Rotorcraft
U.S. Army's 'Bridge' is Modernization, Unmanned Teaming
Manned-unmanned teaming of Apaches and unmanned aircraft is the U.S. Army's 'bridging strategy' to replace OH-58 Kiowa Warriors.
The Army seeks 64 remanufactured AH-64E Apache Guardians in its Fiscal Year 2016 budget request. (Photo: Boeing)
The Army seeks 64 remanufactured AH-64E Apache Guardians in its Fiscal Year 2016 budget request. (Photo: Boeing)

Modernization and manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) are the way forward for U.S. Army aviation as the funding-constrained service awaits a next generation helicopter fleet. The Army’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget proposal prioritizes modernization of its Apache, Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters to support its planned aviation restructuring initiative (ARI), a reorganization of current assets that involves a helicopter swap with the Army National Guard.