Aerial drone sensor data now linked to Apache helicopters.

• Jurisdiction: United States
• Date: 01 July 2009
• Author: Magnuson, Stew

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A new communications link installed on Apache helicopters streams full-motion video into cockpits, which is giving pilots a more complete picture of what's happening in the complex urban landscapes where they fight, said Army aviation officials.

The service is working toward giving these same crews the ability to control the UAVs from their cockpits --and eventually--fire the drones' weapons.

"It became very clear through several engagements in Iraq that we were suffering from a lack of situational awareness when it came to [the] Apache," said Tim Owings, deputy project manager at the Army's unmanned aerial systems program.

The Apache attack helicopter when it arrives in a battle zone comes in low and fast, he said. But the crew only sees a two-dimensional view of the area. For example, the front of a building, but not who or what might be lurking behind it.

The video from unmanned aerial systems for interoperability teaming system, dubbed VUIT-2 by its maker Lockheed Martin, sends feeds from nearby UAVs to the helicopters so pilots can see what's happening around the corner, he said.

For years, military technologists have been pushing to achieve manned-unmanned teaming in the field, where robotics systems and regular forces better coordinate their efforts. Program managers on the project said this is a first step to take this concept from PowerPoint slides to reality.

Now a pilot "not only sees the target he's engaging in the front, he knows what's happening behind the building, he knows...