The Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche (Boeing) - US Army

The Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche (Boeing) was an advanced five-blade armed reconnaissance and attack helicopter designed for the United States Army. The RAH-66 program was canceled in 2004, before mass production began, after nearly $7 billion was spent on the program. During the early 1980s, the U.S. Army began formulating a requirement for a replacement of its helicopters then in service, resulting in the Light Helicopter Experimental program. In 1991, the Boeing-Sikorsky team was chosen to produce prototypes. The Comanche would incorporate stealth technologies, featuring a number of designs previously untried. It was to employ advanced sensors in its reconnaissance role, and was intended to designate targets for the AH-64 Apache. The aircraft was also armed with missiles and rockets to destroy armored vehicles. Two RAH-66 prototypes were built and conducted flight testing from 1996 to 2004, since the cancellation the prototypes have been placed on display. The RAH-66 was intended to be a stealth helicopter; it incorporated multiple techniques in order to reduce its radar cross-section (RCS) and other areas of viability. Radar-absorbent material (RAM) was used on the Comanche, as well as having infrared-suppressant paint applied on its faceted surface; with these measures, the Comanche's RCS was 360 times smaller than the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. The Comanche's noise signature was noticeably quieter than comparative helicopters; this was partly achieved through the all-composite 5-blade main rotor and tail rotor assembly. The Comanche was equipped with sophisticated navigation and detection systems intended to allow operations at night and in bad weather. Each of the two crew-members had two LCD multi-functional displays in addition to the Helmet-Integrated Display and Sight System (HIDSS). It has a digital fly-by-wire flight control system. Its primary mission was to use its advanced sensors to find and designate targets for attack helicopters, such as the AH-64. The RAH-66 also had its own light armament – it could carry six AGM-114 Hellfire and twelve FIM-92 Stinger missiles split evenly between the two retractable weapons pylons. The Comanche was also to be fitted with the three-barrel XM301 20 mm cannon under its nose. More armament could be accommodated externally but would reduce the effectiveness of the stealth technologies.

The RAH-66 was powered by two LHTEC T800 turboshaft engines. Its fuselage was 43 feet (13 m) long and made of composite material. The F-22 Raptor-derived airframe was designed to fit more easily onto transport ships, enabling it to be deployed to hot spots quickly. If transport assets were not available, the Comanche's ferry range of 1,200 nmi (2,200 km) would allow it to fly to battlefields overseas on its own. The Comanche was specifically tailored to the role of armed scout, replacing the U.S. Army's current armed scout helicopter, the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, which is an upgraded version of a Vietnam War-era observation helicopter. The Comanche was smaller and lighter than the AH-64.

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