AUSTIN, Texas – The Army’s commitment to modernizing aviation ahead of future warfare was a key point of discussion at the Luther G. Jones Army Aviation Depot Forum, which took place in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Dec. 7 and 8.
The event was held at the Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD) – a leading helicopter and component repair and remanufacture facility – and highlighted the Army’s organic industrial base capabilities for government and industry customers.
Leaders from across the Army Aviation community gathered at the forum to share insights on recent aviation developments, which range from advances in avionics and digital systems architecture to changes in military education and the way the Army fights.
Lt. Gen. Thomas H. Todd III, deputy commanding general of acquisition and systems and chief innovation officer at U.S. Army Futures Command, attended the forum to underscore the importance of modernizing the entire Army Aviation Enterprise.
“As our former commanding general Mike Murray used to say, modernization is more than just materiel,” Todd said. “The Future Vertical Lift Cross-Functional Team, PEO Aviation, AMCOM and DEVCOM Aviation and Missile Center are driving modernization in Army Aviation. Their ongoing efforts are shaping the technologies we will deploy in Joint All-Domain Operations. Facilities like CCAD will ensure the safe functionality of our materiel for years to come. It’s imperative that we continue to invest in these facilities and our organic industrial base.”
The Future Vertical Lift (FVL) Cross-Functional Team and the Program Executive Office Aviation, both located at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, are developing the capabilities and solutions to ensure vertical lift dominance in Joint All-Domain Operations. The FVL ecosystem will increase the range and lethality of Army Aviation while flying side-by-side with the Army’s Enduring Aviation Fleet.
“Future Vertical Lift capabilities will allow Army Aviation to operate from dispersed locations and provide the range needed to operate effectively in any Theater,” Todd said. “However, the remainder of the fleet must operate alongside these capabilities to ensure Army Aviation can provide the Combatant Commander with the lethality he or she may require.”
The H-60V Black Hawk, currently in production at CCAD, leads the way in future ecosystem integration. The 60V is the first of many government-owned Open Systems Architectures (OSAs) in Army Aviation and has the first airworthy quad core processor in a U.S. Department of Defense aircraft. OSA provides the backbone and functionality to rapidly integrate the most technologically advanced subsystems available. The quad core processor will support and power future systems upgrades. Incorporation of these two groundbreaking technologies posture the Black Hawk fleet to operate and succeed alongside the FVL ecosystem.
“The entire CCAD team is delivering 60V today. And just like all of our organic depots, they play a pivotal role in life-cycle management and modernization. Army Futures Command is looking for ways to integrate all of our depots and organic industrial base capabilities into Army modernization priorities,” Todd said.
Social Sharing