The U.S. Army has contracted Rockwell Collins to conduct collaborative studies to support the future development of vertical lift military aircraft.

Under the contract, Rockwell Collins will research advanced system designs and integration processes for the Architecture Implementation Process Demonstration, as well as assist Army officials with investigating new technologies and technological capabilities.

"Rockwell Collins is pioneering modeling and analysis methods for complex electronic equipment development, such as those envisioned to be required for FVL," Rockwell Collins rotary wing director Heather Robertson explained in a press release. "These technologies automate error-prone, costly manual methods for specifying and designing products, which helps us to deliver value to our customers."

The company went on to add the research will aim to shed light on issues regarding the affordable development of complex mission systems in addition to informing industry partners on new techniques and processes.

The Future Vertical Lift program is an effort to produce a new family of aircraft with common sensors, engines, avionics, and countermeasure technologies for the United States Armed Forces. Entities involved with the program are set to develop five different sizes of aircraft.