DUGWAY PROVING GROUND, Utah - The largest hybrid aviation exercise ever attempted was held at Michael Army Airfield at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah on Sept. 16 to showcase the Manned Unmanned System Integration Capabilities developed by the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Project Office in Red Stone Arsenal, Ala.
The MUSIC exercise displayed how collaboration between manned and unmanned aircraft will shape the future of Full Spectrum Combat Aviation Brigades to include 1st Armored Division, Combat Aviation Brigade at Fort Bliss.
The 1st AD CAB is steadily engaged in obtaining full spectrum combat aviation capabilities. In December, the unit will begin training its aviators on the proper use of the new manned-unmanned systems integration equipment. The aircraft will receive modifications and upgrades in 2012.
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Thomas C. Shefflette, the 1st Armored Division, G-4, aviation maintenance officer said, “Everything is subject to change, but it is possible that the CAB will be full spectrum within the next two to five years“.
Shefflette is responsible for the receipt and assignment of aircraft and equipment distributed to the CAB.
FS CAB units will have the ability to control several different unmanned aircraft through a single universal ground control station. This station can pass control of the unmanned aircraft system to an operator that can then control the aviation platform’s camera by using a handheld remote control. The remote control allows the operator to steer the camera in any direction to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance of a given area.
Aircraft that will have the system interoperability are the AH-64D Apache Longbow Block II, OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, MQ-1C Gray Eagle Unmanned Aircraft Systems, RQ-7B Shadow UAS, RQ-11B Raven small UAS, Puma All Environment Capable Variant and the MQ-5B Hunter UAS, all which have the capability to shoot and stream live video.
Capt. Kiwi C. Nicholson, commander of D Company, 4 –501st Aviation Regiment, 1st AD CAB, has received training on the manned-unmanned upgrade capabilities now installed in some Apache helicopters.
He said that the upgrades add to the complexity of the task, but lessen the work required to locate a target. Without the new capabilities, pilots receive grid coordinates and landmark descriptions for their targets from personnel viewing the UAS feed from the ground. With the upgrades, pilots can see the live feed that comes directly from the UAS from inside their aircraft.
Nicholson said, “The added equipment is definitely a benefit and can potentially save soldiers’ lives. It allows the pilots to find the targets more efficiently and faster.”
The advances in the interoperability of these systems will give soldiers an advantage on the battlefield, supplying them with a lethal weapon. “With it, we can be more precise and maintain a safe distance. We can come in directly and engage the enemy, rather than coming in looking, and burn the target,” Nicholson said.
The 1st AD CAB is the second unit in the Army to receive the modifications for the new capabilities. The unit will be operational by 2013.
Shefflette said, “This is aviation, it’s something that you have to keep up with or you’ll fall behind. Having a CAB is an asset, and will increase the combat effectiveness of the division’s overall operations capabilities on the battlefield. If we can get all of the equipment working together correctly, it would absolutely save lives.”
| Date Taken: | 09.16.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 10.03.2011 10:43 |
| Story ID: | 77934 |
| Location: | DUGWAY PROVING GROUNDS, UTAH, US |
| Web Views: | 282 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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