U.S., U.K. announce Future Vertical Lift cooperation 

By Evan Ochsner / February 14, 2022 at 3:10 PM

The Army will partner with the United Kingdom to promote interoperability between the two nations' Future Vertical Lift efforts, the countries announced Monday.

The Future Vertical Lift Cooperative Program Feasibility Assessment calls on the nations to share information about their future rotorcraft programs and enable integration between the two armed forces, according to the announcement. The nations will also “explore and analyze new concepts” for coalition Army airpower.

“Through this joint analysis, the U.S. and U.K. will be able to assess the benefits, risks and overall feasibility of rotorcraft cooperation between the two allies,” the statement said.

The two nations have an existing partnership to reduce divergence between their open systems architecture, according to the release.

The new program intends to reduce costs, improve rotorcraft interoperability and develop plans for future cooperation, among other priorities.

The announcement comes ahead of this fall’s Project Convergence, which will include British and Australian army participation, the first time the event has included allied nations.

“Arrangements like these will ultimately improve our capabilities and strengthen our forces, focusing on joint lethality, survivability and reach, while ensuring affordability for both our countries,” Maj. Gen. Walter Rugen, U.S. Army Future Command’s Future Vertical Lift Cross-Functional Team director, said in the announcement.

The two nations will assess collaboration opportunities across FVL priorities, including the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft and the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft, but also Future Unmanned Aerial Systems, Air Launched Effects, and Open Systems Architecture.

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