Rotary Wing Aviation
Abstract
This project develops/upgrades SOF rotary wing aircraft systems that operate in increasingly hostile environments. Rotary wing aircraft supported by this project include: MH-60M, MH-47G, and A/MH-6M. These aircraft provide aviation support to SOF in worldwide contingency operations and low-intensity conflicts, and they must be capable of rapid deployment; undetected penetration of hostile areas; and operating at extended ranges under adverse weather conditions to infiltrate, provide logistics for, reinforce, and extract SOF. The threat is characterized by an extensive and sophisticated ground based air defense system and an upgraded air-to-air capability targeted against helicopters. Sub-projects include: • A/MH-6M Block 3.0 Upgrade is necessary to restore structural, performance, and safety margins for the aircrews. An airframe structural modification will address structural failures due to high intensity, high gross weight operations, and a decade of battle damage. A main/tail rotor drive train and engine control replacement effort will reduce airframe loads and restore sufficient safety and performance margins. An avionics upgrade (NDI/COTS) will replace obsolescent components and provide basic situational awareness. This upgrade is critical to keep a 1960's vintage aircraft in the fight until a suitable replacement aircraft is available, estimated to be in the 2025 timeframe. • MH-60 SOF Modernization program provides for the systems engineering and platform integration efforts, to include continued flight and qualification testing and test support. • Degraded Visual Environment (DVE) solution will fuse information from currently fielded aircraft sensors with emerging technology to display real-time reference points, obstacles, and landing zone information to the aviator. The DVE solution will provide MH-47/60 aircrews with visual cues for obstacle avoidance and aircraft control during all phases of flight and significantly increase crew and passenger survivability in DVE such as dirt and snow. Additional funding is provided to begin software development. • Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program provides for the long-term replacement of an aging fleet of aircraft and provides a significant increase in range, speed, payload, survivability, reliability, and maintainability of vertical lift aircraft to meet emerging mission requirements. USSOCOM will participate in the Service Common development of a joint future vertical lift aircraft by injecting USSOCOM requirements and equities into the initial development and design efforts to minimize SOF-peculiar modifications to the common aircraft. This is a new start in FY 2014 • Infrared Countermeasure (IRCM) program provides a lightweight capability suitable for the A/MH-6 Mission Enhanced Little Bird (MELB). The IRCM program will develop, integrate, qualify, and test a complete lightweight IRCM system to include a missile warning system and expendables dispenser. The A/MH-6 is the only tactical aircraft in the U.S. Army inventory without protection from IR guided missiles. IRCM is a new start in FY 2014.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2014
- Source ID
- D615_1160403BB_7_0400_PB_2014
Related Documents
- Root: SO Aviation Systems
- Child Accomplishment: A/MH-6M Block 3.0 Upgrade
- Child Accomplishment: MH-60 SOF Modernization Program
- Child Accomplishment: Degraded Visual Environment (DVE)
- Child Accomplishment: Future Vertical Lift (FVL)
- Child Accomplishment: Infrared Countermeasures (IRCM)
- Child Cost Item: 57e35c3ad5558584e79e27597df9afe8
- Child Cost Item: d2d312540dec62eea23a08c749ba177b
- Child Cost Item: 15e6837c3ed0341639b05b9bcfb3b6cf
- Child Cost Item: 502fdbef3093cf0e097713ff29f06789
- Child Cost Item: 0fbf60e7eadf34aa95bd0b44e6568ec0