THE BLUEPRINT NEXT-GENERATION MILITARY HELICOPTERS - IQPC
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NEXT-GENERATION MILITARY HELICOPTERS
THE BLUEPRINT
As far as rotary-wing aircraft go, there are few assets more desirable
to almost any military in the modern world. Owing to their ability to
carry out a vast range of missions and the rapidity at which they can
be deployed for land, sea or air use, helicopters are key to any serious
defence budget, be it purchasing new platforms or modernising
existing ones. Of course, this range of capabilities also means that
today’s aircraft are technologically complex, resulting in difficult
decisions for programme managers and increasingly complicated
processes for maintenance and upgrades.
Here, we explore the key operational aspects of the 21st century
“Instead of
military helicopter – a ‘blueprint’, if you will, of the topics and extrapolating
considerations driving the 2016 Military Helicopter conference
(Jan 18-20, London, UK)…
today into the
future, I’d like
to start with the
future and then
decide how to
get there.”
Lt. Gen. Alexander
Schnitger, head of the
Royal Netherlands
Air Force.
ROTARY STRIKE
The Military Helicopter community is fully engaged
with the aircraft’s new role within modern warfare.
With evidence from campaigns in Iraq, Libya and
Mali, rotary assets are now less of a support function
as they are actively involved in threat elimination
operations. With the prioritisation of quick, safe and
effective engagement, rotary assets provide a credible
alternative to artillery, armoured vehicle and infantry
deployment.
At present, multirole weapons solutions are being
keenly assessed, with precision undoubtedly topping
the list of the most pressing demands. Meanwhile,
the US is working towards new vertical-lift solutions
to allow for both agility and speed in one, but others
believe engineers and programme managers could
be even more ambitious, highlighting the need for
truly disruptive innovation.
RECOMMENDED BRIEFING:
Assessing the Future and Value of Rotary Strike for the British Armed Forces
• What lessons have been learned form the operation of strike platforms on
recent UK operations?
• How is the Attack Helicopter Command preparing for the arrival of the AH-64E
Guardian block upgrades?
• Will the role of helicopters in directly supporting frontline troops be increasing
in future campaigns?
• What difficulties have been encountered while conducting strike operations as
part of a coalition?
Colonel Jason Etherington, Commander of the Attack Helicopter Force,
British Armed Forces
COMMUNICATIONS
As of 2014, the military communications market is
expected to clock in at $30.12 billion by 2019. Of the
key growth areas, the airborne segment is expected
to expand at a CAGR of almost 2%, reaching
$1.3 billion in 2022.
There remains an increasing need for investment here,
given the rate of helicopter deployment and the demand
for fast, effective communication across networks of
other assets operating in concert. Advanced relay of
voice and data, including aspects of automation and
encryption, can often be the deciding factor in the
battlespace, while interoperability between helicopters
and an increasing number of unmanned vehicles
requires new suites and new solutions.
RECOMMENDED BRIEFING:
Discussing the Options for Enhancing the Communications Systems
On Board Spanish Air Force Platforms
• How have lessons been learned from recent operations (both special and otherwise)?
• What advancements in on-board communications are required for future
expeditionary operations
• What role will UAVs play in supporting future specialised missions?
Colonel Luis Dosda Fernández, Chief of the Special Air Operations &
Personnel Recovery Directorate, Air Combat Command, Spanish Air Force
MRO/LIFE CYCLE
MANAGEMENT
According to recent studies, the global military
helicopter MRO market will grow at a CAGR of 2.41%
from 2014 to 2018. Demand for military helicopters over
this period will increase across developing countries –
including China, India, Pakistan, and many burgeoning
African states – which should in turn increase business
for those providing helicopter MRO services.
Both helicopter platform and engine OEMs are
emphasising investment into maintenance and
complete-care solutions in response to the
requirement of many militaries to keep costs down
and simplify the management chain. Many end-users
should therefore be choosing MRO services from
OEMs to capitalise on their superior knowledge of the
product. However, complex regulatory requirements
now emplaced by many governments remain a hurdle
for programme managers.
In addition, recent campaigns have seen operators
struggle to balance maintenance schedules while the
platforms are on active missions. Solving these issues
is a case of learning from experienced practitioners
and striving for innovative or collaborative methods
to a long-running problem.
RECOMMENDED BRIEFING:
Interactive Panel Discussion – Is it More Beneficial to Conduct MRO with the
OEM or a 3rd Party Contractor?
• Would the panelists propose in-house MRO or the use of an external contractor?
• How has each panelist overcome supply chain challenges for their platforms
with a particular focus on spare parts acquisition
• Is there a need for greater dialogue between MRO providers and the user
regarding the support of machines while in theatre?
Colonel Jiri Vavra, Head of Air Force Development Department, Czech Armed Forces
Colonel Steen Ulrich, Commander Helicopter Wing, Royal Danish Air ForceSITUATIONAL AWARENESS
/ NIGHT OPERATIONS
The rotorcraft community has collectively struggled
to deal with SA flaws in spite of strong advancements
across other fields of technology. Sand, snow, dirt and
darkness remain major causes of helicopter accidents,
even among the most experienced pilots, while
connecting with unseen obstructions, such as power
lines, have killed some of the most highly rated
military aviators of our time.
Techniques, training and new technology are all
in the mix as ways to reduce Degraded Visual
Environment (DVE), and the options available will
be explored in depth at the International Military
Helicopter conference. Issues at hand include the
adoption of helmet-mounted display (HMD), trimmed
down control panels, and real-time 360 ° visuals
of the aircraft (e.g. “see-through” airframes).
RECOMMENDED BRIEFING:
Interactive Panel Discussion – Assessing Developments in Communications
Technology to Support Helicopter Operations
• How does the type of operation impact the requirement for communications
equipment?
• Is there a risk that as technology develops, helicopters may become overloaded
with mission systems?
• What has been the panelists experience with integrating new systems onto
legacy platforms?
Colonel Luis Dosda Fernández, Chief of the Special Air Operations & Personnel
Recovery Directorate, Air Combat Command, Spanish Air Force
UK MoD RepresentativeISR SYSTEMS
Knowing the environment as you traverse it is one
advantage, but even better would be to know the full
lay of the land before the journey begins. UAVs and
satellites are now increasingly being deployed as
scouts and forward observers, so that helicopters get
a clear understanding of what’s out there before having
to find out for themselves. 3-D mapping of terrain can
now be built on the ISR data of these assets and other
units in the thick of battle, and this can be shared,
rotated, manipulated and analysed wherever required.
From sharper FMV to data storage, ISR requirements
for military helicopters today and in the future are
more significant than ever, especially where COIN
operations are concerned.
RECOMMENDED BRIEFING:
Charting the Development of Helicopter Avionics & Aid Systems
– Looking to the Future
• How have defensive aids from infrared sensors to chaff protected the helicopter
from air-to-air threats?
• In what ways will future threats require new or modified aids to protect helicopters
in congested or dangerous environments?
• How must defensive aids be further developed to guarantee the security and reliability
of helicopters in an increasingly contested and hostile EW environment?
• Challenges of integrating newly acquired technology onto legacy platforms
Senior Representative, Helicopters Operating Centre, UK MoDSAFETY SYSTEMS &
COUNTERMEASURES
As low-flying aircraft required in the most hazardous
of situations, helicopters must contend with not only
the environment in which they operate but their own
internal systems and their chances of mechanical
failure. Frequently more complex than their fixed-wing
counterparts, military helicopters are more prone to
wear and have a higher crash rate.
Efforts are increasingly being made to improve
survivability of the aircraft, with scalable solutions
including composite armour on the airframe,
innovative seat arrangement and suspension, real-
time diagnostics, infrared countermeasures to combat
MANPADS, and ground fire acquisition to respond
quickly to enemy fire.
The latest research includes tests on foldable and
autonomous legs to allow helicopters to land on
extremely uneven terrain, enhanced wire-strike
detection, and all-system diagnostics to identify
possible failures in real-time.
RECOMMENDED BRIEFING:
Interactive Panel Discussion: Protecting the Helicopter and Crew in
Difficult Environments
• Examining the panelists’ experiences with various methods of combating brown out
• Is increased armouring a viable solution to increase the survivability of rotary wing
platforms that are increasingly required to be flexible for different missions?
• As helicopters are employed for an increasingly diverse array of missions, what
changes must be made to TTPs and technologies to increase safety levels on
different operations?
Colonel Roberto Minini, Italian Army
Captain Justin “Lumbergh” Sing, US Marine CorpsTRAINING
It goes without saying that today’s pilots and gunners
must possess self-discipline, confidence and
intelligence, as well as be able to make quick decisions,
multitask and perform under pressure. However, with
an increasing amount of data pouring into the cockpit
and more complex systems at their fingertips, it is
vital that these men and women have the best possible
training options available to them.
From mastering the physical platforms to
understanding the grease-pencil basics, most training
in the coming years will be instilled or enhanced by
new technologies, including high-end simulators
and e-learning courses. Wherever the future takes
the military helicopter domain, it will be the human
that determines its success.
Latest solutions include enhanced imagery realism,
and helmet-mounted simulators for in-flight training
– effectively converting the platform to a sim.
RECOMMENDED BRIEFING:
Panel Discussion – Innovative Training Techniques & Technologies for Helicopters
• With flight times growing ever more restricted how can training be achieved
more efficiently?
• How can we achieve Live, Virtual and Constructive training for helicopters?
• What challenges are presented by the acquisition of new equipment and systems
in terms of crew training?
Colonel Scott Clancy, Commander of 1 Wing, Royal Canadian Air Force
Colonel J.D. Bryant, Commandant of the Army Aviation Centre, British Army
Major Joseph “Tweeder” Fry, AH-1Z Instructor Pilot, MAWTS-1 ADT&E, USMC15th Annual 18th - 20th January 2016
Victoria Park Plaza Hotel, London, United Kingdom
“A large and diversified customer
panel. As an exhibitor, a very good
opportunity to meet customers”
- Joseph Rollo, Thales
“Excellent speakers. Very clear,
The Military enthusiastic and energetic”
Helicopter Community’s
- Brigadier General Emiro J Barrios,
Chosen Forum Colombian Army
Confirmed Speakers:
Daniel Kostoval Brigadier General José Emiro Colonel Jiri Vavra
Deputy Minister, Head, Barrios Jiménez Head, Air Force Development
Armaments and Acquisition Commander of the Air Assault Department
Division Aviation Division Czech Air Force
Czech MoD National Army of Colombia
Captain Scott Walsh
Lieutenant General Olivier Air Commodore Hervé Bertrand Commander, Helicopter
Gourlez-De-La-Motte Commander, Air Mobility Maritime Strike Wing
Commander, Army Aviation Command US Atlantic Fleet
French Army French Air Force
Lieutenant Colonel
Major General Richard Felton Colonel Sławomir Mąkosa Hendro Arief T.
Commander, Joint Helicopter Commander, Army Aviation Chief of Operations Service,
Command Brigade Atang Sendjaja Air Force Base
UK MoD Polish Armed Forces Indonesian Air Force
Major General Andreas Marlow Colonel Roberto Minini Lieutenant Colonel
Commander of the Rapid Forces Chief of the Flight Safety & Michel Gelders
Division Legal Branch Chief of Air Capability Office,
German Army Italian Army Doctrine & Requirements Division
Belgian Armed Forces Joint Staff
Brigadier General Robert Colonel J.D. Bryant
Marion Commandant of the Army
Aviation Program Executive Aviation Centre “Very interesting, we gained a lot
Officer, Assistant Secretary British Army of benefit from this conference.”
for Acquisition, Logistics &
Technology Colonel Steen Ulrich
- Colonel Fehaid Alharbi - Royal Saudi Air
Force - Operations and Plans Officer
US Army Head of the Helicopter Wing
Danish Armed Forces
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