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 to reduce life cycle costs and maintenance workload; and redesign of structural components and drive system components to minimize excessive and premature wear, increase reliability, and improve existing design deficiencies. Additional air vehicle upgrades include: redesign of the aircraft power-generating and electrical components (generators, inverters, wiring) to support power requirements for existing and future systems (Aircraft Survivability Equipment, emerging electronic warfare, and Degraded Visual Environment), redesign of the Environmental Control System /Thermal Redesign to support cooling of Technology Refresh Mission Computer and other avionics, redesign to add an auxiliary fuel capability, Intrepid Tiger, and upgrades the UH-1Y cabin floor panels. Avionics improvements target digital inter-operability, integrated avionics, safety & survivability, and situational awareness for both the pilot and aircrew safety. This includes integrating Joint Battle Command-Platform (JBC-P), Full Motion Video (FMV), Degraded Visual Environment (DVE), Helmet Mounted Display improvements, cockpit displays, precision and GPS non-precision landing capability, Crash Survivable Flight Incident Recorder, 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 & 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 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, development efforts required for Depot standup and incorporation of technology and information protection/Information Assurance in critical avionics and sensor systems. In addition, 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 System Configuration Set (SCS) development updates and testing. Sensors and Weapons improvements include hardware and software upgrades, reliability improvement initiatives, program security implementation and aircraft integration. Collectively, these improvements will provide additional capabilities to the warfighter improve reliability and allow for the interface between the sensors, helmet and precision guided munitions. Additionally, these enhancements will improve the overall design, produceability and maintainability of these systems. Specifically, the AN/ALQ-30 Target Sight System (TSS) will implement several block upgrade efforts with improvements to the IR Pointer, Laser and Cameras. The BRITE Star II will add additional capabilities for functionality, user improvement as well as Laser Spot Tracking. Both of these sensor improvements will be coupled with the Optomized TopOwl (OTO) improvements that include optics upgrades, reliability and human factors improvements to include Degraded Visual Environment (DVE), as well as advanced boresighting and mapping improvements that will aid in weapons accuracy. Improving and integrating weapon systems will align with these sensor and helmet upgrades to improve the overall accuracy and lethality of the H1 platform. Continued development, test and integration efforts with the Advanced Precision Kill Weapons (APKWS), M299 Launcher improvements, Digital Rocket Launcher (DRL), AIM-9X, the AN/ALQ-231 (V) Intrepid Tiger II Electronic Warfare Pod and the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) Hellfire missile will follow in FY17. All sensors and weapons improvements include related System Configuration Set (SCS) development updates 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 & survivability, while potentially reducing life cycle costs. The cockpits 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 reduce 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, 2018
• Source ID: 3359_0604245N_5_1319_PB_2018

Tags

Fields of Study

• Engineering

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering

Technology Areas

• Directed Energy
• Microelectronics
• Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems
• Space