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5 new aircraft digitally designed and built over the last 10 years.
HSVTOL
High-Speed Vertical Takeoff and Landing
Up next: WHAT IS HSVTOL
HSVTOL technology blends the hover capability of a helicopter with the speed, range, and survivability features of a jet aircraft. Bell’s HSVTOL design concepts include the following features: Bell’s HSVTOL scalable family of aircraft systems is critical to future mission needs, offering a range of aircraft systems with enhanced runway independence/flexibility, aircraft survivability, mission flexibility and enhanced performance over legacy platforms. With the convergence of vertical lift-off aircraft capabilities, digital flight control advancements and emerging propulsion technologies, Bell is ready to evolve HSVTOL technology for modern military missions to serve the next generation of warfighters.
What is HSVTOL?
Up next: HOW IT WORKS
Low downwash hover capability Jet-like cruise speeds over 400 kts True runway independence and runway flexibility Scalability to the range of missions from unmanned personnel recovery to tactical mobility Aircraft gross weights range from 4,000 lbs to over 100,000 lbs
HSVTOL uses a low downwash rotor system that allows it to takeoff and land vertically as well as hover efficiently. Once airborne, the aircraft transitions to a prop-like aircraft, similar to a C-130, Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey and Bell V-280 Valor. The aircraft then has the unique new capability to stop and fold the rotor system in flight to reconfigure into jet mode. Once the aircraft is in the low drag jet mode configuration, it can then accelerate to speeds and altitudes no other rotary wing platform can achieve, a next generation vertical lift capability.
How it works
Up next: NEXT GEN CAPABILITY
Runway independent operational reach, speed, and survivability.
Next Gen Capability
Up next: RUNWAY INDEPENDENCE
HSVTOL provides next generation leap in speed, range, and survivability. Bell's HSVTOL solution uses rotary wing vertical lift with transition to jet mode in flight. HSVTOL technology is scalable to a wide range of aircraft sizes. Runway independent multi-mission aircraft with operational reach and survivability to operate in contested environments.
Tiltrotor
Helicopter
eVTOL
Cruise Speed
Cruise Altitude
Mission Radius
Runway Independence
Up next: RUNWAY FLEXIBILITY
AUSTERE LAND BASED ENVIRONMENT
DAMAGED RUNWAY OPERATIONS
SEA-BASED LOGISTICS UNMANNED REARM REFUEL PLATFORM (SLURRP)
Runway Flexibility
HSVTOL allows for use of runways when you have them.
Up next: FAMILY OF SYSTEMS
Flexibility to operate from austere and sea based locations with same configuration and low logistics.
Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL)
Utilize rotor nacelles tilted forward to takeoff in 200-400 ft STO increases gross weight takeoffs by +20% over VTOL HSVTOL may also use jet thrust to maximize performance.
Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL)
Utilize 2,000-4,000 ft runways to minimize use of VTOL dynamic systems and maximize survivability through jet takeoff and landing.
Conventional Takeoff and Landing (CTOL)
Family of Systems
Up next: TECHNOLOGY
HEAVY
Optionally Manned ISR/ Strike SOF Infil, Exfil & Resupply Logistics Under Attack Aerial Refueler
MEDIUM
Optionally Manned Personnel Recovery ISR/ Strike SOF Infil, Exfil & Resupply Logistics Under Attack
Autonomous Low Cost Attritable VTOL Personnel Recovery ISR/ Strike Logistics Under Attack
LIGHT
300 nm
2,000
30,000
160
280
The key to HSVTOL technology's hover capability is to efficiently turn engine horsepower into vertical lift thrust. Bell's HSVTOL rotor is designed for vertical lift. It produces lift without creating adverse downwash conditions. Using this technology, multi-role aircraft configurations can scale over a wide range of gross weights, making them more useful over a range of missions with a reduced development timeline.
Technology
Up next: MISSION SURVIVABILITY
Mission Survivability
Up next: SUPPORTING USAF OI & COE
RCS, IR, and Agility
HSVTOL provides reduced signature during cruise at high and low level altitudes Reduced acoustic and infrared (IR) signature during terminal area operations in jet mode Maintains excellent hover agility to avoid terminal area threats
propeller aircraft
Supporting USAF OI's & COE's
Up next: QUEST FOR HSVTOL TIMELINE
2030s
2020s
2010s
2000s
1990s
1980s
1970s
1960s
Proposed fielding of HSVTOL family of systems
HSVTOL risk reduction via technology demonstrator (intentionally blurred)
Subscale demonstration of unique distributed propulsion concept.
Continued configuration refinement.
Extensive study on concepts and engine technology.
Convertible engine feasibility demonstration.
HSVTOL rotor technology feasibility demonstration, USAF mission need refinement.
Initial concepts developed.
Up next: EXPERIMENTAL HISTORY
The Quest for HSVTOL
Up next: FAQS
VTOL Experimental History
Of 45 attempts to create a successful HSVTOL aircraft, only 4 went into production. 3 of them are jets: Harrier, Yakovlev Yak-38, and Lockheed Martin F-35B. As a leader in HSVTOL technology, Bell has pioneered innovative VTOL prototypes like the X-14, X-22, XV-3, XV-15, Bell 533, TR911X and many others. More than 80 years of continued refinement and innovation in rapid design, analysis, and build and flight capabilities will lead the creation of a new fleet of fast, flexible platforms, propelling Bell into a new era of HSVTOL technology.
IS A NEW ENGINE REQUIRED?
HOW SOON CAN IT BE FIELDED?
WHY NOW?
IT LOOKS COMPLICATED...
Electrification and eVTOL offer an interesting new vertical lift aircraft configuration to consider. HSVTOL's mission capabilities focus on delivering next generation speed, range, and survivability. At present, electric motors, generators, and electrical distribution efficiencies do not meet the performance necessary to provide these next generation capabilities. This drawback becomes increasingly problematic when considering larger variants of HSVTOL.
Up next: FIND US ONLINE
FAQs
WHY NOT ELECTRIC?
Bell’s HSVTOL applications leverage more than 80 years of vertical lift technology and evolve it into an aircraft capable of providing next generation vertical lift speed, range and survivability.
No, actually we have the engine technology today! Bell's HSVTOL technology does not depend on the development of a new propulsion capability. Bell's split propulsion engine architecture utilizes power dense off-the-shelf engines for vertical lift and high speed cruise. These engines are available today and apply to a wide range of HSVTOL configurations. Convertible engine technology that utilizes a shaft mode for vertical lift and efficient turbofan thrust for cruise mode may allow for improved performance and integration ease. Bell's propulsion team has developed technology that utilizes high technology readiness elements to reduce the development timeline and cost to field this capability.
Bell is actively working to reduce the development timeline and risk associated with fielding this revolutionary capability. A key milestone for this technology is to demonstrate in flight the transition from vertical life mode into cruise mode. It is possible to do this within the next several years.
Runway independence in the Pacific environment provides the USAF and the Joint Forces new capabilities to execute Logistics Under Attack, SOF Mobility, ISR/Strike, Personnel Recovery, and Aeromedical Evacuation.
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