H-1 Improvements

Abstract

The objective of H-1 Improvements is to provide follow-on Research, Development, Test and Evaluation efforts in support of all H-1 aircraft. Air Vehicle and Engine improvements include Analysis of structural data to formulate Damage Limits and Tolerances for structural components in order to reduce life cycle costs and maintenance workload; development and test of structural components. These improvements include tail boom, airframe and drive system components, minimizing excessive and premature wear, increased reliability, decreased component fatigue and improve existing design deficiencies. Air Vehicle will develop the next phase of Thermal Cooling Solution; supporting compartments containing avionics equipment; development and testing of aircrew and flight safety systems; develop an auxiliary fuel cell capability and Remote Stores Control unit (RSCU) Software development. RSCU efforts will include software development, testing, cybersecurity, and acquisition of test assets. Avionics improvements target digital inter-operability, integrated avionics, safety and survivability, and situational awareness for both the pilot and aircrew safety. This includes Degraded Visual Environment (DVE), Helmet Mounted Display improvements, cockpit displays, precision and Global Positioning System (GPS) non-precision landing capability, collision avoidance, improved Embedded Global Positioning System (EGI), Inertial Navigation System (INS), targeting sensor systems and mission computer. H-1 capability improvements include improved Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE), digital operations and transfer of data, digital interoperability, digital video recording, video and data networking, and information integration with aviation combat elements and Marine Air Ground Task Force elements. Mandated capability efforts include - Communications and COMSEC modernization, Navigation and Surveillance system/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ ATM), Required Navigation Performance/ Area Navigation (RNP/RNAV), GPS Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM), Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B), Crash Survivable Flight Incident Recorder and information technology/protection of the platform. In addition, development of Model Based System Engineering (MBSE) to support the requirements, design, analysis, verification, and validation associated with aircraft system integration. The goal is to reduce total ownership cost for H-1 aircraft and related support systems by improving reliability and maintainability of critical flight and avionics systems along with associated peculiar avionics support equipment and incorporating fact-of-life obsolescence solutions. All avionics improvements include related Software Configuration Set (SCS) development updates including software, test assets, cybersecurity, and testing. Sensors, Weapons, Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE), and Helmet Mounted Display System improvements include manufacturing process improvements, hardware and software redesign to improve reliability, improve production methodologies, implement program security initiatives and increase the collective capability to address emerging battlefield threats. These improvements address reliability and obsolescence. The technical interfaces between the aircraft sensor, helmet, and weapons systems require extensive software and hardware upgrades to translate data into sensor fusion based solutions that provide both battlefield and situational awareness to the H-1 platform. The AN/AAQ-30 Target Sight System (TSS) will implement several obsolescence upgrade efforts with improvements to the Cameras as well as adding software driven capabilities such as increased field-of-views and auto-focus. The Optimized TopOwl (OTO) reliability upgrades will increase reliability and readiness for components that are currently driving high repair costs. Radar and missile warning improvements, including APR-39D(V)2 and the Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasures (DAIRCM), require extensive integration and testing. Funds required for development, test, and integration efforts for Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM), Advanced Precision Kill Weapons (APKWS), M299 Launcher improvements, Digital Rocket Launcher (DRL), AIM-9X, AN/ALQ-231 (V) Intrepid Tiger II Electronic Warfare Pod. Improving and integrating weapon systems will align with these upgrades to improve the overall accuracy, lethality, and survivability of the H-1 platform. All weapon and sensor improvements include related SCS development updates including software, test assets, and testing. These improvements will provide considerable growth potential for future weapon systems, air vehicle improvements, software improvements, and avionics upgrades, which will significantly increase mission effectiveness and survivability, while potentially reducing life cycle costs. The efforts will also include integration of onboard mission planning, communications, digital fire control, self-navigation, night navigation/targeting, precision guided munitions, and air-launched intercept missile weapon systems management in nearly identical crew stations, which significantly reduces training requirements. These upgrades maximize commonality between all H-1 Type/Model/Series aircraft and provide needed improvements in crew and passenger reliability, survivability, payload, power available, endurance, range, airspeed, maneuverability and supportability.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2023
• Source ID: 3359_0604245M_5_1319_PB_2023

Tags

Fields of Study

• Engineering

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering

Technology Areas

• Biotechnology
• Cyber
• Microelectronics
• Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems
• Space