-, I United States Marine Corps Command andStaffCollege Marine Corps University 2076South Street Marine Corps CombatDevelopment Coml1wnd Quantico, Virginia 22134-5068 MASTER OF MILITARY STUDIES TITLE: "Back to theFuture:" The UH-IY Utility Helicopter; AMulti-Role Solution for a ChangingSecurity Environment SUBMITTED INPARTIALFULFILLMENT OFTHEREQUI13.EMENTS FOR THEDEGREE OF MASTER OFMILITARY STUDIES AUTHOR: MajorTres C. Smith AY 07-08 ~9 ~ .~ tL , Mentor and Oral Defense Committee Member: Approved: _.....,-,~~ -=_________ / Date: G fl44-Y.. ~g ~~ /4~ Oral Defense Committee Member: ~ ~ Approved: Date: ~ A ';/.. ?<2 t:? G--: Report Documentation Page Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for the collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to a penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. 1. REPORT DATE 3. DATES COVERED 2008 2. REPORT TYPE 00-00-2008 to 00-00-2008 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER "Back to the Future:" The UH-IY Utility Helicopter; A Multi-Role 5b. GRANT NUMBER Solution for a Changing Security Environment 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S) 5d. PROJECT NUMBER 5e. TASK NUMBER 5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION United States Marine Corps, Command and-Staff College,Marine Corps REPORT NUMBER University, Marine Corps Combat Development Command,2076 South Street,Quantico,VA,22134-5068 9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S ACRONYM(S) 11. SPONSOR/MONITOR’S REPORT NUMBER(S) 12. DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENT Approved for public release; distribution unlimited 13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 14. ABSTRACT 15. SUBJECT TERMS 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF 18. NUMBER 19a. NAME OF ABSTRACT OF PAGES RESPONSIBLE PERSON a. REPORT b. ABSTRACT c. THIS PAGE Same as 48 unclassified unclassified unclassified Report (SAR) Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8-98) Prescribed by ANSI Std Z39-18 Executive Summary Title: "Back to the Future:" TheUH-IY UtilityHelicopter; A Multi-Role Solution for a Changing SecurityEnvironment. Author: MajorTres C. Smith, USMC Thesis: Due to the capability shOltfalls associated with the transformation ofthe Marine Corps -j, aviationforce structure and the challenges associated with a changing security environment, the role ofthe utility helicopter must evolve to achieve atrue multi-mission capability. Through a change in paradigm, theMarine Corps must properly equip the UH-lY to meet these challenges. Discussion: In the 4th quarter ofFY08 theMarine Corps anticipates the Initial Operational Capability (IOC) ofthe upgraded UH-lY "Venom" Utilityhelicopter, the third generationhelicopterinthe Marine Corps UH-l family. While this aircraft offers significant potential and greatly enhances the performance overthe currentutilityhelicopter capabilities, the strategiclandscapehas changed considerablyfrom the time ofits conception. With the emergenceofa changing security environment, the prolonged operational tempo associated with the "LongWar,,,l and potential assetshortfalls due to the transition or conversion ofseveral aircraft inthe Fleet inventory, TheMarine Corps will face an increasingnumber ofoperational capability gaps within the aviationforce structure. Traditionally, the utility helicopter has and will continue to fill these missiongaps; however, due to the complexityofthe changing security environment, the utilityhelicopter must evolve into atrue multi-role aircraft thatpossesses the .capability, equipment, and versatilityto meetthese challenges. Conclusion: The current composition ofthe Marine Corps aviationforce structure will remain constantfor thenext 25 years. The transitionofupgraded type model series aircraft within the existing force structure coupled with the constraints ofabureaucratic acquisitions process and the securitychallenges associated with irregular warfare, security cooperation initiatives and the long warhave generated significant capabilities gaps within its operational requirements. The solutionwill therefore require atimely andfiscally responsible alternative that will involve aparadigm change within existinghelicopter doctrine and employment. That solutionis the evolutionofthe utilityhelicopter into atrue multi-role aircraft that possesses the capability, equipment, and versatility to meet the challenges ofachanging security environment. 11 DISCLAIMER THE OPINIONS AND CONCLUSIONS EXPRESSED HEREINARETHOSE OFTHE INDIVIDUALSTUDENTAUTHOR AND DO NOT NECESSARILYREPRESENT THE VIEWS OFEITHERTHEMARINE CORPS COMMAND AND STAFF COLLEGE OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTALAGENCY. REFERENCES TO THIS STUDY SHOULD INCLUDETHEFOREGOINGSTATEMENT. QUOTATIONFROM, ABSTRACTION FROM, OR REPRODUCTION OFALL OR ANY PART OFTHIS DOCUMENT IS PERMITTED PROVIDED PROPER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT IS MADE. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Disclaimer i ExecutiveSummary ; .ii INTRODUCTION " '" '" 1 Section One: Background 1. TheRise ofthe UH-l 4 SectionTwo: TheRoleoftheUH-l 1. Defining theUtilityMission '" '" .., 7 2. Mission Taskin~ 9 SectionThree: EquippingtheUH-lY 1. Capabilities and Limitations 11 2. Implicationsfor FutureRequirements 15 SectionFour: The Operational Requirement 1. DefiningtheChanging SecurityEnvironment.. 15 2. Equippingthe Force 17 SectionFive: TheFiscal Effect 1. The NeckDownStrategy; the Heart ofthe Issue 19 2. Evolving AviationForce Structure 21' SectionSix: Changing the Paradigm; The Multi-Role Solutionofthe 215tCentury 1. The Multi-RoleMission 23 2. Developing anAdvanced Modular ArmamentSystem '" 24 3. ScalableOptions 26 4. The ModernHMLA '" 27 Conclusion 28 IV Illustrations Page Figure 1. UH-IE 4 Figure2. UH-IN 8 Figure 3. UH-IY 11 Figure4 DefensiveArmamentSystem (DAS).:- 12 Figure 5. PlankSystem (Contract Fabrication) 24 Figure 6. ModularArmamentSystem Concept (DillonAero) 25 Tables Page Table 1. UH-l StandardMission Configurations 11 Appendices App A. Mission Essential TaskListsfor VMM, HMM, HMH, HMLA App B. USMC UH-1 MissionTasking 1966-2008 App C. H-1 Missions and Performance Specifications App D. 2007AssaultSupport OperationalAdvisory Group (ASOAG) H-l Top Ten Items App E. Marine LightAttackHelicopter (HMLA) Plan App F. 202KAH-lAircraftInventories (Transition to Zulu BuildNew) App G. 202K UH-l AircraftInventories (Yankee BuildNew) v Recent military operations, particularly those in Afghanistan and Iraq, have brought to the fore a number of outstanding questions concerning helicopters in the U.S. armed forces, including deployability, safety, survivability, affordability, and operational effectiveness. These concerns are especially relevant, and made more complicated, in an age of "military transformation," the "global war on terrorism," and increasing pressure to rein in funding for the military, all ofwhich provide contradictory pressures with regard to DOD's large, and often complicated, militaryhelicopter modernization efforts.2 CRS Report to Congress: Military HelicopterModernization: Background and issues for Congress INTRODUCTION In the 4th quarter ofFiscal Year (FY) 08 the Marine Corps anticipates the Initial Operational Capability (rOC) oftheupgraded UH-1Y "Venom"Utilityhelicopter. The third generationhelicopter inthe Marine Corps UH-1 family, the UH-1Y will replace "the current U.S. Marine Corps utilityhelicopter, the UH-1N Huey which was initiallyfielded in 1970.,,3 While this aircraftprovides asignificant increase inrange, speed, and payload in comparison to its predecessor, the operational requirements have changed considerably since the time ofits conception. As such, the capabilities ofthe UH-1Y must evolve to meet the broad spectrum of challenges facing the Marine Corps inthe changing security environment. The utilityhelicopter has been an essential element ofMarine aviation for more than forty years. Taskedto "conductothermissions as mayberequired within capabilities,,,4 the utilityhelicopterha~ becomethe quintessential "jackofall trades," providing mission support for whatever requirementor capability gap thatexists to satisfytheneeds ofthe supported commander. While this mission still holds significantrelevance infuture operations, the strategic landscapehas changed significantly and so must therole ofthe utilityhelicopter. Threat estimates for thefirst quarter ofthe 2151 centurypredict ashift inoperational requirements from traditional to irregular forms ofwarfare. Inorder to meet these challenges the 1 Department ofDefenseis "continuingto reorient its capabilities andforces to be more agile in this time ofwar, preparing for wider asymmetric challenges andhedging againstuncertainty over thenext20 years."s This situationisfurther complicated as the Marine Corps transforms its aviationforce structure to replace its aging and outdated airframes. As this transition occurs, significant operational capability gaps will develop. The lion's share ofthese shortfalls will fall onthe capabilities ofthe UH-lY. Therefore, itmustbe equipped appropriately to fulfill these mission requirements. Recently, the Marine Corps CombatDevelopment Command (MCCDC) assessed that "thecurrent size, shape and posture ofour forces are notoptimized to provide sufficient forward presence and conductthe diverse array ofsecurity cooperation and counter-terrorism tasks required inthis changing securityenvironment.,,6 Based onthe current operational tempo associated with the "long war" andboundedbythe protracted challenges ofthe acquisitions process the solutionmustbereadily available. Therefore, the need for an agile platform capable ofperforming amultitude ofmissions, often simultaneously, has neverbeen greater. In orderto fulfill this role, the paradigm associated with the utilityhelicopter missions and capability requirements mustchange. Therole ofthe utility helicopter must evolve to atrue multi-role aircraft thatpossesses the capability, equipment, and versatilityto meetthe challenges ofa changing security environment. In buildingthe casefor the evolution ofthe utility helicopter, this paper will: 1. Review thehistory ofthe UH-IE within the Vietnam conflictto highlight the lessons learned inthe development ofthe Huey due to their inherent similarities to the circumstances faced today. 2 2. Exploretherole oftheUH-1 by addressing the challenges of understanding the utilitymission and reviewing its assigned mission essential tasking. 3. Discuss the current capability shortfalls associated with the UH-1Y and the impactthese shortfalls will have onfuture operational requirements. 4. Definethe requirements associated with the cunent operational situation and the challenges the Marine Corps faces in equipping the force to support the diversity offuture operations. 5. Delve into the evolution ofthe Marine Corps rotary wing force structure and the impactit will have on operational requirements within the first quarter ofthe 21st Century. 6. Discuss the concept ofa multi-role platform infuture operations and provide recommendations for the development ofan advanced armament system for the UH-1Y that optimizes its increased capabilities and appropriately equips the aircraftto meet emerging requirements. 3 SECTION ONE: BACKGROUND Vietnam has proven that we do nothave enough small helicopters for all the tasks 7 that Marine ingenuity can devise. General McCutcheon, Deputy ChiefofStaff(Air), 1967 The Rise ofthe DR-! In 1960, the Marine Corps was urgently seeking the replacementfor two deteriorating " observationplatforms; the OH-43 and the 0-1 "BirdDog."s There was adifference ofopinion as to whether areplacement aircraft shouldbe specializedto fulfill the observationrole ofthe 0- 1or ifthe missions ofboth aircraft could be combined in a singleAssault SupportHelicopter (ASH). Conveniently, the U.S. Army was pursuing "arequirementfor aLight Observation Aircraft (LOA)"g thatoutlined similarrequirements to those identifiedfor the ASH. This provided an opportunity"forthe Marine Corps to establish ajoint services procurementprogram which wouldgreatlyreduce the costperunit."l0 TheDeputy ChiefofNaval Operations (CNO) (air), Vice Admiral RobertB. Pirie, reinforced thesebenefits byhighlighting the importance of accepting perhaps aless suitable, operationallytested aircraft overthe possibility ofa "protracted and costly developmental program."ll TheMarine Corps identified someminor modifications required to enhance the UH-1B to meetmaritime operationalrequirements and the UH-1E emerged to replaceboththe 0-1's and the OH-43.12 Before the first UH-1E (commonlyreferred to as the "Huey") was delivered an additional requirementfor an armedhelicopter variant to escortthe UH-34's performing the troop transport mission. Due to the environmental constraints ofthejungles ofVietnam and the near "surgical precision" J required to supporthelicopterborne operations in closeproximityto "denselypopulated areas," 4 --------------- 1