Bell V-247 Vigilant

History

Bell Helicopter introduced the Bell V-247 Vigilant in September 2016, a "tilt-rotor" unnamed aviation system (UAS) concept in development. It was designed to fulfill the United States Marine Corps (USMC) vision for the future of aerial photography.

As a tilt-rotor, the product will combine the inline performance of a fixed-wing aircraft with the vertical take-off and landing capabilities of a helicopter -- thanks largely to Bell's experience with the V-22 tilt-rotor product. Such platforms can be used for countless battlefield roles - maritime reconnaissance, offshore vessel resupply, forward operating base resupply, target acquisition/tracking, general surveillance, and more.

If Vigilant goes ahead as planned, mass production is expected to begin in 2023.

The inherent ability of helicopters to land on unprepared ground without the need for long runways is superior to fixed-wing helicopters. This allows them to be stationed on battleships or mountainsides and have direct contact with forward combat units such as infantry. No pilots and crews mean no loss of life when fighting in hostile, contested areas.

The built-in long-term mass provides long range and extended latencyfactors that typically limit fuel-guzzling, fast-moving fixed-wing aircraft.

The V-247 is said to be powered by a single propulsion system, driving a pair of three-blade rotor assemblies 30 feet in diameter. The rotor unit is located on a 65-foot-span high-wing wing above the fuselage and tilts to push the air down (level flight) or forward (regular flight). The operational range is estimated at 4,560 nautical miles (radius), and the time spent on the space station is 11 hours. Weights listed are 16,000 lbs empty and 29,500 gross maximum. With a maximum payload of 13,000 pounds, it consists of variable mission equipment, including weapons options such as Hellfire missiles, JAGM and Mk-50 torpedoes stored in the interior compartment.

Modular masses are built into the payload system to quickly re-equip the vehicle to suit the new mission envelope. The completed Vigilant will be sized for air transport in the belly of a US Air Force C-17 transport aircraft and deployed on the flight deck of the US Navy's current line of DDG-type destroyers.

Bell V-247 Vigilance Spec

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