Cassidian’s OSS supports German helicopter missions

Cassidian has announced that it has provided a mobile version of its computer-based operations support system OSS (Einsatzunterstützungsanlage or EUA) to the German Armed Forces in support of helicopter missions in Afghanistan.

The company has now delivered eight mobile OSS systems to the German Army Aviation Corps as part of a contract awarded by the German Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB) at the end of 2011.

The OSS is used to plan safe flight paths and missions, and display them on digital maps, and to maintain real-time contact with military command. The system also serves to ensure maintenance and supply for the helicopters.

From the beginning of 2013, the system will be used by German soldiers in Afghanistan in the Tiger ASGARD support helicopter. This will be followed by medical air evacuation (Forward Air MedEvac) using the NH90 from mid-2013. The FwdAirMedEvac helicopters ensure medical emergency care for Bundeswehr soldiers in crisis areas.

According to Cassidian, up until now, OSS has been used in different configurations for individual types of army aviation and air force helicopters. Thanks to the new software version, all helicopters can now be supported with the same system: the Tiger support helicopter (UH), the NH90 tactical transport (TTH) and light transport helicopter (LTH) as well as the CH-53GA transport helicopter. Moreover, the system will also be used in the future to support the Spanish Tiger combat helicopters.

The tasks involved in operations support include the creation of flight plans, with a combination of civil and military flight phases, while taking account of current meteorological data or changing threat scenarios. By processing the data from the electronic self-protection system, the pilot is in a position to quickly respond to attacks. The OSS furthermore enables connection to the German Armed Forces’ logistics system (LogInfoSys Bw SASPF) as well as to their command & control and technical information systems.

Dr. Rolf Wirtz, head of the Mission Avionics unit at Cassidian, said: ‘The [OSS] enables all types of helicopters to be supported in missions using a single, standardised system. This not only allows to reduce operating costs, but also to use an integrated aircraft support process for both flight missions and technical maintenance.’