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Military


Future Vertical Lift (FVL) Capability Set (CS) 3 - FVL CS 3

The Future Vertical Lift (FVL) Capability Set (CS) 3 - FVL CS 3 - is intended to be a versatile medium lift air vehicle in the FVL Family of Systems (FoS). The CS 3 air vehicle will conduct Assault, Urban Security, Attack, Maritime Interdiction, Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC), Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HA/DR), Tactical Resupply, Direct Action (DA), Non-combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) and Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) operations in support of Army and Joint forces.

5.1. Common capabilities

  • 5.1.1. Capable of cruise speeds between 230 - 310 kts with full payload.
  • 5.1.2. Capable of Combat radius (unrefueled) between 229 - 450 nm unrefueled with payload.
  • 5.1.3. Capability to maintain a minimum time on station (TOS) of 30 minutes for the Assault variant and a TOS for 2 hours for the Attack variant at combat radius.
  • 5.1.4. Capability of maneuver agility in high energy, low speed conditions and Hover Out of Ground Effect (HOGE) at 6,000 feet 95 degrees Fahrenheit (6k/95°F) at mission radius.
  • 5.1.5. Internal payload capability of 3,500 – 4,000 lbs.
  • 5.1.6. External payload capability of 6,000 – 8,000 lbs.
  • 5.1.7. Landing Platform Dock (LPD)/Wasp class Multipurpose Amphibious Assault Ship (LHD) compatible and Guided Missile Cruiser (CG) and Guided Missile Destroyer (DDG) capable.
  • 5.1.8. Fully mission capable in all weather (except the most severe weather e.g., severe thunderstorms, turbulence, icing, hurricane force winds), night and degraded visual environment (DVE), moderate icing, Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR).
  • 5.1.9. Capability to operate in a Global Positioning System (GPS) denied or contested environment.
  • 5.1.10.Aerial refuel capable
  • 5.1.11.Capable of Air Transport by current strategic airlift assets or military sealift.
  • 5.1.12.Capable of rapid communication reconfiguration enabling Battle Command on the Move (BCOTM); data receipt and transmit capability across all applicable methods and waveforms on enduring, as well as, ad hoc networks.
  • 5.1.13.Capability to fuse information from off-board and on-board sensors, capable of providing translation across methods and waveforms to ensure inclusion of all desired information into common operating picture (COP).
  • 5.1.14.Capability to dynamically communicate with other service and joint assets, and potentially re-task Joint Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).
  • 5.1.15.Networked Situational Awareness (SA) of threat radar and other detection systems connected to navigation system to adjust routes dynamically and call on external assets for jamming, as necessary.
  • 5.1.16.Capable of four-axis autopilot system with automated 3-dimensional approach path system capable of obstacle avoidance in complex terrain.
  • 5.1.17.Capability to be employed from unimproved austere field sites or sea bases and operate for extended periods of time.
  • 5.1.18.Man-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) Level 4 Control of UAS (Level 5 Control for UAS Group 2 and smaller except for Medical Evacuation [MEDEVAC].) Unmanned system interoperability being able to control multiple vehicles and capable of optionally piloted/optionally manned.
  • 5.1.19.Capability to be employed from unimproved austere field sites or sea bases and operate for extended periods of time.
  • 5.1.20.Air and ground threat identification sensors
  • 5.1.21.Capability to dynamically re-task aircraft sensors with applicable helmet cueing and Hands On Collective and Stick (HOCAS)-type system.

5.2. Assault/Utility

Conduct assault operations to gain a positional advantage, hold key terrain, and/or destroy the enemy. Conduct operations in a non-linear, non-contiguous, joint/combined battle space, fight as an agile, synchronized, fast, lethal, flexible Joint Air/Ground team that is maneuverable, capable of massing combat power, and precision strikes and sustain the fight without ground lines of communication (LOC). The Assault variant requires:
  • 5.2.1. Capability for rapid on and off load of assault forces.
  • 5.2.2. Capability to carry external payload of 6,000 - 8,000 lbs (fall out @ 6k/95F), hook rated at a minimum 10,000lbs; capable of rapid hook up and drop off of assault forces equipment/combat vehicles
  • 5.2.3. Capability to provide off-axis, reactive weapon(s), as well as, smaller precision guided munitions (PGMs) (advance precision kill weapon system (APKWS) equivalent or off axis tube launched precision munition) in every flight regime (from dash to hover airspeed) with air to air and air to ground capability.
  • 5.2.4. Capable of weapons systems for perimeter security without engines running
  • 5.2.5. Weapons capable of 360° traverse, fore, and aft when in the employed position
  • 5.2.6. Aircraft will/should have the capability to employ scalable effects from lethal to non-lethal for crowd control and self-defense purposes.

    5.3. Attack

    – conduct integrated air-ground movement to contact in order to find/fix threat, to build and share the common operating picture tailored to air-ground team task/purpose, and to focus combat power at the decisive point at the right time. Conduct operations to provide
  • 5.3.2. Ability to direct/employ precision/non-precision area fire, lethal and non-lethal munitions to fix, disengage or destroy a full spectrum of targets, see paragraph 6.4 for full target descriptions.
  • 5.3.3. Detect, identify, and destroy air threats (see paragraph 6.4.5)
  • 5.3.4. Digital interoperability with Joint fire support systems

    5.4. Direct Action/Urban Assault/Security

    Conduct unconventional warfare for long range insertion and extraction of reconnaissance and direct action teams tasked for eliminating high value targets and exploitation of intelligence. Conduct unconventional warfare in a very complex urban environment to seize enemy operatives for exploitation for follow on missions. CS 3 assets will be primary assault and attack. This requires:
  • 5.4.1. Precision fires and cooperative engagement with ground elements, UAS, and wing man, capable of non-lethal effects for mobility “kills”
  • 5.4.2. Precision 3-dimensional navigation and timing with precise position approach hold, automated low speed control for obstacle avoidance and coupled hover and position hold +/- 1 foot
  • 5.4.3. Automated light load “perch” capability (e.g., rooftop access)

    5.5. Maritime Interdiction Operations

    Conduct interdiction operations of a ship at sea in or near contested waters as a show of force to demonstrate U.S. capability to counter mine-laying vessels and other combatants. This requires:
  • 5.5.1. Avionics/navigation systems capable of precisely locating and the ability to maintain distance, time, and heading as it closes with a moving maritime target.
  • 5.5.2. Integrated Fast Rope/Ladder Insertion/Extraction system.

    5.6. MEDEVAC

    Conduct highly responsive aeromedical evacuation and treatment throughout the Joint Operation Area (JOA) within one hour of injury. Operating within a structure of dispersed medical units and treatment facilities, speed and range are directly related to the most important elements of MEDEVAC success. This requires:
  • 5.6.1. Sufficient cabin space for providing enroute medical treatment for up to six litter patients with two critical care providers and Medical Equipment Suite (MES).
  • 5.6.2. Net-centric connectivity to enhance enroute medical care capability (telemedicine) for onboard critical care teams or paramedics.
  • 5.6.3. Ability to conduct Hoist operations, 600lbs @ 6k/95°F.

    5.7. Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief (HADR)

    Provide rapid response at extended ranges from unimproved austere field sites, shore or sea bases in support of U.S. government agencies for both domestic and foreign HADR Operations. Must be capableof operating in austere regions, particularly littoral regions, with little or no infrastructure. Due to the unique nature of these operations, CS 3 Utility must be digitally interoperable across the Services, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), local governments and militaries, as well as, U.S. non-military federal, state, and local entities in order to provide security and a stabilizing presence.

    5.8. Non-combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO)

    Conduct NEO, in support of Department of State (DoS) at extended ranges. CS 3 require significant agility and flexibility flight performance for NEO due to uncertain nature of the environment in connection with hostile actions. HADR and NEO requires Extended range capability using aerial refuel and/or auxillary fuel tanks.

    5.9. Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR)

    Conduct personnel recovery at significant extended ranges in contested environments against threats ranging from irregular forces to peer/near-peer conventional forces with capable integrated air defenses. Enhanced rapid configuration capabilities are required due to CS 3 Utility tailored for each mission due to complexity, mission requirements, and threats in hostile or uncertain environments. CSAR Operations requires capability to conduct hoisting operations up to 700 lbs.

    6.0 Lethality / Platform Integration

    The aircraft must be able to integrate the following capabilities in order to fulfill the attack/reconnaissance role.
  • 6.1.1. Aircraft must be able to deliver precision munitions (Semi Active Laser (SAL), Millimeter Wave (MMW), Infrared (IR), GPS/Internal Navigation System (INS), etc.) rangefinder / designator capability (for ranging and precision engagements). Platform will require Category (CAT) 1 Target Location Error (TLE) capability.
  • 6.1.2. Aircraft must provide ability to engage targets off-axis from a range of 100 meters (m) to 3000+m rapidly for self-protection/offensive operations. Turreted / rapidly slewing for 360 degree protection.
  • 6.1.3. Pod-mounting of specialty-type weapons/munitions (e.g. air to air weapons, directed energy, EW, cyber and counter-cyber capabilities should be considered).

    6.2. Weapons Effects

  • 6.2.1. Air vehicle should accommodate unguided and non-lethal munitions with suppression and standard “kill” criteria capability. Non-lethal munitions include smoke screening (multi-spectral), illumination (covert and overt), target marking and crowd control. Target effects should range from disabling to destroying, dependent on target type. 4. Sample Target Sets for Reference
  • 6.4.1. Set #1 Light Armor/Troops in open, Range 10m - 3+km: turreted/360° weapon system with ability to rapidly slew to queued line-of-sight and engage multiple offaxis targets. Adequate rounds to defeat company sized elements.
  • 6.4.2. Set #2 Bunker/Light Armor at extended ranges, Range 1500m-8km: Small Guided Munition (SGM), forward firing, advanced Hydra (2.75") or new form factor with seeker (Laser, Radar, IR, GPS/INS, etc) and warhead options (scalable) with launchers capable of carrying 7 to 19 munitions internally (total) with no additional drag accounted during transit), as well as, provisions for external stores capable of additional 7-19 munitions.
  • 6.4.3. Set #3 Heavy Armor with Active and/or Passive Countermeasures, Range 500m-12+km; Precision guided missiles (multi-mode) with 2.5 times overmatch of current or expected threat. (e.g. Joint Air to Ground Missile (JAGM) Antitank Guided Missile (ATGM) with launchers carrying 2 to 16 rounds internally (total) with no additional drag accounted during transit), as well as, provisions for external stores to carry an additional 2-16 munitions.
  • 6.4.4. Missile and rocket installations that are stowed internally should be capable of extending into firing position and retract into the stowed position without mechanical interference, degraded field of fire, or damaging any surface.
  • 6.4.5. Set #4 Counter Air (C) - UAS/Helicopters /Fixed Wing (FW) (focus is on Group 2 and 3 UAS in accordance with (IAW) Army C-UAS Strategy and low/slow/small rotary wing (RW)/FW).
  • 6.4.6. Set #5 Less-than-lethal munitions - pod-mounted, directed-energy type of weapon focused on interfering with target sensors and/or mission command systems – e.g. desperate or hostile crowds, vehicles.



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