Air Crew Systems Development

Mission — Air Crew Systems Development source

The Aircrew Systems Development program provides Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) of Aviation Life Support Systems to protect aircrew and flight deck personnel from current and future threats including: directed energy weapons, chemical/biological/radiological agents/fallout, ballistic projectiles, temperature extremes, heat/fire, low concentration oxygen environments, high dynamic forces during emergency egress, hearing loss, high "G" forces, and survivability during isolated personnel events. The program also provides development for the following capabilities: night vision, hearing and head protection, aircrew endurance, aircrew performance, man-mounted data display, communications, clothing, in-flight restraint and stability, emergency egress and descent, escape and evasion, survival and rescue, crash protection, and clothing/gear fitment for the entire range of anthropomorphic sizes. Acquisition strategies include: use of non-developmental items, the application of streamlining authorities, joint and tri-service developments, the pursuit of NATO/allied cooperative ventures, and open competition. These strategies expedite introduction of new products into Navy and Marine Corps fixed and rotary wing aircraft, reduce costs, and promote commonality. The Physiological Episodes program provides funding to assure pilot performance by developing and fielding systems that reduce physiological burden, monitor state of pilot health, warn of pending or actual performance degradation that may result in loss of consciousness, and improve overall aircrew resilience to assure the crew's ability to safely conduct flight. The Physiological Episodes Root Cause & Corrective Action (RCCA) team determined that an improved helmet, mask, and regulator system was required to mitigate physiological episodes. This program determines what improvements are needed and develops the material solutions required to minimize the likelihood of physiological episode occurrence. Department of the Navy received requirements for PSE (Parachute Survival Ensemble), CWAES (Cold Weather/Anti-Exposure Systems), and NGRWH (Next-Generation Rotary Wing Helmet). The PSE program will update the currently fielded ensemble to include modern technologies reducing size/weight and increasing accessibility for in-flight bladder relief. PSE modernization will reduce fatigue during normal missions and increase ease of egress during bailout situations. The CWAES program will design, test, and qualify improved cold weather/anti-exposure systems. System components will provide reduced thermal burden, increased mobility, and superior water intrusion resistance while maintaining protection levels. The improved system will reduce fatigue and dehydration, enable operating at optimum performance during extended missions, provide protection from exposure, and provide improved survivability during extended recoveries. The NGRWH program mitigates aircrew back and neck injury by providing a lighter-weight helmet solution with improved Center of Gravity (CG) and serves as the platform for future day/night digital HMD solutions. Funding provided for the PSE, CWAES, and NGRWH programs is intended to support the award of RDT&E contracts for these efforts in FY 2026. Additional FY 2026 funding has also been allocated to address funding wholeness deficiencies in the initial RDT&E allocation for the Recovery Locator Device (RLD) and Aircrew Hearing Protection (AHP) programs (both scheduled to commence development efforts in FY 2025). Based on refined requirements definition, this additional funding is required to fully fund these two programs. Additional FY 2026 funding has also been allocated to the Enhanced Visual Acuity (EVA) program as the initial EMD contract awarded in support of this program was terminated due to the inability of that prime vendor to resolve technical and affordability issues related to the display solution. FY 2026 funding for the EVA program is intended to support ongoing technical maturation efforts associated with the critical technologies that compose this system. Additional FY 2026 funding has also been allocated to Survival Vest Improvement (SVSI) program to support continued development efforts and Aircrew Safety Improvement Program (ASIP). Due to the large portfolio across all platforms, several Aviation Life Support Systems (ALSS) deficiencies are identified each year. JUSTIFICATION FOR BUDGET ACTIVITY: This program is funded under SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION because it includes projects that have passed Milestone B approval and are conducting engineering and manufacturing development tasks aimed at meeting validated requirements prior to full-rate production decision. CONGRESSIONAL ADD PRIOR YEARS TOTAL: This Program Element (0604264N) has prior year Congressional Add funding in the amount of $6.758M that was provided in FY23 for Rotary Wing/Tilt Rotor (RW/TR) Survival Vest Systems Improvement (SVSI). This Prior Year funding is not included in the R-2 or R-3 of this budget because the Congressional Add Project Unit (9999) no longer exists.

Mission — Aircrew System Development source

AIRCREW SYSTEMS: Aircrew Systems include Enhanced Visual Acuity (EVA), MH-60R/S Head and Neck Injury Mitigation (HNIM), Improved Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (IJHMCS), Next Generation Survival Radio (NGSR), Recovery Locator Device (RLD), Aircrew Hearing Protection (AHP), Rotary Wing/Tilt Rotor (RW/TR) Survival Vest Systems Improvement (SVSI), Parachute Survival Ensemble (PSE), Cold Weather/Anti-Exposure Systems (CWAES), and Next-Generation Rotary Wing Helmet (NGRWH). EVA provides advanced day/night vision/Helmet-Mounted Display (HMD) capability to address critical capability gaps in low and no light illumination levels (night vision). EVA will be integrated on current aircraft through a common interface allowing an incremental, modular approach to fielding full capability and future upgrades. HNIM will leverage work conducted during the Gunner Seat replacement program to reduce aircraft vibrations through incorporation of vibration damping into MH-60 R/S cockpit seats, reducing fatigue and enhancing mission endurance. Solutions will reduce short-term and long-term biomechanical injury due to vibration. IJHMCS will mitigate aircrew back and neck strain/fatigue and replace the JHMCS Helmet Mounted Day Display and Night Vision Cueing Device (NVCD) with a single day/night, digital color-capable helmet-mounted display. IJHMCS will integrate onto the helmet solution identified in the Helmet Mask Regulator (HMR) program. NGSR will address communication security (COMSEC) modernization directives and current obsolescence issues, providing a secure two-way Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) communications capability between isolated personnel and rescue coordination and recovery forces. The RLD program will develop, qualify, procure, and field a small, precise signaling device to support personnel recovery. This device will transmit a secure, geo-locatable distress signal in a GPS-denied environment over existing US government and other communications architectures. The AHP program will leverage technology advancements in hearing conservation and speech intelligibility to mitigate aircrew hearing loss and clarity of mission-critical communication. The SVSI program provides for an improved RW/TR aircrew survival vest to address safety and performance issues with the currently fielded solution. Vest systems include, at a minimum, aircrew life support equipment and armor carrier, hoisting capability, mobile aircrew restraint, and life preserver. The PSE program will update the currently fielded ensemble to include modern technologies reducing size/weight and increasing accessibility for in-flight bladder relief. PSE modernization will reduce fatigue during normal missions and increase ease of egress during bailout situations. The CWAES program will design, test, and qualify improved cold weather/anti-exposure systems. System components will provide reduced thermal burden, increased mobility, and superior water intrusion resistance while maintaining protection levels. The improved system will reduce fatigue and dehydration, enable operating at optimum performance during extended missions, provide protection from exposure, and provide improved survivability during extended recoveries. NGRWH mitigates aircrew back and neck injury by providing a lighter-weight helmet solution with improved Center of Gravity (CG) and serves as the platform for future day/night digital HMD solutions. AIRCREW SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM: Aircrew Safety Improvement Program (ASIP) provides continuing development and qualification in response to high priority, emergent aircrew systems deficiencies, capability gaps, obsolescence, and readiness issues. ASIP addresses critical safety and performance issues while enhancing safety and survivability with solution improvements across the aircrew systems portfolio. Efforts are prioritized according to fleet demand signals.

Mission — Physiological Episodes source

Physiological Episodes includes Physiological Monitoring (PhysMon) and Helmet Mask Regulator (HMR). PhysMon: This program provides funding to aircrew performance by developing and fielding a system that monitors aircrew physiological and cognitive parameters and warns of state of health or performance degradation that may result in loss of the ability to safely conduct flight. HMR: Improved helmets, masks, and regulators are required to mitigate physiological episodes. This program determines what improvements are needed and develops the material solution. The closeout of RCCA action items is paramount to the Naval Aviation Enterprise's efforts in mitigating physiological episodes, restoring confidence in the aircraft, and most importantly, keeping our USN and USMC aircrew safe.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (1)