The Army’s Other Major Aviation Modernization Program (From RealClearDefense)

The U.S. Army believes that future high-end conflicts will require aviation assets, particularly helicopters, which are long range, fast-moving and highly lethal. Future military helicopters will need to lift more weight, generate greater power and use less fuel. The Army has two major aviation modernization programs. The first, and the one that garners the largest share of public attention, is the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program. Its ultimate goal is to replace most of the U.S. military’s fleet of helicopters beginning in the 2030s. The Army has identified FVL as one of its highest modernization priorities. The second program is the Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP) to develop a new engine for the military’s Blackhawk and Apache fleets, one that is 50 percent more powerful and 25 percent more fuel-efficient at no increase in weight. I have written more about Army aviation modernization efforts for RealClearDefense here.