Air Warrior Col. John W. Thompson - KMI Media Group
Air Warrior Col. John W. Thompson - KMI Media Group
Air Warrior Col. John W. Thompson - KMI Media Group
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Q: Do you have any interest or a need<br />
for a new airframe like the UH-72A<br />
or others?<br />
A: We are always interested in any<br />
aircraft innovation that allows us to<br />
add value to the special operations<br />
ground forces we support. There have<br />
been several recent developments that<br />
allow rotary aircraft to increase speed,<br />
capacity and safety.<br />
Right now, our current fleet of<br />
aircraft still affords us the right mix<br />
of light, medium and heavy airframes.<br />
We are in a continuous planning and<br />
execution cycle of modification and<br />
modernization; this is very much a<br />
process and not an event. Special<br />
operations aviation relies on the creative,<br />
innovative nature of the aerospace<br />
industry and we monitor their<br />
efforts closely. Each advance is another<br />
input into our decision cycle for<br />
future capabilities.<br />
Q: Recently the 160th gained a new<br />
component in the quick reaction<br />
capability, operating unmanned aerial vehicles. Do you see this<br />
as the first step in an expansion of UAS capabilities within the<br />
regiment and USASOC?<br />
A: The newly formed E Company, 160th SOAR (A), or quick reaction<br />
capability, provides USASOC with a much-needed, organic, extendedrange<br />
unmanned aerial systems capability. The QRC will have a habitual<br />
relationship with a Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force<br />
embedded processing/exploitation/dissemination element. This will<br />
provide the ground force commander with intelligence, surveillance,<br />
reconnaissance and fires assets during critical moments in combat.<br />
Our experience in forming the QRC will aid in future acquisition of<br />
additional, permanent UAS units assigned to the Army Special Operations<br />
Aviation Command.<br />
Q: Aging aircraft are certainly an issue in the <strong>Air</strong> Force. Is<br />
it an issue for you? What are some of the more important<br />
programs you run your helicopters through to keep them airworthy<br />
and modernized? Do you see any problems with aircraft reaching<br />
their end of serviceable life before a replacement program is ready?<br />
A: Age certainly is a challenge for any aviation outfit. Nine years of<br />
combat operations have accelerated our fleet’s aging process. <strong>Air</strong>craft<br />
age is not only a factor of time, but a combination of flight regimes,<br />
environments, mission tasks and attention to maintenance. Because<br />
we have been continuously deployed, our maintenance experts recognized<br />
this aging process and implemented several programs such<br />
as reset and deep-cycle maintenance procedures during scheduled<br />
maintenance events. These initiatives have slowed the aging process.<br />
The 160th continues to modernize our fleet through a rotating<br />
block modification program. We recognize the importance of maintaining<br />
the technological edge and seek ways to continually enhance<br />
22 | SOTECH 8.9<br />
In rotary wing operations, a helo hovers above a Navy ship deck. [Photo courtesy of DoD]<br />
the crew members’ abilities to keep the aircraft serviceable. Using the<br />
Special Operations Forces Support Activity located in Lexington, Ky.,<br />
our aircraft rotate through an upgrade program approximately every<br />
three years. One example of a technology insertion is the health and<br />
usage monitoring system. This system gives aircrews and maintainers<br />
continual awareness of the health and state of the aircraft allowing for<br />
preventative rather than reactive maintenance.<br />
The fleet’s serviceable life is not simply reflected by an end date.<br />
As the aircraft are strained, their maintenance will inevitably become<br />
more intensive. Like all complex systems, this will become evident by<br />
increased repair cost and reduced availability. Each service faces this<br />
challenge and develops strategies for fleet modification and modernization<br />
based on overall priorities.<br />
Q: Last I knew, you had five combat mission simulators. Is this<br />
enough to meet your current demands? Do you have a simulator<br />
roadmap that plots out a long term acquisition strategy for<br />
your simulators?<br />
A: Regiment still has five configurable simulators located<br />
at Fort Campbell. Simulator time remains in high demand<br />
and is intensively managed, ensuring maximum utility to meet<br />
our unique training needs. We are currently researching options to<br />
provide on-site simulation training systems for our units located at<br />
Hunter Army <strong>Air</strong>field, Ga., and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.<br />
Requirements for training systems are included in continuous<br />
force modernization analysis within the regiment. Our<br />
simulator acquisition roadmap parallels our aircraft acquisition<br />
roadmap. Each reflects a balance of modernization and modification,<br />
based on mission needs and the resource environment.<br />
We strive to sustain 100 percent cockpit concurrency with our flight<br />
line aircraft.<br />
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