Operating experience in Iraq and Afghanistan is adding urgency to demands for dramatic improvements in rotorcraft technology. Briefing industry on their needs earlier this year, the U.S. armed services said they want improvements in performance, reliability, safety and survivability. Increased speed, pay-load and maneuverability are high on the list, along with reduced vibration, noise and cost.rnThese are among the objectives of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (Darpa) Mission Adaptive Rotor (MAR) initiative, which will kick off later this year. The program aims to develop "on-the-fly" morphing rotor technology and demonstrate the benefits of actively reconfiguring the rotor in flight.
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