Army Looking at Future of Aviation

WASHINGTON --- Army aviation resourcing is on track to meet the challenges of prolonged, 21st century combat, said two of the Army's top program and acquisition officials at the Association of the United States Army's Army Aviation Symposium Friday.>> Lt. Gen. Stephen M. Speaks, deputy chief of staff for Programs (G-8) and Lt. Gen. N. Ross Thompson III, the military deputy/director, Army Acquisition Corps, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology) said the needs of both today and tomorrow must be met through a combination of manned and unmanned aircraft and existing and emerging technologies.>> "The most in-demand force in today's fight is that aviation force, and the force mix we've got out there today is highly relevant," said Speaks.>> Rather than base the aviation fleet around a single type of aircraft, he said that it's very important that the Army have a variety of capabilities to meet the threats of both today and the future. While the need for new aircraft grows, the Army doesn't expect funding to keep up with it. Speaks said the Army must make smart decisions about how it uses its resources.>> The Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter program, which was supposed to replace the aging Kiowa Warrior aircraft, was cancelled in the fall of 2008 due to spiraling costs, for example, but Speaks said that doesn't mean the technology is going to disappear. Rather, the Army must balance the costs of both sustaining and converting the Kiowa while still pursuing a program to continue ARH development.