Conceptual Design and Operational Suitability Analysis of Next-generation High-speed Utility Vertical Take-Off and Landing Aircraft = 차세대 다목적 고속 수직이착륙기 개념설계 및 운영적합성 분석

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study presents the conceptual design and operational suitability analysis of next-generation high-speed utility Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft required for future operational environments on the Korean Peninsula. The characteristics of future warfare and the operational environment of the Korean Peninsula were analyzed to establish the concept of operations (CONOPS) of the next-generation high-speed utility VTOL aircraft, from which qualitative requirements were derived. Based on a review of prior development cases conducted by militarily advanced nations, two candidate configurations were selected. Subsequently, mission profiles and detailed scenarios were defined through qualitative requirements, hypothetical mission scenarios, and statistical analyses of Korean Peninsula terrain, and requirements were specified.
Based on the specified requirements, sizing and optimization were conducted with RISPECT+, an in-house conceptual design framework developed by Aerospace Vehicle Design Laboratory (AVDL) at Seoul National University. The optimized design results were comparatively evaluated with respect to key quantitative metrics, including weight estimation, mission performance, noise, Radar Cross Section (RCS), and cost. In addition, a Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability (RAM) analysis was conducted to derive the RAM target values for the next-generation high-speed utility VTOL aircraft.
In the comparative analysis, aircraft noise was evaluated using a semi-empirical model incorporating A-weighted schemes for main rotor rotational and vortex noise. RCS prediction was conducted with the POFACETS program developed by the U.S Naval Postgraduate School. Cost estimation was performed based on the Scott model, which is a regression-based cost model implemented in NDARC program to predict both flyaway and operating costs. In the RAM analysis, a mathematical model was utilized to derive the RAM target values based on RAM data from similar weapon systems and Operational Mode Summary and Mission Profile (OMS/MP).
The results indicate that the tilt rotor configuration is more suitable than the compound coaxial rotor configuration for the future Korean Peninsula operational environment and hypothetical mission scenarios assumed in this study. The RAM target values of the next-generation high-speed utility VTOL aircraft were identified as a Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) of at least 11.25 hours, an Operational Availability (AO) of no less than 93.7%, and a Mean Time To Repair (MTTR) of no more than 7.22 hours. This study provides a technical analysis of the conceptual design and operational suitability of a next-generation high-speed utility VTOL aircraft. Design results, knowledge, and analytical insights derived from this study are expected to serve as foundational reference material for future acquisition programs and policy decision-making related to aerial weapon systems.

국문 초록 (Abstract)

본 연구는 미래 한반도 작전 환경에서 요구되는 차세대 다목적 고속 수직이착륙기(VTOL) 개념설계와 운영적합성에 대한 분석을 수행하였다. 미래전의 특징, 한반도 작전 환경 분석을 통해 차세대 다목적 고속 수직이착륙기의 운영개념을 제시하고 정성적 요구사항을 도출하였다. 군사 선진국의 선행 개발 사례를 통해 두 가지 형상후보군을 선정하였으며, 정성적 요구사항, 가상 임무시나리오와 한반도 지형에 대한 통계적 분석을 통해 임무형상과 세부 시나리오를 정의하였고 요구사항을 정량적으로 구체화하였다.
도출된 요구사항을 기반으로 서울대학교 항공우주비행체 설계연구실의 In-house 개념설계 도구인 RISPECT+를 활용하여 사이징 및 최적화를 수행하였으며 최적 설계결과에 대해 정량적 요소(중량추정, 임무성능, 소음, RCS, 비용)를 상대 비교하고 RAM(신뢰도, 가용도, 정비도) 분석을 통해 차세대 다목적 고속 수직이착륙기의 RAM 목표값을 설정하였다.
상대 비교 과정에서 소음은 메인로터 회전소음과 와류소음을 중심으로 A-weighted scheme을 적용한 준경험적 모델을 적용하였고, RCS는 미 해군대학원에서 개발한 POFACETS 프로그램을 활용하여 분석하였다. 비용은 NASA의 NDARC에 적용된 회귀 기반 비용 추정 모델인 Scott 모델을 활용하여 생산비용과 운영비용을 예측하였다. RAM 분석에서는 유사무기체계의 RAM 제원과 운용모드종합 및 임무유형(OMS/MP)을 바탕으로 수학적 모델을 활용해 RAM 목표값을 산출하였다.
분석 결과, 본 연구에서 설정한 미래 한반도 작전 환경과 가상 임무 시나리오에 적합한 차세대 다목적 고속 수직이착륙기는 틸트로터 형상이며 충족해야 할 RAM 목표값은 신뢰도 MTBF 11.25시간 이상, 운용 가용도 93.7% 이상, 정비도 MTTR 7.22시간 이하로 제시하였다.
본 연구는 차세대 다목적 고속 수직이착륙기 개념설계 및 운영적합성을 기술적으로 분석한 것으로 본 연구의 설계결과와 도출된 설계지식, 방법론은 향후 차세대 항공무기체계 도입 사업 등 관련 정책 및 실무에 참고 가능한 기초자료로 활용될 것으로 기대된다.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• Chapter 1. Introduction 1
• 1.1. Research Background 1
• 1.2. Research Objectives 8
• Chapter 2. Concept of Operations 9
• 2.1. Purpose and Scope 9
• 2.2. Operational Execution Concept and Mission Category 10
• 2.2.1. Operational Execution Concept 10
• 2.2.2. Core Missions: Air Assault, Air Movement, and Medical Evacuation 11
• 2.2.3. Mission Type and Expected Effects 12
• 2.3. Mission Scenario 14
• 2.3.1. Mission 1: Air Assault and Air Movement 14
• 2.3.2. Mission 2: Medical Evacuation 16
• 2.4. Qualitative Requirements 17
• Chapter 3. Design Configuration and Design Requirements 20
• 3.1. Candidate Configuration Determination 20
• 3.1.1. Tilt Rotor 20
• 3.1.2. Compound Coaxial Helicopter 21
• 3.2. Evaluation Factors for the Final Design Selection 23
• 3.3. Quantitative Requirements 26
• Chapter 4. Conceptual Design 30
• 4.1. Design Problem Definition 34
• 4.2. Mission Profile Definition 36
• 4.3. Optimization Problem Definition 41
• 4.4. Conceptual Design Results 43
• Chapter 5. Operational Suitability Analysis 53
• 5.1. Noise Analysis 54
• 5.1.1. Noise Prediction Method 54
• 5.1.2. Noise Analysis Results 56
• 5.2. Radar Cross Section (RCS) Analysis 58
• 5.2.1. Radar Cross Section (RCS) Prediction Tool 58
• 5.2.2. Radar Cross Section (RCS) Analysis Results 60
• 5.3. Cost Analysis 62
• 5.3.1. Cost Estimation Model 62
• 5.3.2. Cost Analysis Results 63
• 5.3.2.1. Flyaway Cost 63
• 5.3.2.2. Operating Cost 65
• 5.4. Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability Analysis 66
• 5.4.1. RAM Analysis Methodology 67
• 5.4.2. RAM Analysis Results 70
• 5.5. Final Configuration Selection 73
• Chapter 6. Conclusion 76
• Bibliography 78
• Abstract in Korean 81