Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66
| Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche | |
|---|---|
 RAH-66 “Comanche” prototype during a test flight |
|
| Type: | Armed reconnaissance helicopter |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
4th January 1996 |
| Commissioning: |
Never officially put into service |
| Production time: |
Was never mass-produced |
| Number of pieces: |
2 |
The Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche was a project of an all-weather reconnaissance and attack helicopter with stealth properties for the United States Army . It was developed from 1983 to 2004 by a consortium of the US helicopter manufacturers Boeing and Sikorsky until it was ready for prototyping.
history
The United States Army used the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior reconnaissance helicopter at the time of the RAH-66 program , which was a modernized version of an observation helicopter from the Vietnam War . In contrast to the Kiowa, the Comanche was specially designed for the task of military reconnaissance and is 2.4 m shorter and 1700 kg lighter than the Hughes AH-64 Apache attack helicopter . The hull is made of composite materials and features stealth technology to evade enemy radar location. The hot exhaust gases from the engines are blown out via the bypass tail rotor .
The flight control and navigation systems of the Comanche were also designed for operations at night and poor visibility, for which the Kiowa Warrior is insufficiently usable. Furthermore, the Comanche is designed in such a way that it can be relocated better than the Apache in transport planes or ships to deployment locations. In the absence of transport, the Comanche could have covered a distance of 2335 km without further assistance. The helicopter was equipped with a 20 mm on-board cannon, which had little or no effect on the stealth properties of the RAH-66 when firing at enemy targets. The air-to-surface missiles were mounted in two weapon bays or on optional stub wings, which, however, greatly enlarged the radar signature.
The United States Army originally estimated a requirement of 1,300 Comanches, which should be put into service from 2004. The first of eight prototypes left the Sikorsky factory in May 1995 and had its maiden flight in January 1996. This was followed by an extensive test program.
End of project
On 23 February 2004, announced Chief of Staff of the Army General Peter Schoomaker that already 21 years running Comanche program set due to ongoing problems in the coordination between armor and stealth technology and military reconnaissance future preferably from unmanned aerial vehicles ( english Unmanned Aerial Vehicle , UAV ).
In addition to tests, drones have also proven themselves in the war in Afghanistan since 2001 and in the Iraq war . This meant that one of the most important reasons for obtaining the Comanche, the Enlightenment, was omitted. Another hurdle for the procurement was that the helicopter had been completely conceived from the global political situation of the Cold War and its military requirements. Around 8 billion US dollars (2011: 7.1 billion euros) had already been invested in the Comanche program when it was hired. This caused additional resentment among the US public, similar to the Bell Boeing V-22 program. In addition, the price per helicopter rose from 12 (10.7) to 58 million US dollars (2011: 51.6 million euros), which led to the termination of the contract with the two main consortium partners Sikorsky and Boeing. The planned investments of 14 billion US dollars (2011: 12.5 billion euros) by 2011 for 121 Comanches should then be used to upgrade helicopters that have already been procured.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| Type | All-weather reconnaissance and combat helicopter |
| crew | two (pilot and gunner) |
| overall length | 14.28 m |
| Hull length | 13.22 m |
| Rotor diameter | 11.90 m |
| height | 3.39 m |
| Empty mass | 3402 kg |
| normal takeoff mass | 4578 kg |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 7790 kg |
| Top speed | 324 km / h |
| Marching speed | 306 km / h |
| Service ceiling | 4566 m |
| Rate of climb | 7.2 m / s |
| Use radius | 485 km |
| Transfer range | 2335 km |
| Engines | two T800-LHTEC-801 shaft turbines with a total of 2004 kW |
Armament
In addition to the on-board cannon, the weapons are housed in weapon shafts in the middle under the fuselage.
Fixed armament in the moveable children's turret
- 1 × radar-absorbing GIAT children's turret with a three-barreled 20 mm Gatling automatic cannon General Dynamics Armament Systems XM301 with 500 rounds in the ammunition container.
- Load of up to 300 kg in two weapon bays, each with a weapon suspension with three start rails
- Air-to-surface guided missiles ( anti-tank guided missiles )
- 6 × M310 missile mounts for 1 × Boeing Corp / Martin Marietta AGM-114F / N "Hellfire" each - laser-controlled
- Load of up to 600 kg on two removable stub wings with two weapon mounts each
- Air-to-air guided missile
- 2 × ATAS (Air To Air Stinger) double guided missile launchers for 2 × Raytheon AIM-92 "Stinger" RMP Block I each - infrared-controlled for short distances
- Air-to-surface guided missiles (anti-tank guided missiles)
- 4 × M310 missile mounts for 2 × Boeing Corp / Martin Marietta AGM-114F / N "Hellfire" - laser-controlled
- Unguided air-to-surface missiles
- 8 × Lockheed Martin DAGR rocket tube launch containers for 4 × unguided FFAR air-to-ground hydra rockets each ; Caliber 70 mm
Whereabouts
The two prototypes with the hull numbers 94-0327 and 95-0001 are in the United States Army Aviation Museum in Fort Rucker , Alabama / USA.
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Sascha Lange: The Pentagon stops the Comanche attack helicopter. Brief analysis of the Science and Politics Foundation, March 2004, 4 pages.
- ^ US Army Aviation Museum prepares for expansion ( en ) The Southeast Sun. July 2, 2014. Retrieved July 18, 2014.