Dust storm in Iraq (Source: AP)
To reduce dangers during live missions, the U.S. Army is developing a new radar system for helicopters
U.S. Army officials have worked with the Sierra Nevada Corp (SNC). To install next generation radar systems in UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters. The Army plans to fit 10 helicopters with the new radar-based technology, and will continue to upgrade additional aircraft as testing continues.
The new system is designed for flying in heavy snow or sandstorms that amplify the dangers of carrying out missions in poor weather. Non-hostile incidents -- such as degraded visual environments that include whiteouts, brownouts, and other dangerous flying scenarios -- have puzzled researchers.
However, it would offer troops a significant advantage if they are able to launch coordinated offensive attacks, even if flying conditions are less than ideal.
"What's driving the requirement are the environments we fly in," noted Major John Cochran, Army Aviation Directorate, in a statement to the Military Times. "Afghanistan is very mountainous and very dusty. In a given day, you could fly from the dust conditions in Kandahar into the southern Hindu Kush, and find yourself in clouds and snowstorms. The last thing you want to do between two 15,000-foot mountains is lose your ability to see.”
Army pilots must increasingly rely on training and instinct when flying missions in Afghanistan, while aircraft losses continuing to mount. The new radar, however, will be able to show pilots geographic anomalies that could make flying and landing more difficult.
The Pentagon is still interested in investing millions in research funds aimed towards developing new radar systems -- as modern radars are promoted in UAVs and fighter jets, helicopter aerial missions still need advanced technologies.
The SNC has a long-standing relationship working with the government, and was also given a contract to help develop a 3D imaging radar for helicopters. The use of 3D radar imagery could be implemented in other projects, such as SNC's efforts with the Black Hawk helicopter.
The future of helicopter development -- and continued missions in the battlefield -- is unstable, despite signs of progress. A shrinking military budget has already drained precious military resources, with the USMC helicopter programs suffering as F-35 development costs continue to skyrocket.
On a significantly more positive note, along with developing new radar technologies, military researchers are also working on unmanned helicopters able to deliver supplies in poor conditions. In mid-2011, Lockheed Martin was given a $47M grant to help develop autonomous helicopters for the Army, with the Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate overseeing progress.
Source: Military Times
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