Future Vertical Lift (Maritime Strike) study for the US Navy has started

The US Department of Defense issued a Future Vertical Lift (Maritime Strike) - FVL(MS) - Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) Request for Information (RFI) in which industry is invited to indentify the replacement of the US Navy’s MH-60S/R Seahawk helicopters and MQ-8B/C Fire Scout Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).

The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) issued the RFI on January 28 in which  the capabilities to potentially satisfy the needs are identified. The FVL (MS) must fulfill the following missions: Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting (ISR&T), Surface Warfare (SUW), Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Special Operation Force (SOF) Support, Command & Control (C2), Logistics as well as and Mine Counter Measures (MCM).

The start of the replacement of the MH-60S/R and MQ-8B/C is slated for the 2030s, when the the duo will reach the end of their service life. The FVL (MS) must reach an Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in the mid-twenty thirty’s timeframe.

Likely contenders for FVL (MS) are the Sikorsky–Boeing’s SB>1 Defiant and the Bell V-280 Valor tiltrotor. But a complete new design (optionally manned) is not excluded. Most probably, an European contender will participate in the FVL (MS) too. Both aforementioned US contenders are currently competing for the US Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA, as part for their Future Vertical Lift programme) to replace the UH-60 Blackhawk.

Artist impressions by Sikorsky-Boeing and Bell via NavalNews