THE USMC H–1 UPGRADE PROGRAM: MEETING THE FUTURE THREAT

The U. S. Marine Corps is upgrading the AH–1W attack helicopter and the UH–1N utility helicopter with a four-blade main rotor system with blade fold capability, a four-blade tail rotor system, a drive system designed for 2625 ESHP, and new flight controls compatible with the rotor systems. Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., the original designer and producer of these two aircraft, is the prime contractor to Naval Air Systems Command for these major upgrades. Preceded in 1996 by detailed engineering trade studies to optimize the aircraft configurations, the development program for these upgrades commenced in FY 1997 as the H–1 Upgrade Engineering Manufacturing Development (EMD) Program. Integral to these upgrades are extensive performance, survivability, and military mission-effectiveness enhancements to the two helicopters to meet the post-2000 threat. This paper addresses these enhancements in the context of the USMC missions for these helicopters.