Wed, Nov 10, 2010
Cooperative Agreement Signed To Explore Future Rotorcraft Drive
Systems (FARDS)
The U.S. Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate has signed
a $30 million Technology Investment Agreement with Bell Helicopter
to develop state-of-the-art drive system technology under the
Future Advanced Rotorcraft Drive System (FARDS) program.
The FARDS program is focused on critical performance and
affordability enhancing drive system technologies for the U.S.
Army's Current/Future Force fleet of rotorcraft, as well as
commercial rotorcraft. The program is targeting a 55 percent
improvement in drive system power-to-weight ratio, a 35 percent
reduction in production, operating and support costs, 90 percent
automatic detection of critical failures and an 18 decibel
reduction in drive system-generated noise.
"FARDS is a great opportunity to develop key technologies to
serve as the foundation of a rotorcraft drive system for the year
2015 and beyond," said Ryan Ehinger, Bell Helicopter program
manager for FARDS. "Drive systems are a core technology at Bell
Helicopter, and we are proud to focus on enhanced capabilities for
those whose livelihoods depend on our products."
The agreement, worked through Bell's Xworx organization, brings
together a diverse group of subcontractors with unique expertise in
the fields of materials, processing, heat transfer, diagnostics and
more, complementing Bell's design and manufacturing strengths.
The five year FARDS program will develop more than 18 new
technologies resulting in full scale demonstrations of a main rotor
gearbox and tail rotor driveshaft system. "The goals are
challenging, but it will be exciting to see how the results of this
collaboration transition to the commercial and military product
lines," Ehinger said. "We are looking forward to contributing to
this important initiative."
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