How the US Army is preparing its rotary wings fleet for tomorrow’s warfare

The US Army has been increasing efforts to modernise its rotary-wing fleet and better prepare its helicopters to succeed on the current and future battlefields. Apart from acquiring new platforms, the US has been also improving its in-service platforms.

The approach has involved upgrading its current inventory with advanced sensors, systems and technologies in order to increase crew protection, situational awareness and lethality.

In December 2023, the branch awarded Northrop Grumman a five-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract for the initial production units of the AN/APR-39E(V)2 digital radar warning receiver with instantaneous bandwidth and frequency coverage.

Related Articles

Nearly half of USAF aircraft fleet has passed design service life, says air force official

What is wrong with the US Armed Force’s rotary-wing aviation fleet?

US Army to increase investments in missile capabilities by 62% in FY2025

Featuring an open architecture design, the solution has been engineered to provide enhanced survivability, clutter reduction and threat geolocation capabilities. It has combined the company’s digital receiver exciter architecture with new digital signal processing algorithms.

AN/APR-39E(V)2 uses a smart antenna and advanced processing to identify a broad range of radio frequency threats including in the millimetre wave spectrum.

Speaking to Shephard, James Conroy, VP of navigation, targeting and survivability at Northrop Grumman, explained that rotary wing platforms have been exposed to various hard-to-detect radio frequency menaces on the current battlefield. These included threats such as playing complicated manoeuvres, moving in their frequency range, switching frequencies and bands, and turning off and on.

“What we need to do is to make sure that we are detecting these signals as quickly as possible and getting that information to the helicopter pilots so that they can make informed decisions,” Conroy noted. “What makes it [AN/APR-39E(V)2] so advanced is it really is covering that full frequency range of where the threats are.”

Before the award of the IDIQ agreement, the receiver passed through several tests both in supplier’s facilities and in government laboratories to evaluate its performance and interoperability with the avionics of the US Army’s inventory.

As Conroy pointed out, the company expected the receiver to fit around 2,000 platforms as it is applicable to all helicopters in service with the branch.

“We are actively working with our supply chain now to take and get them [AN/APR-39E(V)2] on order and get them into production as quick as possible because they [US Army] want them on aircraft yesterday,” he highlighted.

AN/APR-39E(V)2 digital radar warning receiver. (Photo: Northrop Grumman)

Northrop Grumman has also envisaged that the capability would be attractive to international partners and allies that operate US-made helicopters.

The receiver is an enhanced version of the US Navy/Marine Corps AN/APR-39D(V)2. This newest solution, however, can be seen as “a more advanced system” with “ultra-wide instantaneous bandwidth”, according to Conroy.

Apart from the acquisition of receivers, the US Army has been also upgrading its AH-64E Apache fleet by adding a mast-mounted fire control radar, a new power train and new open architecture computer systems.

Under this effort, the branch has planned to begin designing, integrating and qualifying an oil-cooled generator for the AH-64E to resolve issues with its current legacy air-cooled generator.

In its FY2025 budget proposal, the army requested nearly US$660 million for the Apache modernisation covering RDT&E, remanufacturing and modification activities.

Shephard Defence Insight noted that the first AH-64 was delivered in 1984 and the service intended to sustain the fleet through 2040.

Improvements have been also conducted in the CH-47 Chinook as part of a service life extension programme. Upgrades in the platform have comprised modifications to the airframe to reduce vibration and more powerful T55-GA-714A engines to improve fuel efficiency and lift performance.

Additionally, the platform will be equipped with a digital cockpit fitted with a digital data bus for enhanced communications and navigation equipment for improved situational awareness, mission performance and survivability.

The army proposed a $720 million investment in upgrading the CH-47 over the next fiscal year. This transport/heavy lift platform was initially fielded in 2007 and will be expected to remain in service with the branch until the late 2030s.

Related Equipment in Defence Insight

CH-47F/MH-47G Chinook

AH-64E Apache Guardian