INCREASING HELICOPTER SURVIVABILITY THROUGH INFORMATION FUSION

Recent experience in the use of military helicopters against threat forces equipped with sophisticated surface-to-air missiles have re-opened a debate on the effectiveness and survivability of helicopters on the modern battlefield. Previously, at the end of the Vietnam War, U.S. Army aviation considered this threat and conducted a number of research and development efforts which have yielded products which significantly Increase helicopter survivability. These products which are now being fielded in helicopters such as the AH-64A Apache and OH-58D AHIP primarily involve advances in subsystem areas such as night pilotage systems, target acquisition and designation systems, and survivability equipment. During the next decade U.S. Army aviation technology efforts will continue to focus on improvements and development of new subsystems, but in addition a major thrust will be made in the areas of information fusion both on-board the military helicopters (intra-aircraft) and within the aviation elements (inter-aircraft/tactical operations center). This paper focuses on the latter developments and plans as they are currently evolving. Information fusion within a military helicopter involves the accomplishment of a number of steps which must be approached in a logical or hierarchial order. The first step involves the establishment of an overall system integration structure consisting of sensors, processing resources, data paths, and multifunction controls/displays. Within the various subsystem elements which comprise the total system significant levels of sensor data fusion can be accomplished (for example, spatial correlation of a wire detection sensor with a night vision imaging system, or Integration of data from the various survivability equipments to yield threat identification and automatic counter-measure initiation), however, an even higher survivability payoff is possible by fusing information at the higher system level thereby achieving even greater synergy. This paper describes some sensor/data fusion possibilities that U.S. Army aviation is exploring in the near term, including the integration approaches being considered. Information fusion within an aviation battalion involves the establishment of a communication, command and control structure. The Army aviation battle management concept development is currently focusing on information fusion and distribution within an attack aviation battalion. This paper describes some efforts which are currently underway in this area (including mission planning, automation of the battalion tactical operations center, and use of voice interactive avionics) and those planned for the near term.