Developing and delivering responsive aviation, missile and calibration materiel readiness to optimize joint warfighter capabilities is the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command's (AMCOM) fundamental mission. The command's materiel enterprise contributes to completing the mission by providing security for the nation, its deployed formations and American allies through active daily missions and deterrence.
The February 2016 Unified Action mission alignment order that collectively bonds the U.S. Army Contracting Command-Redstone and the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) with AMCOM is key to these activities and mission accomplishments.
"Because of Unified Action, we can focus on the end state: the life cycle of the program," said Maj. Gen. Douglas Gabram, AMCOM commanding general.
"We focus on designing in sustainability and reliability in the system from the outset. That way, we can reduce operation and maintenance cost drivers."
The recent Apache Helicopter Pitch Change Link challenge and future Black Hawk helicopter development plan are prime examples of the operationalization of Unified Action.
MATERIEL ENTERPRISE PARTNERS
When the Pitch Change Link Rod Team formed in 2015, its primary goal was to come up with a solution to an aviation challenge raised by Soldiers in the field. The team rapidly produced and fielded a standardized 10-piece tool kit, coupled with an instructional video for use by Soldiers maintaining the Apache fleet.
"The filming of a 'Safety of Flight' video for instructional clarification of maintenance procedures is new to AMCOM," said Col. Andy Gignilliat, AMCOM Logistics Center military deputy, and a team member. "The video augments written references in a manner that provides a familiar learning experience for our Soldiers. The 96th Aviation Support Battalion Soldiers and Fort Campbell's Logistics Readiness Center-Aviation did a phenomenal job reacting quickly to assist in providing a professional product to the entire aviation force."
Brig. Gen. Bob Marion, Program Executive Officer Aviation (PEO Aviation), along with Col. Jeffrey Hager, Project Manager Apache Attack Helicopter, served as key collaboration leaders as the Pitch Change Link Rod Team came together to execute the action plan.
"The Unified Action team holds to the standard of excellence that enables readiness at the point of need," said Gabram. "And that standard has been exemplified in the way that the team has come together on the Apache Pitch Change Link."
ACQUISITION GAME CHANGER
Another example of Unified Action providing positive outcomes for the warfighter is the team's collaborative effort to spearhead the Army's newest utility helicopter modernization, the UH-60V, with first flight scheduled in early 2017. The team is developing a plan to manage the production and modernization of the UH-60L to meet current and future requirements by converting the analog cockpit to full digital capabilities.
The UH-60V Milestone Decision Authority is delegated to PEO Aviation with AMRDEC serving as the system integrator. The AMRDEC Prototype Integration Facility is responsible for the installation of prototype kits on three aircraft that will be used for testing throughout the engineering and manufacturing development phase of the program. During full-rate production, contracts will be awarded through full and open competition. In total, 760 aircraft will be converted to UH-60V models as part of the program.
"The program has met all its acquisition baseline milestones and will enable the UH-60L fleet to remain operationally relevant while improving aircrew situational awareness through digitization of the cockpit," said Lt. Col. Andy Duus, product manager for the UH-60V. "The UH-60V prototype first
flight remains on schedule, and the cockpit design is expected to meet performance requirements."
The new Black Hawk variant will achieve cost avoidance by eliminating the UH-60L's specific analog, federated components, while recapitalization provides a 10-year service life extension. The modernized cockpit will also feature enhanced situational awareness with consolidated aircraft survival equipment, hover cues on the horizontal situation indicator, a geospatial information services digital map, and a global air traffic management system.
"What's more, the UH-60V is a key piece on the Army aviation modernization that offsets limitations in funding for the new production UH-60M models," Gabram said. "The UH-60V research, development test and engineering, as well as procurement, is fully funded across the program objective memorandum."
The alignment of organizations across the aviation and missile enterprise allows AMCOM to prioritize and posture itself to best support the warfighter, Gabram said.
"Although the full impact of Operation Unified Action will take time, these recent actions are examples of what we can expect as this significant and important mission realignment evolves to meet warfighter needs," he said.
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