By Ann Roosevelt
NASHVILE, Tenn.–The Army is launching Army Aviation Study II, which is due back within the next 60-90 days, according to a top general.
“It’s time we started another review of Army aviation to ensure we get it right,” Lt. Gen. J.D. Thurman, Army G-3/5/7 told the Army Aviation Association of America yesterday at the annual conference here.
This is the first time since 2003 that the Army plans a comprehensive study of the branch in circumstances that are very different, with an accumulation of lessons learned, organizational changes, and potentially constrained resources.
While conference attendees were all interested in the status of aviation programs that will come later this week with the release of the president’s budget, Thurman offered no specifics, but an assurance: “I think we’re going to be just fine with Army aviation; I wouldn’t worry.”
The new aviation study has the goal of ensuring Army aviation is “adaptive and creative in doctrine and program development” to ensure the branch maintains its overmatch and capability over the enemy, Thurman said.
The new study will set up working groups to review 12 areas to include “current operations, training, homeland security, force structure, stationing,” he said.
Considering the high demand, the study will also examine special operations forces aviation structure and training requirements.
Led by Maj. Gen. James Barclay, Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Ft. Rucker commanding general, the Aviation Study II will consider requirements and return with recommendations.
This study will accommodate the new strategic environment and potential funding constraints on the branch.
The study is separate from the Analysis of Alternatives for the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH), which will examine such things as lessons learned, unmanned aerial vehicles, and program requirements.
The desired outcome, Thurman said, is for a “more than incremental improvement in capability.”
In the aftermath of the ARH cancellation, the Army Secretary identified a path forward to fill the armed reconnaissance gap. The service requires 368 OH-58D Kiowa Warriors, but it only has about 340.
First, the service will reinvest in Kiowa Warriors, which are built by Bell Helicopter Textron [TXT].
The service will complete the safety enhancement program; implement the Kiowa Warrior Life Support 2020 program with its improved nose-mounted sensor; and OH-58 A and C models will be converted to the D-model.