2/27/2023 0 Comments Rah 66 comanche![]() The dummy had the upper turret turned 180 degrees back towards the cockpit, in the stealthy "stowed" position. Late in the test program, 95-0001 was fitted with a prototype NVPS.įour models are available for download here: They were fitted with a blank dummy Night Vision Pilotage System (NVPS) and Electro-Optical Target Acquisition and Designation Sensor (EOTADS) of the correct shape, with internal ballast to match the estimated weight. The flight test aircraft flew with an airspeed boom mounted at the gun location, with a Yaw and Pitch Sensing (YAPS) head on the end. The "orange wire" test instruments were mounted in the weapons internal bays. The first, prototype 94-0327 was used for structural tests while 95-0001 was used for mission equipment package testing. Two RAH-66 prototypes were constructed which underwent flight testing between 19. The cannon could also be rotated to the rear and stowed in a fairing and the Night Vision and Target Acquisition Sensors turret would be rotated to the rear to reduce the radar profile. Optionally an additional 8× Hellfires, 16× Stingers, or 56× Hydra 70 rockets could be mounted externally on stub wings for light attack duties.įor stealth, the exterior surfaces of the RAH-66 were faceted and covered with both radar-absorbent material and infrared-suppressant paint. Operationally, it was to employ advanced sensors in its reconnaissance role where it was intended to designate targets for the AH-64 Apache. It was to be armed with a 20 mm XM301 three-barrel rotary cannon (capacity: 500 rounds) and could have carried a combination of six Hellfire or twelve Stinger missiles or 24 Hydra 70 rockets in retractable internal bays for armed recon. However many of the technologies have been utilized in other aircraft. Since the cancellation, both of the prototypes have been placed on public display.The Boeing–Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche is an American stealth armed reconnaissance and attack helicopter designed for the US Army. Following decades of development, the RAH-66 program was cancelled in February 2004 prior to mass production. Army announced that the termination of the Comanche program, stating that they had determined that the RAH-66 required numerous upgrades to be viable on the battlefield and that, instead, the Army would direct the bulk of its rotary funding towards renovating its existing attack, utility, and reconnaissance helicopters, as well as to accelerate the development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which could also perform the scouting role intended for the Comanche with less risk. Multiple government agencies had acted to cut the number of Comanches on order, but, as a consequence of the heavy reductions to the numbers to be procured, the unit costs soared. As early as the late 1990s, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) had reported that it had "serious doubts" about the program, observing that the Comanche would "consume almost two thirds of the whole Aviation budget by Fiscal Year 2008". At the time, the projected total cost for the full production of the Comanche in such numbers stood at $26.9 billion. 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, it was announced that the program had entered its $3.1 billion engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase. It was also armed with one rotary cannonand could carry missiles and rockets in internal bays and optionally on stub wings for light attack duties.Ī pair of RAH-66 prototypes were constructed and underwent flight testing between 19. Operationally, it was to employ advanced sensors in its reconnaissance role, where 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 programme as the Light Helicopter (LX) 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, during 2004, the RAH-66 program was canceled prior to mass production commencing, by which point nearly US$7 billion had been already spent on the program.ĭuring the early 1980s, the U.S. ![]() ![]() The Boeing–Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche was a stealth armed reconnaissance and attack helicopter designed for the United States Army.
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