Product Manager

Air Warrior
Soldier Technology US 2011 Brief
February 3, 2011
LTC Ian Klinkhammer
Product Manager Air Warrior
E-mail: Ian.Klinkhammer@us.army.mil
 AW Mission Statement

Develop, procure, field, and sustain the highest

quality and affordable Aviation Life Support
Equipment in the world at the most efficient pace
possible.

2
 Air Warrior (AW) Fielding Now

Clothing and Individual Equipment Electronic Data Manager

Portable Helicopter
Oxygen Delivery
Blue Force Tracking, System
LPU-40 Joint Service Digital moving map and
Primary Survival Flotation Single Place over-the horizon text
Gear Carrier Collar Life Raft messaging

Aircraft Wireless
Intercom System

HGU-56/P Enabling high altitude

Integrated Helmet helicopter missions in
System and Laser Afghanistan
Body Armor optimized
eye protection for aircrews Hands free cordless
Microclimate Cooling System intercom for UH-60
and CH-47 crews

Communication
Enhancement and
Protection System
Microclimate Cooling Platform-mounted (CEPS)
Garment (MCG) Microclimate Cooling Hear-through the helmet
reduces heat Unit (MCU) capability
casualties

Increase Protection, Mobility, Duration, Situational Awareness & Safety

 Fielding Soon

Implementing Dynamic Terrain Avoidance in FY11

Clothing and Individual Equipment

Dual EDM (Aircraft modification

adds second EDM)
Primary LPU-40 Joint Service
Survival Gear Flotation Single Place
Carrier Collar Life Raft

HGU-56/P
Survival Kit Ready Access
Integrated Helmet
CEPS Modular (SKRAM) provides
System and Laser Body Armor
a standardized “grab and
eye protection optimized for aircrew
go” capability
Microclimate Cooling System

Encrypted Aircraft Wireless Intercom System

Microclimate Cooling Platform mounted

Garment (MCG) Microclimate Cooling
reduces heat Unit (MCU)
casualties
 Air SS Objectives

• Reduce bulk and weight to enhance

Mobility, Performance, and Mission
Effectiveness
• Integrate and optimize the full suite of
Aviation Life Support Equipment to improve
Mission Effectiveness, Safety, Survivability,
and Situational Awareness
• Improve the ability to safely and
effectively operate in degraded visual
environments to reduce injuries and
fatalities
• Significantly increase the ability to
effectively operate in full MOPP and
extreme temperatures
• First delivery of Air Soldier capability to
the field scheduled for FY13
 Air SS Sub-Increment 1a (FY 13 IOC)
Basic Description:
• Initial sub-increment of
Air Soldier capability
focusing on weight and
torso bulk reduction
(5% reduction in sub
increment 1a-KPP req’t),
improved or increased
head and laser eye
protection, and increased
rear crew member
mobility
• Built upon legacy Air
Warrior gear carriage and
clothing system
Core Features/ Components:
• Optimized survival equipment (72
hour requirement) and pocket
system based upon elimination of
unnecessary items and
standardization of survival gear
components
• Reduction in bulk and weight of
the legacy AW body armor system
• 15-50% improvement in
crash energy attenuation
through adoption of the Modular
Aircrew Common Helmet (MACH)
or improvements to the legacy AW
helmet (HGU-56/P)
• Improved laser eye protection
(from 3 to 5 fixed wavelengths)
based upon latest threat document
• Wearable Environmental
Control System (WECS) for non
rated crew members
• Integrated Portable Power
Source; most likely a conformal
battery worn in a pouch on the
back or leg (initial implemented
associated with introduction of
WECS only)
• Enhanced SA/C2 capabilities;
additional (up to 26) VMF
msgs. (JBC-P interoperability)
and initial implementation of
terrain/obstacle avoidance
utilizing existing EDM hardware
 Air SS Sub-Increment 1b (FY 16 IOC)
Basic Description:
• Second sub-increment of Air Soldier
capability focusing on further
reduction in bulk and weight
(10% reduction in sub increment
1b-KPP req’t) resulting from
integration of legacy clothing items
and personally worn electronic
equipment, and enhanced
situational awareness resulting
from the introduction of aural and/or
tactile cueing devices
• Continues to retain legacy AW gear
carriage system
Core Features/Components:
• Introduction of the layered clothing
ensemble, featuring:
– Thermal regulation (heat and
cooling) fully integrated into duty
uniform and/or CB ensemble
–Fully integrated CB and duty
ensemble when dictated by mission
requirements
–Introduction of waste collection
and elimination device/capability
• Fully integrated suite of personal
electronics equipment that replaces
legacy AW EDM, including:
– Soldier Computer Module (SCM);
a centralized data processing and
storage module small enough to fit
in a pocket
– Personal Display Module (PDM); a
display with integrated data
input device or interface for all Air
Soldier components
– Aircraft-mounted Mission
Display Module (MDM); provides
remote display of primary mission
data and graphics in a larger form
factor, including enhancements for
terrain/obstacle avoidance and real
time weather updates
• Pilot situational awareness devices,
featuring
– 3D audio for improved spatial
awareness and improved
distribution of cognitive workload
– Integrated head tracking
 Air SS Sub-Increment 1c (FY 19 IOC)
Basic Description:
• Final sub-increment of Air Soldier
focuses on the full integration of Air
Soldier capabilities necessary to
exceed the threshold requirement
(25%-sub increment 1c) for
weight and bulk reduction (net
weight reduction of approx. 25
lbs); provides improved safety and
soldier survivability, increased
situational awareness, and reduced
pilot/crew member workload
• Full replacement of legacy AW
equipment
Core Features/Components:
• Implementation of the Integrated
Protective Ensemble that replaces
legacy AW Primary Survival Gear
Carrier and overwater survival
equipment, featuring:
– Fully integrated wiring harness
assembly
– Integration of body armor, gear
carriage, and extraction system
– Optimized distribution of body
worn components
• Introduction of the Radio Interface
Control Module (RICM) incorporating
– CSEL functionality to eliminate
need for separate survival radio
– Crew-worn Aircraft Wireless
Intercom System (Enhanced
Mobile Equipment) functionality
– Wireless data interface to
aircraft platform
• Final implementation of MIHDS
capabilities, including:
– Fully integrated eye and
respiratory protection (face plate
concept)
– Introduction of a full color HUD
common to all aircraft platforms;
final tool necessary to enhance man
machine interface resulting in
improved mission performance
(incl. performance in degraded
visual environments)
– Improved night vision systems
field of view (40 to 90+ degrees)
and increased laser eye protection
(5 to 7 fixed wavelengths of
protection)
Questions?