The aviation division of the U.S. Army is at a turning point where it must choose how and when to start retiring its fleet of aircraft while simultaneously maintaining some of them in service for decades as it implements new piloted and unmanned vertical lift platforms as well as launched effects.
Leading that process is Maj. Gen. Mac McCurry, who oversees the Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Novosel, Alabama.
Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) and Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA), as well as a number of tactical drones and launched effects, are all being fielded by the Army to support crewed aircraft and provide pilots with a greater standoff from potential dangers from the adversary.
Although some will be in the fleet for much longer, the Army must also modernize its fleet of AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters, and CH-47 Chinook freight helicopters to keep them flying for at least another two decades.
McCurry is particularly concerned with making sure aviation training stays pace with the service’s planned future transition to more advanced, complicated operations.
