Grounded Dreams: The Rise and Fall of the Army's FARA Program

The Army has?once again pumped billions of dollars into a reconnaissance helicopter program , only to?cancel it before maturity .

(It was the right decision, and I’ll get to that in a minute, along with the opportunities this presents.)

The Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program was initiated in 2018 to fill Army Aviation's number one capability gap: armed reconnaissance. The last dedicated platform for this mission was the venerable OH-58 Kiowa helicopter, which was retired from US Army service about a decade ago.

I was personally very partial to the Kiowa; I always found it to be one of the most reliable aircraft and bravest pilots during my time in Afghanistan. One time, when I couldn't get medevac for wounded soldiers, a Kiowa pilot landed during a firefight, loaded two of my soldiers onto the helicopters skids, and evacuated them to a safe area. It left an indelible print in my mind about the absolute heroism of the crew.

Unfortunately, the Kiowa was an aging aircraft, which first flew in 1966! It was time to retire it.

The Rise and Fall of FARA

Which brings us to the FARA. The Army initiated the FARA to close the aforementioned capability gap for armed reconnaissance. Last year, the program management office announced a downselect of the program to Bell Textron's 360 Invictus and Lockheed-Sikorsky's Raider X helicopters for prototyping.

But warfare has advanced rapidly, and we have learned critical lessons from ongoing conflicts --especially in Ukraine--and the recent air strike that killed three American soldiers in Jordan . For the first time in a very long time, we cannot assume to have air supremacy or even air superiority. The attack in Jordan represents the first time in more than 70 years that an enemy aircraft was effective against American troops. The war in Ukraine has demonstrated the devastating efficacy of air defenses and how contested the air domain is.

As such, the Army’s Chief of Staff, General Randy George decided to end the program , after the Army had already spent $2.4Bn on it.

Unmanned Systems: Bridging the Gap

Amidst the FARA program's demise lies an opportunity for unmanned systems to bridge the capability gap, offering enhanced flexibility, reduced risk to human life, and innovative mission capabilities. The rise of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and autonomous systems presents a compelling alternative, capable of navigating contested airspaces and conducting reconnaissance missions with precision and persistence. Embracing these technologies could herald a paradigm shift in aerial warfare, empowering the Army with unprecedented situational awareness and operational effectiveness.

For optimal success, we need to strike the right mix of high-end exquisite systems and still-capable but far lower-cost, attritable system. Even more important is that any program built around this retain sufficient flexibility to allow changes as technologies (sensors and effectors) advance, manufacturing practices develop, companies emerge and shutter, and the force refines its requirements.

We want to create a transparent battlefield, where we can observe any action our adversaries take and where we can strike when we need. This requires persistent coverage, achieved through mass.

In other words, the DoD and the Army should not build a system-focused requirement or program, but should keep it more open-ended allowing for greater and continuing innovation.

The Role of Defense Tech Startups

In the wake of FARA's cancellation, Defense Tech startups stand poised to play a pivotal role in reshaping the future of armed reconnaissance. With agility, innovation, and a disruptive mindset, these startups possess the potential to unlock groundbreaking solutions, leveraging emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, advanced sensors, and modular design concepts. By fostering collaboration and cultivating a culture of experimentation, the defense community can harness the transformative power of startup ingenuity to address critical capability gaps and ensure readiness for the challenges of tomorrow's battlefield.

Conclusion

As the Army grapples with the fallout of the FARA program's demise, the imperative for agile, adaptable solutions becomes ever more pressing.

Embracing unmanned systems and leveraging the expertise of Defense Tech startups offer promising avenues to fill the armed reconnaissance gap, bolstering the Army's readiness and resilience in an increasingly complex and contested operational environment.

Keep building!

Andrew