Watch: How Boeing helps US Army transform for future fight

To ensure the U.S. Army is ready to counter evolving threats, Boeing has embraced the Army’s Family of Systems (FoS) approach — connecting current and future platforms and integrating emerging capabilities and technologies for seamless operations on the battlefield.

Why it matters: The Army wants to move faster and be more agile in how it develops and buys new capabilities — and wants industry to do the same.

Watch how Boeing meets the need:

An animated video depicts a mission scenario connecting ground, air and space defense layers as a “Family of Systems” on the future battlefield. This video features no sound or narration. (© Boeing)

Driving the news: Boeing debuted a video (above) during the Association of the United States Army’s annual meeting and exposition in Washington, D.C., this week. It highlights a strategic scenario for enhanced layered defense involving rotorcraft and air and missile defense. In this mission scenario, you’ll see:

• AH-64E Apache — The world’s most advanced attack helicopter continues to prove its battlefield relevance and ability to counter evolving threats, including unmanned systems. The U.S. Army recently demonstrated those capabilities. Customers around the world have seen the Apache command, control and — when necessary — counter unmanned systems.
• H-47 Chinook — The combination of Chinooks and Apaches gives the Army the ability to conduct a wider range of missions, especially as part of a forward arming and refueling point (FARP). With its heavy-lift capabilities, the Chinook also serves as a carrier and launch point for significant numbers of Air Launched Effects and other autonomous systems to disrupt enemy fire on a crowded battlefield. The aircraft could also leverage different levels of autonomy as that capability evolves and is certified.
  • In case you missed it: The UK Royal Air Force proved that launching drones from an in-flight Chinook is both possible and effective.
• Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 Second Interceptor — The capability aims to complement existing short- and long-range air defense systems with an affordable, capable solution to counter increasing low-flying, mid-range threats such as cruise missiles and militarized drones.
• Collaborative Transformational Rotorcraft (CxR) — Boeing’s modular, unmanned, multimission tiltrotor concept can meet a wide range of current and future missions including: attack, security, contested logistics, counter UAS (uncrewed aircraft systems) and maritime strike. The company is optimizing the concept and configuration for maximum value in the future fight.

The bottom line: “Boeing is uniquely positioned with connected, adaptable and proven platforms that can connect the ground, air and space layers on the future battlefield,” said Tony Crutchfield, Boeing vice president of Army Systems. “No single platform wins the fight by itself. Having a Family of Systems capability gives operators the situational awareness, resilience and flexibility of an entire team.”

Go deeper: Read more here about how AH-64E Apache will help the Army remain dominant on the future battlefield.