By: Major General Anthony Jones
"Under current modernization plans, older obsolescing aircraft will remain in the inventory into the foreseeable future … Warfighting, training, logistical support, and operating and support costs are impacted by the presence of these legacy systems." - 1998 Army Aviation Modernization PlanThe excerpt above, from the concluding section of the 1998 Aviation Modernization Plan, acknowledges the difficulties facing aviation under previous strategies and current force designs. Previous plans left critical operational, training and safety concerns unresolved, and failed to address timely divestiture of legacy AH-1, OH-58 and UH-1 aircraft. The relevance of the 1998 plan has been overtaken by changes in Army doctrine, organizational requirements and emerging priorities. These changes justified a complete re-evaluation of aviation modernization across doctrine, training, leader development, organizations, materiel and soldier programs. The 2000 Aviation Modernization Plan represents the culmination of this effort and provides the Army's commitment to aviation as an essential component of future combat operations. The 2000 Aviation Modernization Plan lays out modernization requirements in a phased approach over the near, mid and far terms. The near term focus sets the conditions for modernization. Phase II aligns the force with the organizational and operational concept C standing up "multifunctional battalions." The interim/transitional force envisioned in this phase is the first step toward the objective structure and a means to accelerate the retirement of legacy aircraft (OH-58C, AH-1 and UH-1). Achieving the objective force is only possible if RAH-66 procurement stays on schedule, additional TH-67s are procured in the near-term and additional UH-60s are procured in the mid- to far-term. Failure to procure additional utility aircraft beyond the POM will require significant risk in the sustaining accounts (operational readiness floats, repair cycle floats, attrition replacement aircraft) and inability to fully resource the reserve component (RC) utility structure. The transitional force will begin taking shape as AH-64As and OH-58Ds fill the new multifunctional battalions (discussed below) in lieu of Comanche. The goal is to immediately retire all AH-1s and to retire OH-58Cs and UH-1s no later than the fiscal year 2004 timeframe. The product is a strategy that departs from the "business-as-usual approach." Army aviation's organizational solution to meet future mission demands is called the Multifunctional Battalion (MFB). This basic building block at both division and corps includes a balanced mixture of attack, reconnaissance and lift aircraft. While the concept of multiple aircraft types in the same unit is not new to aviation, it is a deviation from the homogenous organizations of the current force structure. The MFB will possess full-spectrum capability to rapidly deploy and conduct Army single-service and joint operations from major-theater-of-war conflicts to small-scale contingencies and humanitarian relief efforts. Unlike current aviation battalions, the modular MFB is capable of detaching a company-sized task force capable of autonomous operations, while the parent unit operates in a split-based manner from a distant location. Personnel have been added to facilitate 24 hour, split-based and/or autonomous operations, and to enhance mission planning and supported-unit operations. Additional Prescribed Load List (PLL), avionics and armament parts and equipment have also been added to support split-based operations. As the MFB is composed of multiple aircraft types performing a wide variety of missions, it will produce leaders who are experienced in many aspects of aviation employment compared with the previous Aviation Restructure Initiative battalion. Leader development will be expanded to prepare aviation leaders for the diverse challenges found in these battalions. The Army vision requires a "strategically responsive" force that is dominant across the full spectrum of operations. Future aviation doctrine, while not losing sight of the ability to fight and win a major theater war, must orient towards tactics, techniques and procedures for full-spectrum operations within the context of a redesigned aviation force structure. Coupled with this new emphasis, doctrine will continue to work ongoing initiatives that include the integration of Force XXI digitization into doctrine, increased focus on aviation operations in an urban environment, and the reversal of trends identified at the combat training centers. Another essential component of aviation modernization is the implementation of Flight School XXI (FS XXI). The goal of FS XXI is to realign flight training to meet warfighting requirements by producing aviators who arrive at their initial duty stations basic-mission qualified, proficient in their go-to-war aircraft, and ready to begin unit training. FS XXI will reduce the duration of flight school by an average of five weeks and increase flight time in go-to-war aircraft by approximately 50 percent. Implementing this strategy eliminates UH-1 and OH-58C training aircraft, returns instructor pilots to the field and leverages simulator potential. This modernization strategy does little to impact materiel requirements as outlined in previous plans. It moves aviation toward a four helicopter operational fleet, continues to reduce the numbers and types of fixed wing aircraft, and calls for a single (TH-67) Initial Entry Rotary Wing (IERW) trainer. The RAH-66 Comanche remains Army aviation's highest priority. The RAH-66 introduces major technological advances in the acquisition and processing of battlefield information, rotary-wing aircraft signature reduction and logistical support features. As one of the key systems of the joint digital battlefield, Comanche will provide accurate and timely response to the tactical commander's firepower or combat information needs and security for the fast-paced, transitional forces of the future. The force protection provided by Comanche is critical to meet far-term requirements, which emphasize total-force integration, speed and range of maneuver. The AH-64D Apache Longbow is a key element of the Army's "maintain combat overmatch" objective. It provides unprecedented survivability, firepower and capability to fight worldwide, day or night, in adverse weather and on obscured battlefields. This plan calls for conversion of all AH-64As to the AH-64D Apache Longbow configuration. Priority upgrade requirements to the AH-64D fleet include second-generation FLIR, modern aircraft survivability equipment, digitization, and reliability/sustainability improvements. The UH-60 Black Hawk remains the foundation of the Army's utility-helicopter force. UH-60L procurement is currently programmed to continue until FY 05, leaving a shortage of more than 300 UH-60s to fill force requirements. The UH-60Q, a UH-60A upgraded with modern avionics and medical equipment, is programmed to begin in FY 02. This aircraft will provide first-to-fight units with the world's most advanced battlefield medical-evacuation helicopter. Recapitalization of the UH-60A fleet to the UH-60L+ configuration, programmed to begin in FY 03, will insert modern avionics, improve lift and extend aircraft life. The CH-47F Chinook sustainment program includes an engine upgrade and the CH-47F recapitalization of the CH-47D. These efforts substantially improve CH-47D lift capabilities, insert digital capabilities and extend aircraft life by approximately 20 years. The engine upgrade will be applied fleet-wide to restore lift capabilities lost through years of aircraft weight growth due to modifications/engineering change proposals. The CH-47F modifications are expected to be applied to 300 of the 431 aircraft in the fleet. The objective of fixed-wing modernization is to reduce the fleet to five standard platforms for short-, medium- and long-range utility, cargo, and special electronic missions aircraft (SEMA) requirements. Aviation modernization also occurs in vital Supporting Programs that provide essential hardware, support equipment, and the new technologies required to modernize and digitize the force. Aviation's primary digitization thrusts are toward programs that enhance planning; situation awareness; joint/long-range communications; command and control; airspace management; logistical responsiveness; and operational tempo. Logistics modernization focuses on digitization and automation initiatives to improve diagnostics/functionality and to automate routine maintenance and logistics procedures. Air traffic services modernization replaces old, outdated equipment with smaller and lighter digital systems. Aircraft survivability equipment programs seek to provide countermeasures ahead of advances in threat air defense capabilities in an integrated approach, which improves effectiveness and aircrew situation awareness. Weapons modernization programs are focused on addressing Hellfire missile shelf life problems and weapon system deficiencies as aviation missions and threat armor systems continue to evolve. Aircrew Integrated Systems modernization is focused on providing a mission tailorable aircrew ensemble which integrates components to improve safety of flight, crew survivability and efficiency. Battlefield digitization and modernized system fielding increase the criticality of a concurrent Training/Simulation Strategy. This strategy complements aircraft modernization by harnessing computer technology for the appropriate integration of live, virtual and constructive simulation to train and sustain combat ready crews and units. Central to this strategy are three non-system training devices: Aviation Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (AVCATT-A), Homestation Instrumentation System (HSI) and Aerial Weapons Scoring System (AWSS). Fully funding efforts to maintain currency between fielded systems and the training devices they replicate is critical to training success. Essential Enabling Technologies in electronics, systems and man-machine integration, advanced air platforms, propulsion systems and "weaponization" provide Army aviation with key capabilities for insertion into current systems or incorporation into next generation/future systems in the mid- and far-terms. These capabilities will maintain aviation's versatility and relevance for Joint Vision 2010 and beyond, providing the bridge from information dominance to full-spectrum dominance. Under previous modernization plans, older, obsolescent aircraft remained in the inventory into the foreseeable future. This new plan divests legacy systems and modifies force structure to provide multifunctional battalions capable of meeting the needs of emerging Army requirements. The scope of modernization is also broadened to ensure priorities across the DTLOMS are addressed. Priority Army issues are addressed by divesting UH-1/AH-1/OH-58 aircraft, enhancing aviation safety and outlining requirements to solve near-term operational issues. The new strategy will require the Army to make new investments in the near-term to pay the personnel and training bill to equip/man units with modernized aircraft, and continued commitment in the mid- to far-term to enable transition to fully resourced organizations. The payoff of executing this strategy is a force that meets the future needs of the Army. Maj. Gen. Anthony R. Jones is commanding general of the U.S. Army Aviation Center at Fort Rucker, Ala., and chief of the aviation branch.
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