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18/08/2007

Battlefield Proven AH64 T-HUMS

Le Bourget, June 2005. RSL’s AH64 T-HUMS (Total Health & Usage Management System) has accumulated significant track record in combat missions flown by the Israeli Air Force (IAF).
T-HUMS’ innovative technology and architecture clearly show the merits of RSL’s approach. In the relatively short time of its deployment in the Israeli Air Force (IAF), T-HUMS has accumulated significant track record in combat missions, and has demonstrated its ability to prevent known safety hazards typical to the AH64 helicopter, some of which have claimed lives or caused significant damage. Following the unquestionable results, the IAF has installed the system onboard the CH53 and Hermes 450 UAV, while UH60 helicopters will soon follow. 
 

It is also conceivable that, if used during the 2003 Gulf war, it might have prevented downed AH64 by providing the pilots timely battle damage assessment of their aircraft.

In addition  to flight safety improvements, significant improvement of availability and saving (maintenance flights, labor and parts) with a Return On Investment (ROI) expected in about one year. These are attributed to T-HUMS unique Vib-RAY technology and architecture (which have been filed as a patent). These provide reliable and timely information to the pilots during flight and immediate advisories to the flight-line technician.
As a result of T-HUMS unquestionable track record, the IAF has initiated an CH53 T-HUMS program which will be followed by a UH60 equivalent program.
 
T-HUMS (which enables effective rotor vibration smoothing, in-flight automatic diagnostics and prognostics of drive-train and power-plan monitoring, as well as power assurance, FOQA and tactical mission debriefing capability), is expected to enter additional markets such as the CH47, Lynx, Super Puma and others.

This capability to forecast and thereby prevent IFSD (In-Flight Shut Down) is basically an insurance policy for the UAV platform and its payload, but more important, its mission and the wider operation it is involved in. Needless to say that such capability reduces not only UAV LCC (Life Cycle Cost), but also reduces fleet-wide operation costs due to mission-abort prevention of other fleets (due to lack of a UAV in large scale operations).

RSL’s MT-HUMS is basically a downsized T-HUMS for helicopters which is currently being used by the Israeli Air Force (IAF) onboard the AH64 battleship, again with significant success, which led to a decision to install it on other IAF fleets such as the CH53 . Both MT-HUMS and T-HUMS use innovative technology, known as Vib-RAY, and architecture that have been filed as patents.
 

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