Future Vertical Lift (FVL) Maritime Strike (MS)
The Initial Capability Document (ICD) for Future Vertical Lift (FVL) Maritime Strike (MS), JROC validated on 8 November 2019 established a requirement for a vertical lift capability to support the US Navy, recapitalizing their existing fleet of MH-60R/S and MQ-8B/C systems. This new capability is expected to have an IOC in the mid-twenty thirty’s timeframe to support all described Navy missions.
The expected service life for both the MH-60R/S and MQ-8, coupled with a rapidly evolving threat, pose potential rotary wing capability and capacity gaps in the future. Mitigating these gaps will require the recapitalization of current capabilities as well as development of new capabilities as part of the Future Vertical Lift (Maritime Strike) family of systems (FVL (MS))—both manned and unmanned. This new FoS will be designed and built specifically to support DMO. The capabilities envisioned include increased survivability, long-range, persistent ISR-T, integrated air and missiles defense, long-range offensive anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare (ASW), communications and data relay, fleet logistics, and personnel recovery. The threat paradigm in the 2030-2035 timeframe — as well as the principles of DMO — dictate that FVL (MS) be able to conduct these tasks in a highly contested environment, at greater ranges, and with greater speed, endurance and precision. FVL (MS) will leverage advances in AI and ML sensor technology, AI and ML to fully integrate the manned and unmanned platforms to form highly effective teams, thereby reducing operator workload and increasing the speed and quality of aircrew decision-making.
MQ-8B Fire Scout will sundown in FY24 and be replaced with MQ-8C. MQ-8C is based on the larger Bell 407 airframe and offers increased range, payload, and endurance to support distributed maritime operations. Mission systems will be upgraded with the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) ZPY-8 RADAR, addition of Link 16 and Minotaur, and future incorporation of a passive threat detection system.
The mine countermeasures (MCM) mission package (MP) employed from the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) or vessels of opportunity will replace the MH-53 mission. The MCM MP is comprised of a family of air, surface, and subsurface platforms and systems, which Navy Aviation supports with the MH-60S Seahawk and MQ-8 Fire Scout. The MH-60S MCM systems include an Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) for imaging near-surface volumes of water to detect and localize mines; and Airborne Mine Neutralization System for neutralizing bottom and volume mines. The MQ-8 employs coastal battlefield reconnaissance and analysis (COBRA) Block 1 for detecting and localizing minefields and obstacles over a beach zone. Combined, these systems showcase Navy Aviation’s commitment to ensuring continued access to littorals and ensuring freedom of navigation.
The Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV N98) has directed an Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) be conducted to support efforts to identify cost-effective alternatives to fill capability gaps in the MH-60R/S and MQ-8C as they begin to reach their end of service in the 2030s. The MH-60 Seahawk helicopters and the MQ-8 Fire Scout Unmanned Air Vehicles are the pillars of the Naval Helicopter Concept of Operations for the 21st century. The Warfighting Capability provided, whether deployed as Carrier Air Wing squadrons embarked on aircraft carriers under the leadership of carrier air wing commanders or as Expeditionary squadrons embarked on LHAs/LHDs, surface combatants and logistics vessels, is broad and unparalleled in naval warfare. N98 has identified a requirement to assess potential solutions for: 1) Capability gaps due to the increasingly sophisticated adversary as well as 2) Capacity gaps incurred with aging and expected retirement of the MH-60 Seahawk helicopters and the MQ-8 Fire Scout Unmanned Air Vehicles. Identification of solution options for these gaps for a family of manned and unmanned systems is of paramount importance and is expected to support the broad range of decisions associated with the recapitalization of the MH-60 Seahawk helicopters and the MQ-8 Fire Scout Unmanned Air Vehicles systems.
The alternatives will be evaluated for Naval Aviation Contributions across the full range of mission areas. Each unique attribute category was defined to assess potential capability gaps in this timeframe for these scenarios. They are (in no order of importance):
- Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting (ISR&T)
- Surface Warfare (SUW)
- Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
- Mine Counter Measures (MCM)
- Air Warfare (AW)
- Electronic Warfare (EW)
- Search and Rescue (SAR)
- Command and Control
- SOF Support
- Embark Aviation and Air Capable Ships
- Conduct Logistics
- Conduct Patient Movement
- Signature Control
The Naval Air Systems Command issued a request for information 28 January 2021 to obtain industry input relative to its capabilities to potentially satisfy the needs identified in the FVL (MS) ICD and inform the FVL (MS) AoA. Capability requirements for rotary-wing follow-on aircraft are continuously evaluated along with that of the Navy's Future Surface Combatant. The next generation air vehicle-previously referred to as MH-XX-is now referred to as "Future Vertical Lift (Maritime Strike)," and this maritime-specific capability set will leverage Army, Navy, and Marine Corps synergies as the services work together to recapitalize their inventories. Future Vertical Lift (Maritime Strike) will pursue a "Family of Systems" (FOS) approach, including both manned and unmanned systems that captures the equities of the various Navy stakeholders.
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