Army to spend heavily on new aircraft

The Army's deputy chief of staff for operations Wednesday signaled that the service will continue to invest heavily in high-demand aircraft needed in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere.

Speaking at an Association of the United States Army conference, Lt. Gen. James Thurman said Army aviation is the service's most requested asset around the globe, with some units spending as much time on deployments as they do at home.

"Make no mistake about it, Army aviation is pivotal in fighting and achieving our global objectives," Thurman said.

Thurman said he sees requirements for Army aviation assets continuing to grow, particularly in Afghanistan where the Army and Marine Corps are sending more forces and equipment as part of a temporary buildup over the next several months.

"Senior leaders of our Army are cognizant of the sacrifices and are working diligently to provide the best equipment and training that the American people can afford," he said.

For instance, the military will send additional air medical evacuation helicopters to support the troop buildup in Afghanistan.

"The bottom line is we've got to get our men and women off the battlefield," Thurman said. "That is non-negotiable."

Meanwhile, Thurman said the military continues to modernize its fleet of OH-58 Kiowa Warriors, which log about 96.5 hours per aircraft each month in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The service is investing $4 million in each of the scout helicopters to update them and keep them flying until 2020 or 2025 - which became necessary after the service canceled the troubled Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter program last year.

Other investments include purchases of CH-47F Chinook and UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, as well as research and development for a heavy-lift helicopter.

In terms of unmanned systems, Thurman said he expects the demand for drones to continue to increase as the Army continues to send more capabilities to the battlefield.

"Unmanned aircraft systems continue to significantly impact our war efforts and demand for these specialized systems continues to rise," he said. "The Army is and will continue to pursue highly capable systems while providing aircraft, highly skilled operators and advanced capabilities to support the war efforts."

During his presentation, Thurman would not comment on how specific Army aviation programs fared in the Army's fiscal 2011 budget negotiations with Obama administration officials or the Quadrennial Defense Review of military requirements and capabilities.

Decisions on the budget and QDR, which are being closely held within the administration, will be released next month.

"At the end of the day, I think we're going to be in good shape," Thurman said.