Army Aviation Archives

Artists rendering of the Boeing Collaborative Transformational Rotorcraft (Credit: Boeing)

The Army wants its own fleet of loyal wingman drones

“As we go forward, we’re watching closely in our experimentation to develop a full requirement [and] potentially deliver a capability over the next couple of years," said…

Oct 20, 2025 By Mikayla Easley

A crane is seen from Virginia as it removes airplane wreckage from the Potomac River, where American Airlines flight 5342 collided with a US military Black Hawk helicopter, near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, on Monday, Feb 03, 2025 in Alexandria, VA. (Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Senators urge new aviation safety proposals informed by fatal collision near DCA

Lawmakers seek to require aircraft fleets across the nation to be equipped with more precise situational awareness technology.

Oct 17, 2025 By Brandi Vincent

An Area-I Air-Launched, Tube-Integrated, Unmanned System, or ALTIUS, is launched from a UH-60 Black Hawk at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz., March 4, 2020. (Courtesy photo provided by Yuma Proving Ground)

Army eyes modernized, long-range systems to bolster aircraft survivability

“We’ve got to be able to see and detect further out, and that’s what we’re doing. Everything that we do is … threat driven," said Col. Brock…

Oct 21, 2024 By Mikayla Easley

An artist rendering of Sikorsky’s Raider X prototype (Sikorsky photo)

Army plans to cancel FARA helicopter program in aviation portfolio overhaul

The move looks to free up resources for other investments in aviation technology, including unmanned systems.

Feb 8, 2024 By Mikayla Easley

Army, aviation giants gear up for next leg of FARA helo competition

The program is back on track to getting competitive prototypes flying by 2024, moving the Army closer to a more modern aircraft fleet.

Oct 25, 2023 By Mikayla Easley

An Area-I Air-Launched, Tube-Integrated, Unmanned System, or ALTIUS, is launched from a UH-60 Black Hawk at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz., March 4 where the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center led a demonstration that highlighted the forward air launch of the ALTIUS. (Courtesy photo provided by Yuma Proving Ground)

Army aviation community plotting paths to integrating autonomy into future fleet

“There’s a path to autonomy ... It’s going to be a graduated scale, or I kind of envision it as stair steps,” Army Aviation Branch Chief Maj.…

Oct 16, 2023 By Mikayla Easley

The RAPCON-X concept (Sierra Nevada Corp. image)

Sierra Nevada lands contract for second variant of Athena spy plane

Known as Athena-S, the effort is a bridge capability for the Army's High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program.

Oct 10, 2023 By Mikayla Easley

Spc. Gunner Livingston, an unmanned aircraft repairer, 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 7th Infantry, inspects the Aerosonde Hybrid Quad before a vertical take off at a training site at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., June 21-22. The Aerosonde HQ was developed by Textron Systems, one of four companies that are part of a demonstration of commercial drones conducting various operations and training exercises over the span of the next six months to refine and replace requirements for the RQ-7 Shadow. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Andrew Wash)

Army picks Griffon, Textron to build tactical unmanned VTOL aircraft prototypes

Part of the Army's future vertical lift modernization efforts, the Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System is intended to replace the RQ-7 Shadow.

Sep 26, 2023 By Mikayla Easley

The Bell V-280 Valor, the Army’s choice for the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft, or FLRAA. (Bell photo).

New collaboration hub looks to connect Army aviation with emerging tech

The Applied Innovation Center will help Army aviation and others in the DOD engage with potential new partners from the commercial sector.

Sep 5, 2023 By Mikayla Easley