. Some versions show a tailless aircraft, others have an airframe more along the lines of a C-130.

The US Army continues to examine options for a heavy-lift Future Transport Rotorcraft to replace its Chinook fleet from 2018 on. However, doubts about the affordability of the program led the prospective FTR partner, the US Navy, to plan for a CH-53E upgrade instead. The Marine Corps withdrew from the Army's Future Transport Rotorcraft (FTR) program in favor of the tiltrotor. They believe the tiltrotor is the way of the future because it flies so much faster and farther than the helicopter. Tilt-wing studies remain a leading contender for any FTR, though the V-22 problems have had a chilling effect on a firm decision.

Having teamed with Boeing on the twin-engine V-22 Osprey tiltrotor program, Bell developed a concept for a larger version that could carry eight times the internal volume of cargo transported by the V-22. The Quad Tiltrotor would have about three times the load capacity as the V-22. The Quad would carry about 45,000 pounds, or about 130 troops, while the V-22 can carry about 15,000 pounds, or 24 troops. Envisioned to be about the size of a stretched C-130 Hercules, the FTR would feature two V-22-type wings, each having an engine and a combination rotor-propeller mounted at the outboard tips. The QTR would use V-22 propulsion and support systems: engines, rotor systems, drive train, transmission, hydraulics, electronics, and generators. The cabin is large enough to internally carry an 8 x 8 x 40-ft. container, several helicopters, high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles, light armored vehicles, eight standard loading pallets, or 70 [medivac] litters. The aircraft could transport 80 to 100 troops or 10 to 20 tons of equipment and supplies at speeds greater than 300 mph over distances from 1000 to 2000 miles and then safely land vertically, without the need for runways or airports. According to Bell, an advanced concept technology demonstrator (ACTD) could fly by 2005, with production deliveries beginning in 2010. In July 2000 the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded the company a $400,000 phase one exploratory study contract to further investigate its Quad Tiltrotor concept.

The Integrated Helicopter Design Tools (IHDT) program supports the vision of the US Army Materiel Command's Task Force on Weapons Systems Acquisition Cycle Improvement "to field better and affordable combat materiel in the shortest time." Applying this technology to future platform programs, such as the Joint Transport Rotorcraft, may result in an estimated savings of $250M per year over a 3 year development life cycle. Because this technology is not specific to military rotorcraft, it may be applied to solve the same commercial affordability and cycle time reduction issues as those facing military systems. Potential commercial applications include the Bell-Boeing 609 Commercial Tiltrotor Aircraft, its variant configurations, future civil tilters commuter aircraft, MD Explorer, and S-92 Helibus. It is anticipated that development costs and time may be reduced by 10-15% over a platform life cycle.

Although officials from Bell and from Boeing are reluctant to view the quad tilt-rotor and the ATT as future competitors, they likely will be, because both aircraft will have to battle for Pentagon dollars.