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GMU SYST 798 Capstone Project

Proposal “Role of Aviation in Future Urban Warfare”

By Michael Bovan, Bryan DriskellMichael Ingram, Jay Stewart,

& Damian Watson

syst-798@googlegroups.com

For Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation

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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.

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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

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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

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Project Objective

Analyze future vertical take off and landing (VTOL) aviation for military missions in urban environments.

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Stakeholders

• US Navy and Marine Corps– 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

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y

z

Scope & Challenges

Turn Radius vs. Speed

& Forward Only

VTOLs Controllable within Canyon

Wind Speed & Turbulence

Navigation & Communication

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Irregular & UnpredictableIrregular & Unpredictable

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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.

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Questions?