Meet the V-247 Vigilant, an unmanned tiltrotor

The V-247 is an unmanned aircraft that manufacturer Bell say will combine the vertical lift capability of a helicopter with the speed and range of a conventional fixed-wing aircraft.

The aircraft is designed to provide “unmatched long-endurance persistent expeditionary and surveillance capability and lethal reach”, as well as runway independence to operate successfully in maritime environments and locations without secure runway availability.

According to Bell, the V-247 Vigilant’s design boasts a number of capabilities and features, including:

• A sea-based platform, which can be sized for compatibility with DDG guided missile destroyers shipboard applications
• Single engine tiltrotor unmanned aerial system
• 24-hour persistent ISR with a two aircraft system
• Speed: 250 knots cruise speed; 180 knots endurance speed; >300 knots at maximum continuous power
• Combat range: 450 nautical miles mission radius
• Time on station: 11 hours
• Size: 16,000 pounds empty weight / 29,500 pounds max gross weight; 65-feet wing span; 30-feet rotor diameter
• As it sits on the deck, the V-247 Vigilant can hold a combination of fuel, armament, and sensors, up to 13,000 pounds
• Blade Fold Wing Stow makes V-247 Vigilant DDG hangar compatible
• Expeditionary capability with small logistical footprint
• Open architecture and interfaces
• Air-to-air refueling
• Modular payload system to provide maximum flexibility
• Power distribution system to provide maximum mission capability
• Redundant flight control system
• Electro Optical System and Targeting System

The internal bays on the Vigilant are “designed to carry high definition sensors, fuel, sonar buoys, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) modules, 360-degree surface radar modules, an MK-50 torpedo or Hellfire or JAGM missiles optimally.”

Bell are also touting the Vigilant as a naval Early Warning platform, claiming that:

“The V-247 Vigilant tiltrotor can perform day or night as a picket, providing an extended line for sea or land-based assets and giving advanced warning to commanders, and can likewise be armed due to the platform’s air-to-air missile capability. Modular radar and sensor payloads extend the eyes of the MEU, providing advanced warning of incoming threats.”

Vince Tobin, vice president, advanced tiltrotor systems at Bell Helicopters said:

“Leveraging lessons learned from our extensive history and experience with tiltrotors, we have found the best available solution to fulfill the Marine Corps need for a Group 5 UAS.

The Bell V-247 Vigilant will give military customers the capabilities needed to reduce the complexity of deployment, increase speed of employment, reduce mission times and increase response time – all critical elements to completing missions to save lives and protect our freedom.”