USMC Concepts & Programs 2013 - Defense Innovation Marketplace

chapter 3: programs
operator workload, improves situational awareness,
and provides growth potential for future weapons and
joint interoperability. The cockpit integrates onboard
planning, communications, digital fire control, selfcontained
navigation, day/night targeting and weapons
systems in mirror-imaged crew stations.
Operational Impact
The UH-1Y Venom (commonly referred to as
“Yankee”) and the AH-1Z Viper (referred to as “Zulu”)
share 85 percent of replaceable components, which
significantly benefit Marine Air Ground Task Force
maintainability and supportability. The H-1 program
effectively mitigates the narrow power margins of the
UH-1N and the high aircrew workloads of the AH-1W
while enhancing tactical capability, operational effectiveness
and sustainability of our attack and utility helicopter
fleet.
UH-1Ns are being rapidly pushed towards retirement
due to airframe and engine fatigue, which routinely
force aircrew into flight regimes with narrow
power margins and little room for error. Continued
implementation of the “Yankee Forward” strategy —
an effort to accelerate replacement of UH-1Ns with
the new UH-1Ys as quickly as possible — is a top Marine
Corps aviation priority. Significant operational
demands, aircraft attrition, and the current shortfall
of attack and utility helicopters, has forged the Marine
Corps “build new” strategy for its UH-1Y and AH-1Z
fleet. The success of this effort will more rapidly reduce
the current USMC Attack helicopter shortfall.
The UH-1Y conducted its first deployment with
the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in 2009
and has been deployed to Afghanistan since October
2009. Transition to the UH-1Y is complete at Marine
Air Group (MAG)-39 and has shifted to MAG-29
on the East Coast. The first AH-1Z deployment was
with the 11th MEU in November 2011. Of note, this
is the first time the AH-1Z and UH-1Y have deployed
alongside each other; fully exploiting the benefits of
85 percent commonality.
Program Status
Ninety-two production aircraft (66 UH-1Ys and
26 AH-1Zs) were delivered through the end of Oct
2012. The UH-1Y achieved Initial Operational Capability
in August 2008 and the AH-1Z achieved IOC in
February 2011. The H-1 Upgrades overall procurement
objective is 160 UH-1Ys and 189 AH-1Zs.
Procurement Profile: FY 13 FY 14
Quantity: 28 27
Developer/Manufacturer:
Airframe: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Fort Worth, TX
Integrated Cockpit: Northrop Grumman,
Woodland Hills, CA
AH-1Z Target Sight System: Lockheed Martin, Orlando, FL
KC-130J
Description
The KC-130J is a versatile four-engine tactical airto-air
refueling and assault-support aircraft which provides
the only organic long-range, fixed-wing assaultsupport
capability to the Marine Corps. The KC-130J
features increased efficiency over legacy KC-130 variants.
The Rolls Royce AE 2100D3 propulsion system
with Dowty R391 advanced-technology six-bladed
183