1. “Role of Aviation in Future Urban Warfare”
GMU SYST 798
Capstone Project
Proposal
“Role of Aviation in Future Urban Warfare” By
Michael Bovan, Bryan Driskell
Michael Ingram, Jay Stewart,
& Damian Watson
For
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
Our team is informally known as “Team Sikorsky”.
My name is Jay Stewart, the rest of our team includes Mike Bovan, Bryan Driskell, Mike Ingram, & Damian Watson.
We chose to look at the role that aviation will play in future urban warfare.
This is a sponsored project by Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.
09/21 – Modified authoring name order to alpha by last – jps v3
9/21 – Added notes, Added address. –jps v4

2. Sponsor Information: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
Looks 100+ years in the future – mega trends
Helicopter least efficient air platform to move a pound a mile.
Most successful platforms in the past 40+ years.
If we start a new concept in 2020 it will take a minimum of 10 years on a very aggressive schedule to build a system if everything goes as planned.
That puts potential fielding of the new system as early as 2030.
That being the case, this next generation system should be in inventory from approximately 2030 to 2090 or possibly even into the early 22nd century.
It is important to note that current VTOL systems have a cradle to grave lifecycle of up to 70 years.
It is also important to note that each platform may go through multiple cockpit upgrades and enhancements during its lifetime.
09/21 – Modified images at footer to be = height when in presentation mode. –jps v3
09/21 – Added talking points. –jps v4

3. Problem Background
80% of the world’s population will live in urban environments by the year 2030.
Future battlefield is also increasingly urban. Example scenarios:
9-11 high rise rescue
Black Hawk Down: troop insertion & extraction
Reconnaissance: tracking & surveillance
Search & rescue

4. Problem Statement “Urban canyon” poses unique challenges
Physical constraints (size, weight, maneuverability)
Wind tunneling
Line-of-sight obstructions
Public intolerance for collateral damage
Role of VTOL in military missions in future urban environment is largely undefined
No ballistic vulnerability information disclosed / discussed.
Dangers of flying within a tight space is OK.
Increased risk of small arms fire in urban canyon environment.
ADD: Something that deals with enemy suppression …e.g. retaliation for killing combat troops, but wanting to avoid collateral damage.
Role of military missions touched on ONLY in HIGH LEVEL.

5. Project Objective
Analyze future vertical take off and landing (VTOL) aviation for military missions in urban environments.
The purpose of this project is to analyze the role of vertical take off and landing (VTOL) aviation for military missions in urban environments.
Clarifying military missions at a very high level.

6. Stakeholders US Navy and Marine Corps US Army US Air Force
40% of World Population within 100KM of coastline
US Army
US Air Force
How will Air Force’s role change or expand in Urban Environment
Government Contractors
Provide the Technology to Fill Capability Gaps

7. Scope & Challenges Navigation & Communication Wind Speed & Turbulencey x z
VTOLs Controllable within Canyon
Turbulence and Wind in Urban Canyons:
Airplanes can only fly in straight lines, forward only. VTOLs have much more control to move forward, backward, and up and down, spin around, etc which may be able to better counteract turbulence and wind.
Damage to buildings and death of innocent lives is intolerable. Thus system failure must never happen, or fail safes must be employed.
There are navigation and communication challenges due to blocked radio transmissions by buildings.
9/21 – Modified “Navigation & Communications” Text Box to keep title separation bar/line from dissecting words. -jps
Turn Radius vs. Speed
&
Forward Only

8. Irregular & Unpredictable
9/21 – Modified title box to keep from running into overview map in top rt corner. -jps

9. Analysis Approach Top Down
First evaluate current technologies and gaps (scorecard vehicles)
Requirements analysis and tradeoff for future urban VTOL technologies
Analyze the problems that urban canyons present
Evaluate future technologies and select an architecture.
Architecture products that Sikorsky uses:
MS Office
“Kateea” for flowcharts
Use any modeling language we want. Use any architecture tools we want; they just want a product that they can view/interpret… e.g. convert it to MS Word or Excel.
Likes the system requirements view of the system architecture…
Project should focus more on system requirements in the end…
Future technologies = systems not individual items like sensor packages.

10. Questions?