Comanche helicopter7/30/2023 ![]() ![]() ![]() However, during 2002, the Comanche program underwent heavy restructuring the number of Comanches that were to be purchased was cut to 650. On 1 June 2000, the program entered its $3.1 billion engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase. Two RAH-66 prototypes were constructed and underwent flight testing between 19. It was also armed with one rotary cannon and could carry missiles and rockets in internal bays and optionally on stub wings for light attack duties. Operationally, it was to employ advanced sensors in its reconnaissance role, in which it was intended to designate targets for the AH-64 Apache. ![]() The Comanche was to incorporate several advanced elements, such as stealth technologies, and a number of previously untried design features. Nearly a decade later, following the refinement of requirements, evaluation of submissions, and the rebranding of the program as the Light Helicopter (LH) program, during April 1991, the Army announced the selection of the Boeing– Sikorsky team's design as the contest winner, shortly after which a contract for construction of prototypes was awarded. Army started to formulate requirements for the replacement of its helicopters then in service, which resulted in the launch of the Light Helicopter Experimental (LHX) program. Following decades of development, the RAH-66 program was canceled in 2004 before mass production began, by which point nearly US$7 billion had been spent on the program.ĭuring the early 1980s, the U.S. Unfortunately, the Comanche had become obsolete before it could even enter the production phase, with the only tangible results being two prototypes.The Boeing–Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche is an American stealth armed reconnaissance and attack helicopter designed for the United States Army. When looking at the circumstances of this helicopter in this way, it is clear that things could have been different if only the development time had been much shorter. Secondly, a new alternative to the aircraft’s reconnaissance tasks was developed in the form of unmanned airplanes, which are still used a lot for this purpose. These cut backs must be seen in the context of a time period in which the cold war was coming to an end. This led to a huge price increase per machine. First, during the development years, several governments cut back on the planned number of orders. As well as the 'function creep' already mentioned, there are other factors that also contributed to this failure. At the beginning of 2004, 13 years after the start of the project and with about 7 billion dollars spent, the US army pulled the plug on the project. ![]() To some this is one of the main reasons why the project was finally halted. This process took many years, during which the US army asked for new features to be incorporated into the design. The team developed an advanced helicopter with stealth properties and state-of-the-art sensor technology in order to fulfil its surveillance role well. Later, the objectives of the task were changed to deliver a surveillance helicopter. Development of the aircraft was commenced by the Boeing-Sikorsky collaboration when, in 1991, it won a US army contest to develop a light attack helicopter. Capable of pursuing and attacking others, this machine would have been outstanding in finding targets deep in the battle field and pointing them out to the Apache longbow attack helicopter. It should have been the invisible stealth craft that was able to surprise friend and foe. The same is true for the advanced and unfortunate Boeing-Sikorsky Comanche helicopter. ![]()
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