H-1 Upgrades
Abstract
The mission of the AH-1W attack helicopter is to provide rotary wing close air support, anti-armor, armed escort, armed/visual reconnaissance, survivability enhancements, and fire support coordination capabilities under day/night and adverse weather conditions. The mission of the UH-1N utility helicopter is to provide command and control and combat assault support under day/night and adverse weather conditions and special operations support; supporting arms coordination and aeromedical evacuation. Major modifications for both aircraft include 37 AH-1Ws converted to AH-1Zs, build 152 new AH-1Zs, remanufacture ten (10) H-1N helicopters and build 150 new UH-1Y models. AH-1Z and UH-1Y models include a 4-bladed, composite rotor system with semi-automatic bladefold, performance-matched transmissions, T700 Engine Digital Electronic Control Units, 4-bladed tail rotors and drive systems, more effective stabilizers, upgraded landing gear, and common, fully integrated cockpits and avionics systems. These upgrades will add 10,000 flight hours to AH-1Z/UH-1Y airframes. The fully integrated cockpits reduce operator workload and improve situational awareness, thus increasing safety and reducing the rate of aircraft attrition. They will provide considerable growth potential for future weapon systems and avionics, which will significantly increase mission effectiveness and survivability. The cockpits will also include integration of onboard mission planning, communications, digital fire control, self-navigation, night navigation/targeting, air-to-ground missile and air-launched intercept missile weapon systems management in nearly identical crew stations, which significantly reduces training requirements. These upgrades maximize commonality between the two aircraft and provide needed improvements in crew and passenger survivability, payload, power available, endurance, range, airspeed, maneuverability and supportability. Follow-on improvements to sensors and weapons integration, avionics, and air vehicle components will address deficiencies, systems safety, obsolescence, reliability, supportability and cost growth issues. Improvements will include all associated System Configuration Set (SCS) updates as well as integration and testing related to the aircraft platforms.
Document Details
- Document Type
- R2 Budgetary Justification
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2015
- Source ID
- 0604245N_5_1319_PB_2015
- Change Summary Explanation
- Technical: Beginning in FY 2016, technical content of fleet-driven corrections of deficiencies and increased capabilities will be scaled to the reduced budget. Schedule: Beginning in FY 2016, schedule of SCS deliveries to the fleet will be extended to meet reduced budget profile. Cost: Changes due to sequestration reductions and Congressional general reductions.
- Service Agency Name
- Navy
Entities
Organizations
- United States Navy
Related Documents
- Child Project: 4BW/4BN Upgrade
- Child Accomplishment: System Configuration Set Development
- Child Accomplishment: Weapons and Sensors Testing and Integration
- Child Accomplishment: Air Vehicle and Avionics Development
- Child Project: H-1 Improvements
- Child Accomplishment: System Configuration Set Development
- Child Accomplishment: Weapons and Sensors Testing and Integration
- Child Accomplishment: Air Vehicle and Engines Improvements
- Child Accomplishment: Avionics Improvements