Digitization of Army Aviation Platforms

This paper concentrates on the RAH-66 Comanche Helicopter and how it interacts with other elements of the digital battlefield. In its armed reconnaissance role, the Comanche has the required communications and processing power and, by virtue of its reduced signature, the survivability and mobility to act as the most forward command and control node on the battlefield. The Comanche's second generation sensors will provide critical information on enemy forces in terms of numbers, composition, status and intent. The Comanche's Integrated Communication, Navigation, Identification Avionics (ICNIA) will connect it to the combined arms team for real time reporting/receiving of enemy and friendly forces position and status, battle damage assessment and logistics needs. The situational awareness capability correlates the Army's Tactical Internet (Joint Variable Message Format) data and multi-force Link16 net data with the on-board system data to provide a consolidated Tactical Situation Display (TSD) overlaid on the Comanche's digital map. The Comanche can disseminate the correlated threat information back onto the digital nets as well as directly to a team member. The Link-16 capability provides a viable means of rapidly transferring digital images to team members and the command and control units. In addition, the Comanche armament offers the option to delay, disrupt or destroy enemy elements in concert with the actions of other members of the combined arms team. The advanced glass cockpit design for the Comanche allows the pilot and copilot/gunner to enter commands, target data handover and reports into the computer for digital communication to other team members. Digital message reports are accurately transmitted in short bursts by ICNIA and are available for later review and analysis.