What Is The Future For U.S. Army Aviation?

Photo credit: Staff Sgt. Tracci Dorgan, U.S. Army

Crispin Burke, War On The Rocks: A Bleak Future For Army Aviation

The nation’s largest military service has found itself in search of a future as its involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan wanes. For that reason, the National Commission on the Future of the Army’s report was met with anticipation, especially within the Army aviation community, where pilots have flown millions of combat flight hours in aircraft older than the men and women in the cockpits. Unfortunately, the document envisions a bleak future for Army aviation — the commission’s recommendations may be the most politically palatable, but they’re not the right choice for a combat-ready aviation force.

First, the commission pays scant attention to what will surely become a major player in the future of Army aviation — unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or drones. Just a few years ago, UAS operators and technicians represented the largest personnel growth field in Army aviation — ironic for a function that is labeled “unmanned.” Indeed, while the Air Force’s drone fleet has encountered growing pains, the Army has embraced the mission, embedding platoons of drones in many of its attack helicopter companies. Unfortunately, the commission did more to explore countering enemy drones than it did employing them, which is a glaring omission in a document dedicated to exploring the Army’s future.

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WNU Editor: This is a U.S. Presidential election year. And if the Democrats lose the White House .... the new administration may have a different view on where U.S. Army aviation should be.