Commanche vs Raptor

[angrybellsprout]

Why is the Pentagon bent on doing retarded stuff such as scraping the COmmanche project while funding the idiotic bs that is the Raptor? Now that China has its own AWACS they can eaisly take down stealth fighters...

Then again what do you expect since the Pentagon declared war on the Army a few decades ago...

 

[AbnDaddy]

Scratching the RAh-66 Comanche was one of the better ideas to come out of the puzzle palace.

The helo is exorbitantly expensive at $52 million each. But not only that, it is obsolete.

It was originally designed in the late 80's as a reconnaissance helicopter for East Europe, now our reconnaissance can be done by UAV's. With the advent of UAV's; now instead of 52 billion dollar choppers you can strap 2 helfire missiles and a camera on a $100,000 remote controlled plane.

The Comanche couldn't be modified into a primarily attack role because it couldn't carry much weaponry, it had an internal weapons bay.

The Army is planning to buy 800 aircraft and upgrade 400 more with the diverted Comanche funds.

As for the F/A 22 Raptor, this is also a Cold War left over like the Comanche. The program might be one of the last times the Air Force can push through a major Fighter weapons program.

The USAF definitely needs to continue to explore ways to maintain air superiority in the coming decades, but not necessarily with a manned fighter. Eventually, the performance of these aircraft will outstrip the capabilities of even the best on board pilots.

Much like the RAh-66, the F/A 22 will eventually price itself out. "Required" numbers are already becoming smaller and smaller.

 

[angrybellsprout]

Must be why the USAF is claiming to be trying to replace the A-10 F-15 F-16 F-18 all with the F-22 that is $300mil a shot...

The Army is in desparite need of a new helo, as many of the current ones have a tendancy to randomly fall out of the sky, lots of deaths in Iraq thanks to random helo crashes...

 

[AbnDaddy]

Must be why the USAF is claiming to be trying to replace the A-10 F-15 F-16 F-18 all with the F-22 that is $300mil a shot...

It is why the AF has had to cut its original number. 279 A/C are all the AF are getting, they've had to cut 96 already and as costs rise, more cuts are inevitable. The actual cost of the A/C is $256.9 million at this time.

The F/A 22 is more of a replacement for the F-15/18. Not the A-10.

The Army is in desperate need of a new helo, as many of the current ones have a tendancy to randomly fall out of the sky, lots of deaths in Iraq thanks to random helo crashes...

And what do you believe the RAh-66 would have replaced? Not the Apache. It is a obsolete helo that adds no benefit to the current US Army arsenal of aviation.

As for "random helo crashes," no such thing. There are a variety of factors and circumstances that are causing our helos to "fall out of the sky." One being small arms/RPG fire from the ground. Sand is also a huge problem, not only does it decrease visibility, but it wears down rotors, gets into the engine and electrical systems, et al. Human error is another factor.

With the money gained by cutting the RAh-66, the Army will be able to upgrade and improve helos (like the Apache, Kiowa, Blackhawk) that are in fact useful to today's warfare but are in desperate need of 'updates'.

There are more problems with Army helos than simply the A/C themselves, a lot of our problems lie with command.

 

[angrybellsprout]

I know a few of the helos are auctually shot down, but the majority aren't. Then again on Ft. Hood helo crashes aren't that uncommon...

 

[AbnDaddy]

I know a few of the helos are auctually shot down, but the majority aren't. Then again on Ft. Hood helo crashes aren't that uncommon...

To date, I am pretty sure the majority of crashes have been caused by ground fire, or at least ground fire has been the contributing factor to mechanical failures. Then of course we have the enviroment (sand / weather), which seems to be the second cause of crashes.

I do not disagree that Army helos need some work, but to say they simply fall out of the sky for no reason is highly misguided.

 

[WarSong]

Why is the Pentagon bent on doing retarded stuff such as scraping the COmmanche project while funding the idiotic bs that is the Raptor?
...

Awww, look at you.

/me pats you on the head

No need to get all furrowed.