The more you change the more backward!What are the problems of the US armed helicopter's replacement plan?

"Military and Military Secondary Point" Author: Lu Yan

Generally speaking, the weapon replacement plan of various countries often uses more updated weapons to replace old weapons. But the United States is strange, and the development direction of many projects is puzzling. Just recently, the new US new armed reconnaissance helicopter plan has made new progress, that is, the assault reconnaissance helicopter developed by Lockheed Martin Corporation's Sikoski helicopter company has almost completed the construction work, and the opponent Bell company’s company’s company’s company’s The 360 ​​unyielding helicopter will compete for the first flight next year. However, when you look back, you will find that this is another replacement of weapons update plans, and you have to make people imagine.

▲ Picture source: Network

Earlier, the main light reconnaissance helicopter in the United States was the OH58 series helicopter, and some of the OH6 bird helicopters from the Hughes Company. OH58 helicopter, based on Bell's famous 206 helicopter, started service in the 1960s. It produced more than 2,200 aircraft, which is one of the most important light helicopters in the United States. The most advanced of this series of helicopters is OH58D, which is still in service, and the helicopter uses the new four -leaf composite material main rotor. The top of the rotor is also equipped with a photoelectric tower. The weapon racks on both sides can use 70 mm rockets and various machine guns and small -caliber machine guns. When mount heavy weapons, you can also use hell fire anti -tank missiles or light air -to -air missiles. It is also because the weapon mounting capacity is excellent, so it is also a light armed reconnaissance helicopter.

▲ Picture source: Network

However, the horizontal comparison of the world's mainstream armed reconnaissance helicopter, such as my country's Thunderbolt 19, will find that the OH58 in the United States does not dominate, the body shape is too small, the protective power is limited, and the power is not large. It is indeed an urgent need to replace the replacement. Helicopter model. Of course, the United States has considered replacement before these helicopters. This is the Kormanch armed helicopter developed in the 1990s.

▲ Cormanci helicopter, which has a very sci -fi, is still leading today. Image source: network

As early as the 1980s, the United States realized the importance of the development of new reconnaissance armed helicopters. The main replacement was the OH58 mentioned earlier and the previous OH6 birds, which could even replace the helicopter of a large part of the UH1 family. At that time, Sikoski and Boeing, who did not attribute to Lockheed Martin, won the competition. Detailed design began in the early 1990s. The first prototype made its first flight in 1996. Therefore, everyone can actually see that as early as 30 years ago, the United States had already begun the development of new helicopters, and it had been flying more than 20 years ago. So why did this seem to be very sci -fi advanced Kumanchi helicopter did not serve?

▲ Picture source: Network

In simple terms, there are three reasons. The first is the problem of the helicopter itself, the second is the change in the battlefield situation, and the third is that the United States has changed significantly for the pursuit of new helicopters. The Cotanic helicopter highlights the stealth ability, and its angular design is indeed similar to the F117 combat attack aircraft that was in service at the time. In addition, Boeing and Sikoski have also made obvious bias designs in infrared and acoustic stealth, so that this helicopter is the best in the field of stealth helicopter. In terms of weapon loading capacity, Comancic helicopter can even compare his elder brother Apache helicopter. There is a tri -tube 20mm gun that can be folded and hidden at the location of the head, and the hidden weapon cabin on both sides can carry 8 Hellfire anti -tank missiles. Of course, this is just a stealth investigation mode. If there is an additional weapon hanging frame installed outside, then he can mount 16 hell fire anti -tank missiles at one time. The firepower is exactly the same as Apache. Even stronger than Apache.

▲ In terms of ability, Comanch is too strong. Image source: network

With such a powerful strength, the price of Cormanch will definitely not be low. The original estimated unit price is $ 12 million, which is quite expensive for a helicopter. In the later stage of the aircraft, its unit price has reached an amazing $ 59 million, which is much more expensive than most fighters. After all, this is one of the largest military research and development plans carried out by the United States at the end of the Cold War. The entire plan has been consumed for a total of 21 years, and it costs US $ 8 billion in development costs. The original total project was as high as US $ 39 billion, and it will be equipped with up to 1200 helicopters. It can be said that it was originally a major revolution in the US Army Air Force.

▲ Costich can largely replace Apache to a large extent. Image source: network

In addition, the helicopter targets a large -scale war with the Soviet Union, so it specially emphasizes the attack capacity of helicopters. In the early 2000s of the Cormanch helicopter that had completed almost all development and test flights, the United States thought that he had no obvious opponents in the world, while terrorists and the war with small and small public security became the most important form of war in the United States. It is obviously unnecessary to develop this helicopter. All old armed helicopters in the past can undertake similar tasks. In addition, the United States has underestimated the development speed of other major air defense weapons. This stealth helicopter is different from the real stealth combat attack aircraft. Its anti -blow ability is still low, so it is also a last resort to cancel the transformation into a technical reserve. of. ▲ Picture source: Network

On the other hand, the two newly developed armed reconnaissance helicopters in the United States today are indeed faster than Costch in terms of speed. This is also the general direction of the current development of the United States helicopter. However, from the perspective of the ability of weapons and overall advancedness, and stealth ability, it is not as good as the Comanch helicopter. Judging from the current timeline announced by the United States, no matter which one of these two new armed reconnaissance helicopters have won the final victory, large -scale equipment plans are likely to be pushed to the middle and late 1920s, even 2030 Right and right, this means that these old OH58D helicopters in the United States have to serve for 10 years.

However, the problem has not yet ended. There are many helicopters for the US Army Aviation. The large transportation helicopter CH47F has been obviously aging, and the carrier capacity is not good enough. The main black eagle and Apache helicopter either need to replace or need to be upgraded significantly. Small reconnaissance helicopters or transport helicopters are also facing problems to be replaced. Too huge, for decades, this is also the consequences of over -intentional terrorism war after the Cold War.

▲ Picture source: Network

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