Bell and Northrop Grumman integrate new data link into AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter.

The U.S. Marine Corps has successfully demonstrated in flight testing a two-way connection between the Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter and a ground station using new Link-16 hardware and software. Bell Textron manufactures the AH-1Z Viper and Northrop Grumman has developed the Link-16 system. Link-16 is part of a defined road map of planned improvements designed to ensure the H-1 platform maintains its technological edge and combat capability throughout its service life.

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Bell AH-1Z attack helicopter of the U.S. Marine Corps (Picture source: Bell)

Link-16 enables the AH-1Z – unlike any other helicopter in the world with its fully integrated anti-air capability and AIM-9 Sidewinder – to quickly obtain and share information from its sensors with other weapons systems using its onboard digital architecture. This is accomplished through Northrop Grumman's Link-16 package, which includes a new digital moving map, a new security architecture, and the Link-16 and Advanced Networking Wideband Waveform (ANW2) datalinks.

"Northrop Grumman's Link-16 system will help U.S. Marines today, and well into the future, with critical technology that facilitates coordination, collaboration, and interoperability. By enabling the display and integration of Link-16 data with the H-1 system, pilots of the AH-1Z have greater situational awareness and enhanced survivability," said James Conroy, vice president, navigation, targeting and survivability, Northrop Grumman. "This milestone also highlights our focus on "speed to the fleet," due to the unprecedented time between demonstrating the concept and getting to first flight. Flexibility and adaptability, using next-generation agile development practices, are the only ways to innovate and keep pace with changing mission needs."

In a collaboration between the USMC H-1 Light/Attack Helicopter program (PMA-276), Bell, and Northrop Grumman, the team leveraged commercial best practices of Agile Development methodologies. This strategy provided an under glass solution from concept requirements to vehicle design testing in 12 months. Northrop Grumman's Lead Technology Integration group rapidly architected and integrated a mission package for Link-16, including a modern digital mapping solution, for the H-1 platform while Bell's H-1 program team provided all of the necessary vehicle analysis and modifications to incorporate the mission equipment throughout the existing integrated systems of the AH-1Z. Together, the teams are redefining what it means to rapidly field integrated solutions on existing fielded platforms to increase warfighter capabilities.

"The H-1 has decades of battlefield experience, it has evolved to fight in numerous environments," said Col. Vasilios Pappas, PMA-276 program manager. "The integration of Link-16 aligns with this platforms' ability to adapt to the ever-changing threat and meet the needs of current and future warfighters."

The USMC has flight tests planned for the AH-1Z throughout the summer, which will be followed by flight testing of Link-16 on the UH-1Y Venom. The service anticipates AH-1Z initial fleet integration with Link 16 in 2022.

Link-16 enables the AH-1Z to quickly obtain and share information from its sensors with other weapons systems using its onboard digital architecture. (Picture source: Northrop Grumman)