Table Of Content-,
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
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Mentor and Oral Defense Committee Member:
Approved: _.....,-,~~ -=_________ /
Date: G fl44-Y.. ~g
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Oral Defense Committee Member:
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"Back to the Future:" The UH-IY Utility Helicopter; A Multi-Role
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Solution for a Changing Security Environment
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United States Marine Corps, Command and-Staff College,Marine Corps REPORT NUMBER
University, Marine Corps Combat Development Command,2076 South
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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,"
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