Boeing awarded US Army contract
Boeing has announced that it has been awarded a US Army contract for Phase II of the Adaptive Vehicle Management System (AVMS) programme, which will see the company continue developing a technology that improves helicopters' maneuverability and performance. The contract, worth $18 million, was announced 7 August 2012.
According to the company, the advanced rotorcraft flight control system, a joint development project between Boeing and the Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate (AATD), reduces aircrew workload and overall operating costs. AVMS adapts the flight controls to the aircraft's flight condition, environment and even pilot intent.
In Phase II, the team will fly the AVMS system on the modified Boeing H-6 helicopter used in Phase I, as well as on the larger Boeing AH-64 Apache and CH-47 Chinook helicopters. The tests will demonstrate the design's portability and show how it enhances flight performance during attack and cargo missions, the company said.
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