NEW LIFE


GET THAT UPGRADE


Before: The analog cockpit of a UH-60L.


After: The digital cockpit of a UH-60V.


setting the conditions now, knowing that in 10-12 years we’re going to start to get the first components from the FVL programs and then in another 20-30 years, depending on the life of the FVL programs, we’re going to start to do re-capitalization work on the Future Vertical Lift program assets—future attack reconnaissance aircraft, future long-range assault aircraft, future unmanned aerial systems and future tactical unmanned aerial systems.”


Using an open system architecture approach means the software design is not dependent on proprietary systems, making it easier to add or swap components and facilitate faster future upgrades. “It’s the proof of principle for the [modular open system archi- tecture] that we’re using. So that’s the data and the chips and the software in the aircraft. Tat’s the first step in helping to lead to the modernization of the entire fleet. So it’s going to be the first use of Army-owned software, Army-developed software, and it’s going to be the first step to ensure that MOSA is able to come online.”


FRESH OFF THE ASSEMBLY LINE Parker said the upgrade project began in 2016, but really got going in 2018 when they inducted the first UH-60L to be converted to a UH-60V at Corpus Christi. Te first six UH-60Vs were completed in the spring of 2021, and the next 32 should be out the door by this fiscal year. He said that, from start to finish, the process to completely strip a UH-60L helicopter down, upgrade it to a UH-60V, then paint, complete and deliver the aircraft today takes about 400 to 430 days.


“We’re starting to move more quickly with production now. Te goal is to convert a total of 760 UH-60Ls to UH-60Vs in the next few years—30 per year at first, then that will increase to 48 per year until all 760 become part of the UH-60 fleet. “It’s like an assembly line process, without a track,” he said of the upgrade process. “We tear it down to its skin, ribs and bones, inspect it all and make any fixes that are needed so it’s essentially a brand new airframe from the bones to the skin. Ten we put it back together with 20 miles of brand new wires, new computers and new displays and we get it going.”


Parker said a major perk is that the next generation of aircraft won’t be tied solely to one company. Te Army can compete the part and find where a vendor can get it the cheapest. He said a good way to describe it is it’s like taking your phone and putting whatever apps you want on it, instead of buying all of those apps from Sikorsky. “Similar to the app store, the Army is going to require ‘the app’ be interfaced that way so the people making the part have to make sure it communicates that way. It’s very plug and play.”


“Te crews that have flown it so far are huge fans of it. It’s like getting a new car. It has the new helicopter smell and it works very, very well. Tey love it.” Parker said. “Tey like what it can do and want more of them, and they want it faster. Which is why we had to decrease our production time from 600 days last year, to as quick as 330, but in the range of 330 to 400 in the next few years. We’ve got to go faster to support the warfighter.”


66


Army AL&T Magazine


Spring 2022


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