Bell Helicopter recently unveiled its new design for an autonomous tiltrotor, the V-247 Vigilant, which will have a 65-foot wingspan and will be capable of carrying a payload of up to 6.5 tons of fuel, armament and sensors. The aircraft, designed for military use, will be able to operate from land or sea, and will be ready to deploy as soon as 2023, according to Bell. The Vigilant will travel at speeds up to 300 knots and can operate within a 250-nm radius. The unmanned, single-engine craft also can hover on station for up to 11 hours, and can be refueled air-to-air. Mitch Snyder, CEO at Bell, called it “the next leap in innovation.” Bell executives showed a model, renderings and video last week at the National Press Club, in Washington, D.C.
The Vigilant could serve as an escort for manned Marine aircraft, as well as carry sensors and fly supply missions, according to Bell. It will have folding wings so it can fit inside a standard hangar, and two can be loaded on a C-17 aircraft. “By its nature, the technology provides a performance envelope unachievable with just a rotorcraft or just a fixed-wing aircraft,” said Bell Vice President Vince Tobin at the Press Club. “A shipboard Bell V-247 UAS will offer superior loiter times coupled with ranges that are achievable with only fixed-wing efficiencies.”
