This ought to seem familiar.

[Anlushac11]

Full-Scale Mock-Up Of Army Light Tactical Helo Concept On Display - AUSA - 2009

Sikorsky has a mock up of its proposal for the US Army's RFP (Request For Proposals) for a LTH, or Light Tactical Helicopter.

Many years ago the US Army sent out a RFP for a LHX, Light Helicopter Experimental. The new light helicopter was intended originally to be a very small single seat scout helicopter to replace the OH-58 Kiowa and the OH-6 Cayuse.

Sikorsky won the original proposal and what started with a very small single seat scout helicopter ballooned over 20 years into the 6.9 billion dollar RAH-66 Commanche helicopter program which was waaay over budget and the aircraft had not even entered series production. The RAH-66 was cancelled in February 2004.

The US Army then tried to develop the Bell ARH-70 "Light" helicopter which was essentially a newly built OH-58D airframe with all new modern state of the art technology, rotors, and engine technology.

On July 2005 the US Army awarded Bell A 3 Billion dollar contract to develop the ARH-70. In October 2008 the ARH-70 was canceled due to a cost increase of 40% over original estimates and inability to move the program forward in a timely and inability to put the aircraft into production within a reasonable time frame in the near future.

Now the US Army has sent out unofficial RFP's for a as yet unspecified LTH.

Sikorsky has built a mockup of a proposal that will seat six and two pilots, go 250knots, can be armed, and can fly with the OV-22, and carry aerial refueling equipment.

Whatever the US Army needs to do something, its large fleet of OH-58 Kiowa airframes are ending the end of their service life. The older airframes are already being involved in accidents and are getting hard to maintain.

[MrFancypants]

I think cancelling the Commanche after investing so much money in it was a bad move. I doubt that starting a new program from scratch will cost less than it would have cost to finish the Commanche.

But that new concept looks interesting. Coaxial rotors were something used exclusively by the Russians (Kamov) until now and it supposedly offers some advantages over the conventional layout.

[Roaming East]

hmm, everytime a Gen. retires, and goes to work in the contracting business, his understudies force the Army to develop more stuff. love the MIC-cycle.

[Anlushac11]

Originally Posted by MrFancypants

I think cancelling the Commanche after investing so much money in it was a bad move. I doubt that starting a new program from scratch will cost less than it would have cost to finish the Commanche.

But that new concept looks interesting. Coaxial rotors were something used exclusively by the Russians (Kamov) until now and it supposedly offers some advantages over the conventional layout.

The Comanche technology was supposed to be incorporated into the next light helo, the ARH-70 but that was canceled as well do to cost going up 40% before it had even finished testing.

IMHO the MIC has developed a tactic of quoting a unrealistic price bid and then doubling the cost later and including a clause that if the Government cancels the contract the Company still gets millions in cancellation fees. The MIC gets millions of dollars either way.

We need the old system where the price quoted is what you get, none of this cost overrun bullshit. No reason a aircraft's cost should double unless someone totally FUBAR'd the bid.

[Afterburner]

Originally Posted by Anlushac11

The Comanche technology was supposed to be incorporated into the next light helo, the ARH-70 but that was canceled as well do to cost going up 40% before it had even finished testing.

IMHO the MIC has developed a tactic of quoting a unrealistic price bid and then doubling the cost later and including a clause that if the Government cancels the contract the Company still gets millions in cancellation fees. The MIC gets millions of dollars either way.

We need the old system where the price quoted is what you get, none of this cost overrun bullshit. No reason a aircraft's cost should double unless someone totally FUBAR'd the bid.

What needs to happen is the contract needs to say any cost over the quoted price has to be covered by the contractor. That'll give them a good reason to stay under budget, and to actually think ahead about costs.

[Anlushac11]

IMHO the entire American Military Industrial megaplex is so corrupt I dont think it can be reformed.

I am also afraid that with all the big companies swallowing all the little companies we are approaching that whole "Too Big to fail" mentality where a Company wont be allowed to go under because they are a defense contractor.

IIRC all that's left is Boeing, Lockheed, Grumman, and General Dynamics.