OVERARCHING ROTORCRAFT COMMONALITY ASSESSMENT The Use of Advanced Concept Design Processes in Joint Commonality Assessment

摘要

The Overarching Rotorcraft Commonality Assessment (ORCA) was sponsored by the Joint Staff (J-8) to assess potential commonality in future Department of Defense (DoD) rotorcraft requirements and technology developments, and present insights for commonality opportunities and potential investment strategies. This paper addresses the process for developing advanced concept designs to support the ORCA study to determine if desired future operational capabilities could be met with a limited number of common rotorcraft platforms that are technically feasible and affordable. The approach taken in this process is similar to that used in Deputy Director for Research and Engineering (DDR&E) " Helicopter Commonality Interoperability Study" of 1976. The emerging results using this process indicate that desired future capabilities could be met with 3-4 common rotorcraft platform designs if early requirements harmonization could be achieved and DDR&E technology programs supported.