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Army scuttles copter project
Pentagon decides it can't afford $38 billion Comanche program
By Robert Burns / Associated Press
WASHINGTON — In a dramatic about-face, the Army canceled its Comanche helicopter program Monday after sinking $6.9 billion and 21 years of effort into producing a new-generation chopper.
It is one of the biggest program cancellations in the Army’s history and comes less than two years after the service’s $11 billion Crusader artillery project was dropped after $2 billion had been spent.
Senior Army leaders said they would propose to Congress that $14.6 billion earmarked to develop and build 121 Comanches between now and 2011 be used instead to buy 796 Black Hawk and other helicopters and to upgrade and modernize 1,400 helicopters in the fleet.
“It’s a big decision, but we know it’s the right decision,” said Gen. Peter Schoomaker, the Army chief of staff.
The Comanche decision reflects a growing realization in the Pentagon that the military has more big-ticket weapons projects in the works than it can afford, and it reflects the rising popularity in recent years of unmanned aircraft.
The RAH-66 Comanche helicopter project was launched in 1983 and was eventually to have cost more than $39 billion.
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This is a pity this is a really good aircraft. It can turn 90 degrees when flying forward and bring its guns to bear on an enemy. Its visually more impressive than I make it sound.
Army scuttles copter project
Pentagon decides it can't afford $38 billion Comanche program
By Robert Burns / Associated Press
WASHINGTON — In a dramatic about-face, the Army canceled its Comanche helicopter program Monday after sinking $6.9 billion and 21 years of effort into producing a new-generation chopper.
It is one of the biggest program cancellations in the Army’s history and comes less than two years after the service’s $11 billion Crusader artillery project was dropped after $2 billion had been spent.
Senior Army leaders said they would propose to Congress that $14.6 billion earmarked to develop and build 121 Comanches between now and 2011 be used instead to buy 796 Black Hawk and other helicopters and to upgrade and modernize 1,400 helicopters in the fleet.
“It’s a big decision, but we know it’s the right decision,” said Gen. Peter Schoomaker, the Army chief of staff.
The Comanche decision reflects a growing realization in the Pentagon that the military has more big-ticket weapons projects in the works than it can afford, and it reflects the rising popularity in recent years of unmanned aircraft.
The RAH-66 Comanche helicopter project was launched in 1983 and was eventually to have cost more than $39 billion.
......
This is a pity this is a really good aircraft. It can turn 90 degrees when flying forward and bring its guns to bear on an enemy. Its visually more impressive than I make it sound.
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