New helo to have manned, unmanned capability

[unhappycamper]

New helo to have manned, unmanned capability
By Kris Osborn - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Nov 1, 2009 8:22:10 EST

The Army has embarked upon a study aimed at developing requirements for a new, high-altitude Armed Aerial Scout helicopter.

In fact, the aircraft itself — the program emerging from the now-canceled Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter — may turn out to be an unmanned helicopter, or a modified version of an existing platform such as the Kiowa warrior or Apache attack helicopter.

Phase 1 of the study, being conducted by the Training and Doctrine Command research and analysis center at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., is scheduled to be completed by spring of next year.

“Whatever we end up doing will have a manned-unmanned teaming flavor to it,” said Col. Keith Robinson, project manager, Armed Scout Helicopter. “It could be Kiowas, Apaches or more of the ERMPs (Extended Range Multi-Purpose Sky Warrior UAV). The intent is to get some initial looks at the requirements and use that information in the 2012-2017 (program objective memorandum) build. We are trying to get out in front of potential fiscal requirements.”

Phase 2 of the study will come at the end of calendar year 2010, with a final report by April 2011.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/11/army_new_helicopter_110109w/



unhappycamper comment: The "Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter" brought up memories of the $3.54 billion dollar RAH-66 Comanche:





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAH-66_Comanche


Cancellation

On 23 February 2004, the U.S. Army announced their decision to cancel the Comanche helicopter program in view of the need to provide funds to renovate the existing helicopter fleet of aging attack, utility, and reconnaissance aircraft.<11> Also a factor was the growing popularity in the military of using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for reconnaissance purposes – in addition to tests, UAVs had proven their worth in Afghanistan and Iraq. About US$6.9 billion had already been invested in the Comanche program at the time of its termination.<12>