Comment by AngryData
15 hours ago
I don't see how these style of drone like aircraft could possibly be better for personnel or gear transport over a collective rotor helicopter. A bigger rotor is more efficient, can lift more, and can autorotate to a safe landing after taking the inevitable battle damage and losing power.
I mean I could be wrong, im certainly not an expert in future military design and strategy, but I just don't see any advantages once you start scaling these to the size needed to move humans. The only potential I can see is multi-rotor designs being easier to learn to pilot over a collective rotor design, but I don't see any modern military considering a few weeks off a pilot's training being worth the trade off in range, capacity, and safety.
One large rotor is obviously more efficient than multiple smaller rotors. Where e-VTOL aircraft at least have the potential to win for certain missions is more with cost and availability. Helicopters are extremely expensive and require constant maintenance, and tilt rotors like the V-22 are even worse. But an e-VTOL could potentially eliminate transmissions, clutches, drive shafts, swashplates, etc. Long term we'll see a mix of both technologies being used.
As for survivability, we'll see. Any significant damage to the rotor systems will send most helicopters straight into the ground.