1. Overview

2. Design

3. See also

4. References

5. External links

The Bell V-247 Vigilant is a concept by Bell Helicopter to develop a large tiltrotor unmanned aerial vehicle.

Overview

Bell created the V-247 to meet emerging U.S. military needs for a runway-independent Group 4 or 5 UAV to provide persistent support to ground forces while requiring less space to store and transport; Group 4 UAVs weigh more than {{convert|1320|lb|kg|abbr=on}} and fly below {{convert|18000|ft|m|abbr=on}}, while Group 5 UAVs weigh the same but fly above 18,000 ft, such as the MQ-9 Reaper, RQ-4 Global Hawk, and MQ-4C Triton. It is named the V-247 by the company because it is planned that a two-aircraft team can provide 24/7 intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) over a given area. The design uses tiltrotors to take off vertically and transition to high-speed forward flight, enabling performance unachievable with just rotorcraft or fixed-wing aircraft. It leverages technologies which Bell previously utilized for the V-22 Osprey and V-280 Valor for the Future Vertical Lift program, and the HV-911 Eagle Eye, another smaller unmanned tiltrotor dropped in 2008. The aircraft is capable of performing a variety of missions including electronic warfare, persistent fire support, airborne early warning (AEW), and resupply. Bell is particularly interested in the U.S. Marine Corps' Marine Air Ground Task Force – Unmanned Expeditionary Capabilities (MUX) concept to perform the tasks of MQ-1 Predator and Reaper aircraft while operating from amphibious assault ships to complement and escort the MV-22. The U.S. Army is also interested in runway-independent unmanned aircraft, and the Vigilant could be incorporated into manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) arrangements where helicopter pilots have the ability to control nearby drones from the cockpit using a tactical common data-link. A 1/8-scale model was unveiled on 22 September 2016, and the system could be ready for production by 2023.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]} While Bell is funding the V-247 through its preliminary design phase, the company is searching for a customer, likely the USMC, to fund the follow-on design effort to incorporate specific requirements into the design.^[7]

Design

The V-247 Vigilant is designed to weigh {{convert|16000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} empty and carry {{convert|13000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} of fuel, weapons, and sensors for a maximum gross weight of {{convert|29000|lb|kg|abbr=on}}, roughly three times the maximum takeoff weight of the MQ-9. While the V-22 and V-280 use two engines located within the tiltrotor pylons, the V-247 will have a single engine housed in the fuselage generating 5,000-6,000 shp (3,670-4,410 kW), about as much as the V-22's engines. Wingspan is {{convert|65|ft|m|abbr=on}}, just {{convert|1|ft|cm|abbr=on}} shorter than the Reaper's, with {{convert|30|ft|m|abbr=on}}-diameter tilting rotors, {{convert|8|ft|m|abbr=on}} smaller in diameter than the V-22's. Like the V-280, it has a V-shaped tail and one long wing piece mated to the top of the fuselage as well as retractable tricycle landing gear. To enable size compatibility with U.S. Navy DDG-51 missile destroyers, the wing and rotors swivel along the {{convert|37|ft|m|abbr=on}}-long fuselage to have the same footprint as the UH-1Y Venom helicopter; two folded up V-247s can fit inside one C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft. The aircraft aims to have a cruise speed of {{convert|250|knot|mph km/h}}, a top speed of {{convert|300|knot|mph km/h}}, and a service ceiling of {{convert|25000|ft|m|abbr=on}}, with a combat radius of {{convert|450|nmi|mi km}} and time-on-station of 11–15 hours while carrying a {{convert|600|lb|kg|abbr=on}} payload. Range is {{convert|1400|nmi|mi km|abbr=on}} for 17 hours on internal fuel, and it has the capability for aerial refueling. The aircraft can support an internal mission payload of {{convert|2000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} and can sling-load {{convert|9000|lb|kg|abbr=on}}. The Vigilant is equipped with three internal payload bays, a centerline payload, and the capability to house up to two underwing pylons per side for various payloads including additional fuel, radar systems, LiDAR modules, sonobuoys, the Mark 50 torpedo, AGM-114 Hellfire, and Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM).^{[1][2][3][4][5][8]}

See also

• Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey
• Bell V-280 Valor
• Bell Eagle Eye

References

External links

• Bell Helicopter Introduces Bell V-247 “Vigilant” Tiltrotor Unmanned Aerial System in Ship-Borne Configuration
• Bell Helicopter unveils V-247 Vigilant unmanned tiltrotor aircraft - Air Recognition

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