![]() ![]() ![]() ^ A Case History of the US Army RAH-66 Comanche Helicopter.^ Historic US Army Helicopters Archived at the Wayback Machine.The termination happened for several reasons among them were unrealistic and unachievable overarching requirements, the rising projected cost of production, changing aviation mission of the Army (refusal to consider the changing threat environment), lack of sufficient funding for other critical aviation needs, the lack of achieving reduced risk of certain key technologies, and chronic groupthink. In March 2004, the Army Chief of Staff terminated the Comanche program. Also that month, the helicopter was designated " RAH-66 Comanche" by the Army. In April 1991, the Boeing-Sikorsky team was selected as the contest winner and received a contract to build four prototypes. The program's name was changed to Light Helicopter (LH) in 1990. The Boeing-Sikorsky design carried ordnance within upward swinging gull-wing doors in the sides of the fuselage and featured a fenestron tail rotor. The Bell-McDonnell Douglas design featured ordnance carriage within a combined wing/ sponson and instead of a tail rotor used a NOTAR ducted exhaust system. In October 1988, the Boeing-Sikorsky and Bell-McDonnell Douglas teams received contracts for their designs. A Request for proposals for the new helicopter type was released in June 1988. Įarly concepts included both utility and scout/attack versions, but by 1988, the utility concept was dropped. A single-crew version was an early requirement, but depended upon successful development of a risky electronic package. The Army solidified requirements too early without sufficient risk management. In August 1986, the Defense Science Board review revealed that the Army suffered from stovepiping in a program development sense, and could not think outside the box. ![]() Army started the Light Helicopter Experimental (LHX) program to replace the UH-1, AH-1, OH-6, and OH-58 helicopters. The specific material deficiencies were to be resolved through the LHX program. In February 1981, contracts were awarded to Sikorsky (for the Sikorsky S-75) and Bell Helicopter (for the Bell D-292).Īn Army Aviation Mission Area Analysis, completed in 1982, identified deficiencies in current materiel and doctrine that needed to be addressed to meet the requirements of the new Airland Battle Doctrine. Army Aviation and a team of leading aerospace companies headed by Boeing and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp.In support of the LHX program, the United States Army started the Advanced Composite Airframe Program (ACAP) to develop an all-composite helicopter fuselage. Army's 21st century combat helicopter, is being developed by U.S. 7 through 15 will be delivered to the Army for Initial Operational Test & Evaluation in preparation for low-rate initial production, with fielding of the first U.S. 3 through 6 will perform development and qualification tests for the production-configured aircraft. The 13 Pre-Production Prototype aircraft will be produced using virtual reality tools to production specifications, with first deliveries in 2004. Army Combined Test Team will continue to expand the Comanche flight test envelope with prototype aircraft Nos. Successful demonstrations of these criteria are essential for the DAB review next spring."ĭuring the EMD phase, a Boeing Sikorsky and U.S. Working in the true spirit of acquisition streamlining contracting with our Army customer, we have submitted a proposal that was delivered on schedule, within total available funding resources and meets all essential program objectives."ĭeputy Program Director Bob Moore added, "Our on-time submittal allows us to shift our focus toward meeting critical Milestone II exit criteria by the end of this calendar year. The Army and the Joint Program Office will incorporate final agreements for the program into the current Boeing Sikorsky Demonstration/Validation contract in November.īoeing Sikorsky Joint Program Office Director Arthur Linden said, "This is a great day for the entire Comanche Team. Upon completion of a successful Defense Acquisition Board Milestone II review in March 2000, the EMD phase will be performed through December 2006 and will continue the Pre-production Prototype program authorized in July by the Department of Defense Overarching Integrated Product Team. Army to initiate the engineering and manufacturing development phase of the Comanche program early next year, and to build 13 RAH-66s for Army testing and evaluation. ![]() The Boeing Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche Joint Program Office has delivered a $3.1 billion proposal to the U.S. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |