DESCRIPTION
Army fixed wing aviation units serve as intelligence and electronic warfare assets, provide timely movement of key personnel to critical locations throughout the theater of operations, and support worldwide peacetime contingencies and humanitarian relief efforts. The fixed wing fleet consists of 285 aircraft comprised of nine missions, 11 designs and 32 series. All Army fixed wing aircraft are commercial derivative aircraft and are divided into two categories: Special Electronic Mission Aircraft (SEMA) and Transport Aircraft.
BENEFIT TO THE SOLDIER
Army fixed wing aviation units serve as intelligence and electronic warfare assets, and provide timely movement of key personnel to critical locations throughout the theater of operations.
SPECIFICATIONS
- The SEMA Product Directorate manages aerial intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance programs such as the Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System, Airborne Reconnaissance Low-Enhanced, and Guardrail/Common Sensor. These programs are featured individually in the WSH.
- The Transport Aircraft Product Office manages two distinct fleets of aircraft: the Mission Support Aircraft fleet consists of aircraft such as the T-6 trainer used by the Army Test and Evaluation Command; the UV-18, C-147 and C-31 used by the Golden Knights Parachute Team; a variety of Quick Reaction Capability aircraft, one example is the Night Eagle aircraft, an asset capable of locating emplaced improvised explosive devices; and the Operational Support Aircraft fleet, which includes aircraft used for personnel and executive transport like the C-12, C-26, UC-35, C-20 and C-37. The Transport Aircraft Product Office also oversees the development of the Fixed Wing Utility Aircraft (FUA), a retirement and replacement program for the aging fleet of C-12 and C-26 aircraft in the Operational Support Aircraft fleet.
- Transport and SEMA fleets are continuously modernized with the most current communication, navigation, surveillance and survivability systems that enhance mobility and expeditionary capabilities to provide superior force projection in both contested and non-contested environments.
PROGRAM STATUS
1QFY17:
- C-12 fleet continues to undergo the Automated Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out Modification to meet the Federal Aviation Administration’s Global Air Traffic Management (GATM) mandate in January 2020
- UC-35 fleet is also undergoing an extensive avionics upgrade to meet all GATM mandates and a cockpit refresh to address obsolesce issues
2QFY17: C-147 delivery to the Golden Knights Parachute Demonstration Team
4QFY18: FUA will issue a Request for Project Proposals for prototype demonstrators
PROJECTED ACTIVITIES
2QFY19: FUA will award a FUA prototype demonstration contract
4QFY19: Second C-147A delivery
3QFY20: FUA Milestone C and Low Rate Initial Production Contract Award