An artist rendering of Raider X helicopter (Image source: Lockheed Martin)
Uh-oh, it looks like the US Army has finally pulled the plug on its Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program after shelling out an outstanding $2 billion.
This recent move has ruffled feathers across the defense sector and beyond, especially after gearing up to request another $5 billion over the next five years.
Certainly, the decision wasn’t made lightly. But it’s a clear sign that the winds of war and the tools we use to fight it are changing, and they are changing so quickly that the program appears to be unable to keep up.
A Look Back at FARA’s Rocky Road
Launched in 2018, FARA was the Army’s latest shot at bringing a modern armed recon bird into the skies, aiming to fill the void left by the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior.
Future Vertical Lift Program is committed to the development of critical combat systems, ensuring Army Aviation maintains vertical lift dominance over enemy forces in future Multi-Domain Operations.
Uh-oh, it looks like the US Army has finally pulled the plug on its Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program after shelling out an outstanding $2 billion.
This recent move has ruffled feathers across the defense sector and beyond, especially after gearing up to request another $5 billion over the next five years.
Certainly, the decision wasn’t made lightly. But it’s a clear sign that the winds of war and the tools we use to fight it are changing, and they are changing so quickly that the program appears to be unable to keep up.
A Look Back at FARA’s Rocky Road
Launched in 2018, FARA was the Army’s latest shot at bringing a modern armed recon bird into the skies, aiming to fill the void left by the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior.
Future Vertical Lift Program is committed to the development of critical combat systems, ensuring Army Aviation maintains vertical lift dominance over enemy forces in future Multi-Domain Operations.
That old warhorse, a relic from the days of ‘Nam, has seen its share of successors fall by the wayside.
Remember the Comanche and the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter? Both projects got axed as well, victims of the all-too-familiar budget bloat and endless delays.
Why the Sudden Change of Heart?
If you’ve been keeping up, you know darn well how the world’s not what it used to be in just a span of years.
With eyes turned towards hotspots in the Indo-Pacific and Eastern Europe, the Army’s brass had to think hard about what the future of warfare looks like.
They’ve been taking notes from the ongoing scuffles, especially the mess in Ukraine, realizing that the age of unmanned drones and smart sensors is upon us.
“We are learning from the battlefield – especially Ukraine – that aerial reconnaissance has fundamentally changed,” said Army Chief Gen. Randy George, quoted in a press release statement. “Sensors and weapons mounted on a variety of unmanned systems and in space are more ubiquitous, further reaching and more inexpensive than ever before.”
These new kids on the block can do the job of aerial recon without putting pilots at risk and at a fraction of the cost.
The Fallout
This decision sent shockwaves through the defense industry.
Sikorsky-Lockheed Martin and Bell Textron were both in the home stretch with their FARA contenders, the Raider X and the 360 Invictus.
Needless to say, they’re not thrilled, but they’re not throwing in the towel either.
There’s a resolve to keep pushing the envelope on aircraft tech, with an eye on whatever the next big opportunity might be.
Shifting Gears in Modernization
With FARA out of the picture, the Army’s not just sitting on its hands.
They’re diverting those funds into projects they believe will pack more punch for the buck in today’s conflict zones.
This means doubling down on the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) and giving some TLC to stalwarts like the UH-60 Blackhawk and CH-47F Block II Chinook.
And it’s not just about the big birds; the Army’s also cutting loose outdated tech like the Shadow and Raven drones, betting big on the next generation of unmanned aerial scouts.
The Bigger Picture
Killing off FARA isn’t just about saving a few billion bucks.
It’s a bold statement about how the Army sees its role in future conflicts.
It’s about being nimble, about pivoting when the ground shifts beneath your feet.
For those of us who’ve seen a bit of what this world has to offer, it’s a reminder that adaptability isn’t just a nice trait to have; it’s survival.
The USA canceled the Future Attack Reconnaissance Helicopter (FARA) Program. With the cancellation of the FARA Program, a potential contract worth billions of dollars was also shelved. UAVs and space-based sensor systems lie behind the cancellation of the FARA Program . pic.twitter.com/wAHSiTHO31
— International Defence Analysis (@Defence_IDA) February 9, 2024
In the grand scheme of things, this move might sting those who had a stake in FARA.
But it’s also a wake-up call. The battlefield of tomorrow won’t look like the battlefields of yesterday.
Drones, AI, cyber warfare – these are the tools of the new warfighter.
The Army’s decision to axe FARA is a clear-eyed recognition of this reality, a step towards reshaping its arsenal to meet the challenges of a world that’s evolving faster than most can keep up.
As we look ahead, the focus is clear: innovation, strategic investment, and a readiness to face whatever comes our way.
The Army’s gearing up for a future where agility and tech-savvy aren’t just nice-to-haves; they’re what will keep America and its allies one step ahead in the never-ending dance of global power politics.
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Brandon Webb former Navy SEAL, Bestselling Author and Editor-in-Chief
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