Chinooks To Utilize Panel Based On Commercial Specs

The Rockwell Collins Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) in the Boeing CH-47F cockpit has been declared operationally ready for deployment by the US Army, company representatives tell ANN. 

"The significance of this upgrade is our CAAS cockpit will provide enhanced levels of situational awareness for CH-47F pilots and can be easily upgraded as new technology is matured," said Phil Jasper, vice president and general manager of Integrated Systems for Rockwell Collins. "With this program, Rockwell Collins has demonstrated its ability to deliver the CAAS upgrade on time and on budget."

Initially developed for the Special Operations Forces' MH-47 and MH-60 helicopter fleets, Rockwell Collins' CAAS solution has also been selected for the UH-60M, ARH-70A, MH-60T, VH-60N, CH-53E and CH-53K.

The CAAS solution utilizes common, reusable processing elements in each piece of hardware and incorporates an open systems architecture based on commercial standards. The commonality of hardware components is designed to provide lower total life cycle cost and reduce expenditures for technology insertion and supportability.

The first CAAS-equipped platform, the MH-47G, operated by the US Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), completed final qualification testing and was deployed in early 2007. Development and testing of the CH-47F was recently completed, paving the way for the fielding of more than 500 CAAS cockpits in Chinook aircraft.

The US Army's CH-47F Chinook is a multi-mission, heavy-lift transport helicopter that supports the movement of troops, artillery, ammunition, fuel, water, barrier materials, supplies and equipment on the battlefield.

FMI: www.rockwellcollins.com, www.boeing.com, www.army.mil