Comanche’s Child: The ARH-70 Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (updated)
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The ARH (Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter) is a program by the United States Army to replace around 375 Bell Textron OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters. The Army’s initial replacement, the $14.6 billion RAH-66 Comanche program, was canceled in 2004 in favor of buying a larger number of less expensive platforms with reduced capabilities.
Bell Helicopter Textron won the ARH competition, beating rival MD Helicopters. As DID has noted re: a similar $500-600 million competition in India, Bell’s ARH-70 is a militarized version of its highly successful 407 single-engine commercial helicopter. The original contract called for 368 ARH-70 aircraft during FY 2006 – 2013. That request has since been raised to 512 aircraft, with suggested unit costs of approximately $8-12 million vs. the much more advanced Comanche’s $36 million. Overall program cost estimates reportedly stand at around $6.27 billion, up from the baseline of $3.60 billion.
This will serve as DID’s FOCUS Article for the ARH-70 program, providing updated background, details, and contract award information. Bell Helicopter continues to work on the ARH-70 at its own expense, even as a recent US Army report continues to document rising program costs. It will lead to another review of the program, even as disgruntled politicians look on and consider their own options…
- The ARH Program [updated]
- The ARH Program Winner: Bell’s ARH-70
- The ARH Program: Contracts & Events [updated]
- Appendix A: Weary Warriors – The Army’s OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Fleet
- Appendix B: Additional Readings & Sources
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