Home > RAH-66 Comanche

The RAH-66 Comanche is the first U.S. helicopter designed specifically for the role of all-weather armed reconnaissance. The Army currently has an armed scout helicopter in its fleet -- the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior – but that aircraft is an upgraded version of a Vietnam-era observation helicopter. In contrast, the Comanche has been tailored to the role of armed scout. It is smaller and lighter than the Apache gunship -- 43 feet (13.1 m) long and 7,700 pounds (3,500 kg) vs. 51 feet (15.5 m) and 11,400 pounds (5,200 kg) – and its composite material airframe incorporates stealth technology to evade detection.

The Comanche's very sophisticated detection and navigation systems would allow it to operate at night and in bad weather, which the Kiowa Warrior cannot do effectively. Finally, the Army has designed the Comanche so that it can fit more easily than the Apache into transport aircraft or onto transport ships to be deployed to hot spots quickly. If transport assets were not available, the Comanche's range of 1,260 nautical miles (2,330 km) would even allow it to fly to battlefields overseas on its own.

The Army planned to purchase almost 1,300 Comanches to fill the scout and light attack roles, with the first craft to be brought into the Army in 2004. The Army conducted flight qualification tests and evaluated the eight prototypes that it planned to build. The first of those prototypes was rolled out of the Sikorsky Aircraft CorporationSikorsky is an American helicopter manufacturer founded in 1923 by the Ukrainian/ Polish born American Igor Sikorsky, the inventor of the first successful helicopter design, upon which the majority of subsequent helicopters were based (though he did not i's helicopter production facility in May 19951995 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). It has a Golden number of 1, and was the first year of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People (1995- 2005): http://www. org/culture/indigenous . Events January events Ja and was scheduled for its first flight in December 19951995 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). It has a Golden number of 1, and was the first year of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People (1995- 2005): http://www. org/culture/indigenous . Events January events Ja.

However, on February 23February 23 is the 54th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 311 days remaining, 312 in leap years. Events 1455 Traditional date for the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first Western book printed from movable type. 1574 The 5th hol 2004, the U.S. Army announced their decision to cancel the Comanche helicopter program in lieu of the growing popularity in the military of using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for reconnaissance purposes – in addition to tests, UAVs had proved their worth in the American War on TerrorismThe War on Terrorism or War on Terror in modern usage, refers to an effort by some countries (primarily the United States and its principal allies) to neutralize international groups it deems as " terrorist" (primarily radical Islamist terrorist groups, i against AfghanistanThe United States, with support from the United Kingdom, Australia and the Northern Alliance, invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 as part of its " War on Terrorism" campaign. The military campaign, led by U. general Tommy Franks, was initially dubbed Oper and Iraq. About US$8 billion had already been invested in the Comanche program at the time of its termination and an additional US$450-680 million was required in contract termination fees to main program partners Sikorsky and Boeing Integrated Defense Systems.