PEO-ROTARY WING
Chartered in August 2004, the Program Executive Office for Rotary Wing (PEO-RW) provides management oversight for all vertical lift programs within USSOCOM. Previously organized under the PEO Maritime and Rotary office, the PEO-RW office was formed by the commander, USSOCOM to meet today’s growing mission demand and to build the future of SOF vertical lift. The program executive officer for rotary wing is Colonel Bill Parker, United States Army.
PEO-RW is spearheading the acquisition transformation of SOF rotary wing aviation with programs to address survivability, capability, sustainability, commonality and obsolescence. Presently, there are four types of aircraft in 10 different configurations supporting SOF operations. The end state is a fleet of four common airframes to meet the needs of the warfighter and the demands of a national mission on a global stage.
“SOF rotary wing will not execute another major modification effort on the A/MH-6 Little Bird, MH-60 Black Hawk or MH-47 Chinook. These aircraft have been the backbone of SOF vertical lift for decades, and they’ll be the airframes that will prosecute the war on terror, but in short order we have to identify the vehicle that will carry us into the future,” said Parker. “We’ve done a phenomenal job building aircraft to meet the aviation warfighter’s needs, but we’ve been modifying the same basic helicopters for almost 40 years. It’s time to take a look at what’s next.”
From the failed rescue attempt of 53 hostages from Tehran in 1980 to current operations in support of the war on terror, special operations forces vertical lift has matured into a lethal fighting force. During the first eight months of Operation Enduring Freedom, SOF rotary wing aircraft executed more than 26 missions of equal or greater complexity and distance than the Desert One mission. What was once at the edge of the technological and operational envelope is now the norm, and countless modifications to the Chinook, Black Hawk, Pave Low and Little Bird aircraft have supported that journey.
Make no mistake that these aircraft comprise the finest and most capable special operations rotary wing fleet on the planet. In addition, each aircraft is involved in a spiral developmental modification program that ensures the best hardware is available to the SOF warfighter.
MH-6 LITTLE BIRD
The A/MH-6 Little Bird program transforms a civilian Hughes 500 series aircraft into the Mission Enhanced Little Bird (A/MH-6M) through a series of SOFspecific modifications, including a sixbladed rotor system, an improved tail boom and tail rotor drive system, full complement of weapon systems, digital cockpit, an enlarged aft cargo door and an increase of the maximum gross weight to 4,700 pounds. The aircraft is currently in Block 1.0 upgrade to reduce operational weight to add an additional ARC-231 radio and to improve the forward-looking infrared radar. The A/MH-6 Little Bird is fully configurable, capable of serving in an attack or assault role, and will complete delivery of its 51 aircraft inventory in FY07.
MH-60 BLACK HAWK
The MH-60 SOF modernization program is an Army SOF-coordinated effort which takes Sikorsky new-build UH-60M aircraft from the Army and modifies them with SOF-specific mission equipment. The USSOCOM commander approved accelerating the fielding of the MH-60M in order to be responsive to the urgent need for an assault platform with an increased payload capacity in high/hot environments. The rationale for program acceleration also considered the urgency associated with the need to replace the MH-60K/L fleets experiencing accelerated aging during the prosecution of the war on terror. The MH-60M will feature SOFunique General Electric CT7-8 engines, wide chord rotor blades, the new common avionics architecture system (CAAS) cockpit, dual digital automatic flight control system, advanced aircraft survivability equipment and the improved electro- optical sensor system. As the MH-60M is fielded, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) will begin phasing out the current MH-60K/L fleet.
MH-47 CHINOOK
The MH-47G service life extension program is on cost and on schedule, and it is meeting performance criteria. The program converts MH-47D and E, as well as Army CH-47 aircraft, into a fleetcommon MH-47G Chinook rated at a maximum gross weight of 54,000 pounds. Boeing Helicopter continues to deliver these remanufactured aircraft to the Special Operations Forces Support Activity at Lexington, Ky., for post-production modifications, which include the new CAAS cockpit, 2,000 gallon fuel tanks, aerial refueling probe, expanded gunner’s window, multi-mode radar, advanced ASE, and a multitude of other significant improvements that ensure the aircraft’s relevance in the 21st century. It has successfully completed operational testing, has received a full air worthiness release and fielding and deployment release, and will deploy to combat in 2007.
FLEET STANDARDIZATION AND MODERNIZATION
PEO-RW is spearheading the acquisition transformation of SOF rotary wing aviation with programs that address survivability, capability, sustainability, commonality, and obsolescence. Presently, there are four types of aircraft in 10 different configurations supporting SOF operations. The end state is a fleet of four common airframes to meet the needs of the warfighter and the demands of a national mission on a global stage.
Concurrent with transforming the fleet, PEO-RW is also researching a number of other programs and concepts to determine their potential for vertical lift integration. Examples of these include a lightweight ballistic protection system, unmanned aerial systems, compound helicopter technology, composite materials, brown out sensor, signature-reducing technology, cable warning and obstacle avoidance, hostile fire indicating system, 3-D audio, threat assessment route planning system, acoustic route planning system, passive airborne navigation system and advanced distribution aperture systems.
NEXT GENERATION VERTICAL LIFT
Parker’s approach to developing successor aircraft to the MH-6, MH-60 and MH-47 fleets is innovative. “I think that we need to give industry less structure and guidance on requirements and challenge them to show us the future with a feasible vertical lift aircraft concept—one that can effectively fly fast, hover well, weigh less, and carry a useful payload. It’s also important to realize that this new air vehicle doesn’t need to look like a traditional helicopter to fulfill the mission. Likewise, we will look at new and innovative acquisition models and contracting vehicles.”
PEO-RW is working closely with the USSOCOM Center for Force Structure Requirements, Resources, and Strategic Assessments (J8) to understand the nature of projected future SOF vertical lift missions. USSOCOM J8, in conjunction with the USSOCOM Knowledge and Futures Center, has conducted and commissioned studies into future SOF vertical lift requirements in part to support the most recent Quadrennial Defense Review. These studies developed linkages between the national strategies and the USSOCOM core tasks and between the USSOCOM core tasks and the aviation capability needs. These needs can, in turn, be translated into a broad statement of objectives to which industry can propose solutions.
PEO-RW is monitoring several technologies currently in development to overcome the physical speed, payload, range and environmental limitations of traditional helicopters. These innovations include the advancing blade concept (rigid, counter-rotating, coaxial rotor blades), optimum (variable) speed tilt rotor concept, Fancraft technology, and the vectored thrust ducted propeller. Some of these concepts are being developed under the concept design and analysis of a vertical takeoff and landing joint heavy lift (JHL) rotorcraft contracts and agreements issued by the U.S. Army Applied Aviation Technology Directorate in September 2005. A JHL aircraft or derivative may efficiently satisfy multiple future SOF vertical lift requirements, but shipboard compatibility is a critical concern. PEO-RW is also monitoring DARPA’s Heliplane initiative and active slat technology developments. In keeping with Parker’s guidance to minimize constraints placed on industry as it develops vertical lift solutions, PEO-RW is not limiting the solution set to manned aircraft. The office is closely involved with the USSOCOM Advanced Technology Directorate in the development of the unmanned aerial system program.
While it is difficult to accurately predict the future missions and environments in which SOF aircraft will be required to operate, USSOCOM’s PEORW will continue to ensure that the command has the right vertical lift assets to transport the SOF warrior to the right place at the right time. ♦