US Army Cancles Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft Program After $2 Billion Investment

Defense News ,U.S :- The much-anticipated Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program of the US Army has been officially halted, despite the expenditure of at least $2 billion and a requested additional budget of $5 billion for the next five years. Army leaders, citing a "change in priorities," revealed that the focus will shift towards investing in existing rotary aviation platforms and new unmanned systems, acknowledging the evolving nature of aerial reconnaissance in modern warfare.

The decision to cancel the FARA program, once considered a top modernization priority, is a significant development, marking one of the most substantial program cancellations of the last decade.

Launched in 2018 with the aim of developing an armed reconnaissance helicopter to replace the Vietnam-era OH-58 Kiowa Warrior, the FARA program faced a fate similar to its predecessors. Historical attempts, such as the Comanche program in 2004 and the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter four years later, were terminated due to various challenges, including schedule delays and soaring costs.

Despite having two prototypes – the Raider X by Sikorsky-Lockheed Martin and the 360 Invictus by Bell Textron – both nearing completion, the army's decision to abandon the FARA program disappointed the competing firms. Sikorsky expressed disappointment, awaiting a debrief to understand the army's choice, while Bell pledged to apply the knowledge gained from the project to future aircraft development.

The cancellation comes in the wake of the army's recognition that the nature of aerial reconnaissance has undergone significant changes, especially evidenced by recent events such as the conflict in Ukraine. Army Chief Gen. Randy George emphasized the increased ubiquity, reach, and cost-effectiveness of sensors and weapons mounted on unmanned systems and in space, influencing the decision to redirect resources towards more adaptable and readily available technologies.

As the US Army shifts its focus amidst rising global security risks, the cancellation of the FARA program underscores the challenges of developing expensive and untested platforms with uncertain timelines, highlighting the need for a more pragmatic and responsive approach to military readiness.