The U.S. Army has canceled the development of the Future Attack and Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA), marking the end of the service's latest program to replace the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior**, which was retired in 2020.
In reviewing the FARA program, Army leaders believe that the capability enhancements provided can be achieved more affordably and effectively by relying on a combination of persistent, unmanned, and space assets. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George said in a press release that one lesson learned from the war in Ukraine is that aerial reconnaissance has "fundamentally changed." He noted that sensors and ** installed in various unmanned systems and in space are now more common, more widespread, and cheaper than ever.
The press release notes that the Army also needs to transfer funds for aviation projects in order to be able to retain the production lines of the CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk ***. The development of FARA will officially end in the current fiscal year. Two companies were chosen to build prototypes for this aircraft: Sikorsky and Bell, owned by Lockheed Martin.
Sikorsky expressed disappointment with the Army's decision to cancel the FARA and said it was waiting for more information. They emphasized the importance of gyroplane systems, arguing that they must be improved to ensure America's leadership in gyroplane innovation.
Bell was also disappointed with the decision, but said they remained confident in the prototype and were ready to test it. They said they would apply the knowledge and success of FARA's development work to future aircraft and continue to work closely with the Army.
The Army has already spent about $2 billion on the FARA program and plans to invest another $5 billion over the next five years. However, some experts believe that the FARA is doomed to failure, since the prototype is more capable than the existing ***, and the costs and risks involved are also higher.
The Army may consider upgrading the existing AH-64E Apache Attack*** and finding new ways to pair aircraft with drones for reconnaissance missions. These decisions come at a time when the Army is facing funding constraints that could lead to a reduction in the troop structure.
In general, despite the termination of the FARA program, the army is still looking for alternatives to ensure its superiority in aerial reconnaissance and attack capabilities.