As a U.S. Army helicopter pilot, Ryan Welch didn’t think about equipment manufacturers when he was in the middle of a mission. If he knew the name of the equipment company, it probably meant something had gone wrong. The best products worked reliably, earning trust without fanfare. For Ryan, that’s the kind of trust BAE Systems earned, even if he didn’t realize it at the time.

Ryan was commissioned to the U.S. Army in 1997, fulfilling his goal of serving the United States as an Apache helicopter pilot. He went on to have a distinguished military career, serving in combat for over 55 months and flying nearly 400 missions. During this time, he held various leadership roles from company to battalion commander. At the end of that 25-year journey came a sense of confidence, not only with fellow pilots, but in the equipment needed to carry out each mission.

Today, Ryan works at BAE Systems in Huntsville, Alabama as director of U.S. Army programs, Customer Requirements and Advocacy for the Electronic Systems sector, where he focuses on building trust with services in the Department of Defense. His experience in combat gives him and his colleagues a unique understanding of procurement, the end user, and the impact of equipment on mission success.

Trust in action

In February 2002, Ryan received a call with a code word, signaling the start of his deployment to Afghanistan to serve in Operation Anaconda as part of America’s first major battle in the country.

Ryan recalled the initial instructions: “Get to the flight line. Bring your combat bag and body armor. You’re going somewhere.” Although he didn’t know the details, he knew where they were headed. When Ryan arrived at the flight line, he witnessed a returned company of eight aircraft, all damaged with bullet holes.

At the start of the operation, Ryan’s unit used “Cold War” methods – which involved flying low and slow – and employed standoff techniques, targeting enemies from a safe distance. However, these tactics were less effective in the rocky terrain, where scattered adversaries could hide, requiring a different and more risky approach.

Ryan credits BAE Systems technology for helping them overcome these challenges.

BAE Systems’ engine controls, which optimize fuel management and performance, were critical in keeping aircrews safe by sustaining flight at high altitudes. BAE Systems has provided safety-critical electronics to commercial and military aircraft for over 50 years. Its engine controls ensure efficient engine performance and reduced fuel consumption.

“We were able to drive back the Taliban forces and declare an initial victory,” he said. “But at the end of the day, we were more likely to crash into the side of a mountain since we were flying at high altitudes never seen before.”

Ryan also credits BAE Systems’ doppler navigation system, the ASN-157. This system provided accurate velocity and altitude data, enabling precise navigation. At the time, GPS was not widely available across the fleet, and the ASN-157 was essential for navigating unpredictable weather and uncharted territory.

BAE Systems also supplied armor panels that stopped numerous bullets from hitting helicopter crews.

“Those pieces of kit kept our aircrews safe,” said Ryan. “We brought 327 soldiers over there and brought all of them home safely.”

Adapting to new threats

In Iraq from 2004 to 2005, Ryan commanded a company of 32 soldiers and eight helicopters. The enemy had since adapted and adjusted tactics, setting up “aerial ambushes” which were a 1-kilometer circle of heavy machine guns and man portable air defense missiles (MANPADS). They would lure aircraft in and then shoot from all directions, making it difficult to return fire. It forced aircrews to fly lower and faster and therefore face other hazards like birds and wires, which limited overall effectiveness.

Ryan had a close call during the Second Battle of Fallujah in November 2004, when a surface-to-air missile narrowly missed his aircraft. He was flying near a small village, protecting U.S. Marines in attack formation, when he heard a whip-cracking sound and saw a white corkscrewed missile trail.

At the time, the aircraft used a legacy infrared jammer, which did not have the capability to protect the crew against more modern threats.

“We found that we lost trust in our equipment,” he said. “We had to do something to protect ourselves, because there was no way to know if you got shot at by a missile unless it missed you – then we got CMWS.”

When Ryan was recalled to Iraq from 2006 to 2008, the introduction of CMWS or Common Missile Warning System changed everything. CMWS detects and warns aircraft of incoming missile threats, triggering countermeasures to counter incoming missiles.

“It takes the pilot out of the loop,” Ryan explained. With CMWS, his company was able to reenter the no-fly zone, engage the enemy, and operate safely. “We brought aircrews home because of that capability. We wouldn’t have been able to operate in that area without trust in our CMWS.”

A story of valor

In combat, every second counts, and bravery can be demonstrated in a matter of seconds – sometimes regardless of the equipment.

On October 14, 2004, Ryan was flying a night reconnaissance mission in Baghdad when he heard a distress call on the emergency “Guard” frequency. Two helicopters were down, with two pilots killed in action and two more alive on the ground. As the air mission commander, Ryan quickly contacted a U.S. Marine Corps jet on the radio to understand the situation. The crashed aircraft was from their sister unit, and Ryan knew the location was in an area prone to adversary activity, with no nearby ground units available to assist.

Ryan decided to land and pick up the downed crew. The team knew the location and headed that way, and as they approached, they saw the crash site was on fire. The downed aircrew radioed that the helicopter was flying right over them.

After landing, Ryan and his co-pilot radioed the downed crew to move to their aircraft, but one of the soldiers was too injured to move. Ryan got out to help, telling his back-seater to leave the area if they encountered adversary fire. He ran through a thorn patch to reach the downed soldiers. Among them was a severely injured pilot, as both had been hurt when the impact force damaged their night vision goggles. Ryan and the other pilot carefully carried the more severely injured pilot back to the Apache.

With limited space, they used a self-extraction method called a “spur ride,” which allows the soldiers to strap in and hold onto the outside of the Apache. The injured pilot couldn’t hang on, so the team secured him a seat, and two members hooked themselves to the Apache’s side before heading to a combat support hospital about 15 minutes away.

When they arrived, the team’s swift action surprised the hospital staff, who were not expecting an Apache to be conducting a medical evacuation. Ryan and his co-pilot were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for their efforts, which is awarded for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight.

New technologies and trust

In Ryan’s final deployment from 2011 to 2012, in Afghanistan, the adversary continued to integrate themselves within civilian structures and there were growing concerns about civilian casualties and collateral damage caused by engaging enemies in urban terrain.

The APKWS® laser-guidance kit arrived and helped lessen the problem. This kit transforms unguided rockets into smart laser-guided rockets for precision strikes, redefining precision munitions by hitting targets with pinpoint accuracy and minimal collateral damage.

During his years in the service, from fuel controls to CMWS, APKWS and other products along the way, Ryan pieced together the true value of trust in equipment. He notes that it is crucial when lives are on the line.

“When these men and women climb into an aircraft or combat vehicle, and they turn on a piece of equipment, whether it be a jammer or a radio, they expect it to perform. When it doesn’t, they’re going to know your company name.”

He also believes that having a team that stands behind you builds on that trust.

“A lot of people kept me safe that night and did the right thing. It all came together, which is not unlike anything at BAE Systems,” he says, referencing his Distinguished Flying Cross. “How well you play as a team – both inside and outside your organization – is what it’s all about. I love leading and stepping up to meet challenges, and that translated to a military career.”

For Ryan, it all begins with the work of BAE Systems employees, who lay the groundwork for trust by delivering high-quality products every day. The Customer Requirements and Advocacy team regularly invites opportunities to make site visits and speak with employees about how their work connects to the mission.

“I’m here today because of BAE Systems equipment, and so are many other aviators and soldiers.”

Today, Ryan knows the BAE Systems name well, and for all the right reasons.