Comanche RAH-66 - 21st Century Multi-Mission Helicopter.

The end of the Cold War did not bring an end to the challenges facing the defense of the United States. In fact, the world has become more unstable with the dismantling of the Soviet Union. The flow of sophisticated arms to anyone with hard currency has increased regional instability. Ethnic and religious strife has re-emerged. And as the armed forces of small countries acquire high technology weapons, the threat of eventual American involvement increases. Shrinking American defense budgets and reduced U.S. presence overseas will require a smaller, highly mobile Army. An Army that can rapidly deploy to trouble spots around the globe, find and defeat a wide range of threats, and be supportable in the field without a burdensome logistics tail. DoD studies reveal that battlefield success is heavily contingent on good reconnaissance. And Desert Storm proved that satellite and fixed wing reconnaissance assets cannot provide the close battle target information needed in highly fluid tactical situations. Neither can the Armys current light helicopter fleet. The 0H-58, OH-6, and AH-1 light helicopters are over 30 years old when the first Comanche is fielded. They lack range, speed, payload, and agility. They are expensive to operate, especially in harsh desert environments. They lack low observable features necessary to operate and survive on the modern battlefield, and are vulnerable to ground fire. They cannot operate safely at night or in adverse weather. And, they cannot be upgraded to meet the challenges the U.S. will face in the future. Only RAH-66 Comanche has been designed to fulfill these requirements and enhance the effectiveness of Army Force Projections.