Force mobility has influenced many of the nation’s greatest conflicts, from Gettysburg to the global war against terrorism. The movement of troops, equipment and supplies has long been the focus of military planners, but a shift in modern military doctrine favoring quick air strike capability and improved sustainment has prompted Boeing to adapt its strategies to meet emerging customer needs.

The CH-47 Chinook helicopter, Future Combat Systems (FCS) and a number of advanced rotorcraft concepts are integral parts of the company’s mobility support plan for the U.S. Army. Mobility is crucial to mission success, says Roger Krone, senior vice president, Boeing Army Systems.

“The ability to outmaneuver an enemy is a tremendous advantage,” said Krone, who also leads the company’s mobility subcouncil. “Our expertise in this area extends far beyond any one platform. We’re focused on providing an integrated network in which our customers can safely manage their assets and strike with precision and lethality.”

During more than a year supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Pennsylvania Army National Guard’s G Company, 104th Aviation Regiment used its fleet of 14 Chinooks to transport more than 25,000 passengers, haul nearly 9 million pounds of cargo and fly nearly 5,000 hours without a single mishap or personnel injury. Senior military leaders have recognized this kind of operational flexibility, more than anything, as the key to their recent success.

“Individual performance of soldiers, civilians and contractors in Operation Iraqi Freedom was key to our military success,” said Gen. Paul Kern, commander, Army Materiel Command, at this year’s AUSA Winter Symposium. “But moving parts to where they needed to go was an area that required immediate attention.”

Through six model designations, numerous systems upgrades and countless missions, the Chinook has been the U.S. Army’s prime mover since the early 1960s, and the ongoing modernization program will extend its service life for another 30 years. Upgrades made today, including a fully integrated and network centric-capable cockpit, will help win the wars of tomorrow, added Krone.

Balancing current force needs with future force aspirations, however, is no small task. One of Army Systems’ most advanced solutions is not a platform, but FCS – a networked “system of systems” that links soldiers with the assets they need to conduct their missions. The real-time agility of FCS allows forces to move swiftly into and out of battle zones with previously unseen situational awareness. But even FCS, with its proposed 20-ton ground vehicle, needs a lift to the front line.

To help meet the dynamic needs of FCS, Army Systems’ Advanced Rotorcraft team has huddled up to create a number of vertical-lift aircraft concepts capable of providing the intra-theater mobility that FCS requires. This physical mobility, paired with the network’s inherent digital flexibility, eventually will give the U.S. Army a distinct edge in nearly every combat situation.

“Clearly, the way we fight wars has changed,” said Krone. “Our forces must be increasingly agile, lethal and deployable within days and weeks, instead of months. They also must be easier to sustain, with a greater reliance on technology and stealth. We’re prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century warfighter.”