Boeing / Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche

United States (2004)

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The Boeing-Sikorsky joint-venture RAH-66 Comanche light attack helicopter was to become the first stealth-centric combat helicopter in the world - that is until the project was terminated in 2004.

Detailing the development and operational history of the Boeing / Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche Reconnaissance / Light Attack Helicopter. Entry last updated on 6/15/2018. Authored by Staff Writer. Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com

At one point, the Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche was set to become the future of U.S. Army rotary-wing aviation. It was a stealth-based light attack helicopter set to replace an aging stock of Bell UH-1 "Huey" gunships, Bell AH-1 "Cobra" light attack helicopters, Hughes OH-6 "Cayuse" light observation and attack helicopters, and Bell OH-58 "Kiowa" light helicopters. The RAH-66 was the world's first purpose-built stealth attack helicopter complete with fully-powered internal bays housing anti-armor and anti-air missiles and promoted heavy use of stealth materials to help conceal its approach from enemy radar. Had it been serially produced, the RAH-66 would have been the world's most advanced combat helicopter in service with any army anywhere in the world. First flight came on January 4th, 1996.

Origins of the RAH-66 began with the LHX program (Light Helicopter Experimental) of 1982, the design proposal forwarded by a joint Boeing-Sikorsky. The Request for Proposal (RFP) was not enacted until 1988 to which, by now, the U.S. Army requirement had been evolved along the lines of a light reconnaissance-minded attack helicopter. In 1990, the program was given a new name as the Light Helicopter (LH) program and the following year saw the Boeing-Sikorsky submission officially selected as the winner of the program with the U.S. Army seeking four flyable prototypes (YRAH-66) in this early stage. By this time, the product was handed the official designation of "RAH-66" with the name of "Comanche".

Construction on the first airframe commenced in 1993 though the U.S. Army order now contracted for just two prototypes. The aircraft was unveiled in May of 1995 and delivered to Florida for the flight testing phase - the first flight delayed by one year already. First flight by the initial prototype was carried out in 1996 with a second prototype not to join the flight testing phase until later in the decade - recording its first flight on March 30th, 1999.

The compact design adopted a small profile and sharp lines seen previously in the multi-faceted Lockheed F-117 "Nighthawk" during a time when angled panels were the norm for stealth-centric aircraft (since abandoned in more modern stealth designs such as the Lockheed F-22 "Raptor" air superiority fighter). The RAH-66 was given a large five-blade composite main rotor system with a tail rotor housed in a shroud, similar in concept to the French "Fenestron" approach. Internal weapons bays were intended from the beginning as was a retractable powered, wheeled undercarriage. Optional stub wings allowed the helicopter more tactical flexibility when using varied ordnance options though at the cost of a larger radar signature. Standard, fixed armament was a powered 20mm three-barrel General Electric autocannon in a French GIAT turret. The crew of two - pilot and weapons specialist - sat in stepped tandem with good visibility over the surrounding terrain. The RAH-66 was given state-of-the-art flight control systems that included helmet-mounted displays, side-stick cyclic controlling, 3D moving map displays, and Fly-By-Wire (FBW) with triple redundancy feature. Additional components included Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) and an onboard self-laser designator for precision munitions. The Hughes Apache Longbow's millimeter wave radar was also standard equipment.

Power came from 2 x LHTEC T800-LHT-801 series turboshaft engines developing 1,563 horsepower each and driving the five-bladed main rotor with an eight-bladed fan-in-fin tail rotor unit. Maximum speed was 200 miles per hour with a range out to 1,382 miles and service ceiling of 15,000 feet. Rate-of-climb was 895 feet per minute.

On the hypothetical battlefield, the RAH-66 system would have supported allied forces by engaging enemy armor at range. The helicopter was granted the scan and track capabilities of the Apache Longbow with the nimbleness of the Bell OH-58 Kiowa series. Weapons support included the Hellfire anti-tank missile, Stinger air-to-air missile as well as Hydra 2.75" rocket pods. The optional wingstubs nearly doubled the ordnance-carrying totals when fixed.

Despite all this, the Comanche product never came to fruition as the entire project was cancelled by the United States Army in the Spring of 2004, mostly due to budgetary cutbacks. It proved more fiscally responsible to simply modernized an aged stock than to procure an expensive, technologically-laden attack system in the numbers required.

The two prototypes have survived the test of time, residing at the United States Army Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker, Alabama.

Picture of the Boeing / Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche Reconnaissance / Light Attack Helicopter

Any available statistics for the Boeing / Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche Reconnaissance / Light Attack Helicopter are showcased in the areas immediately below. Categories include basic specifications covering country-of-origin, operational status, manufacture(s) and total quantitative production. Other qualities showcased are related to structural values (namely dimensions), installed power and standard day performance figures, installed or proposed armament and mission equipment (if any), global users (from A-to-Z) and series model variants (if any).

Cockpit picture from the Boeing / Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche Reconnaissance / Light Attack Helicopter

Boeing / Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche Cockpit Picture

General Assessment (BETA)

Firepower

Performance

Survivability

Versatility

Impact

Rating: 68 (of 100)
The rating is an internal assessment derived from forty factors pertaining to this entry.

Relative Maximum Speed Rating

Hi: 300mph

Lo: 150mph

This entry's maximum listed speed (201mph).

Graph average of 225 miles-per-hour.

Relative Operational Ranges

NYC

LON

PAR

BER

MOS

TOK

SYD

LAX

NYC

Graph showcases the Boeing / Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche's operational range (on internal fuel) when compared to distances between major cities.

Aviation Era Impact

Useful in showcasing the era cross-over of particular aircraft/aerospace designs.

Unit Production Comparison

Comm. Market HI*: 44,000 units

Military Market HI**: 36,183 units

* Commercial Market High belongs to Cessna 172.

** Military Market High belongs to Ilyushin Il-2.

Altitude Visualization

Compare this entry against other aircraft using our Comparison Tool

Supported Mission Types:

Air-to-Air

Interception

Unmanned

Ground Attack

Close-Air Support

Training

Anti-Submarine

Anti-Ship

Airborne Early Warning

MEDEVAC

Electronic Warfare

Maritime/Navy

Aerial Tanker

Utility/Transport

Passenger Industry

VIP Travel

Business Travel

Search/Rescue

Recon/Scouting

Special Forces

X-Plane/Development

National Origin: United States

Service Year: 2004

Classification Type: Reconnaissance / Light Attack Helicopter

Manufacturer(s): Boeing Helicopters / Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation - USA

Production Units: 2

Operational Status: Cancelled

Global Operators:
United States (cancelled)

Structural - Crew, Dimensions, and Weights:
Unless otherwise noted the presented statistics below pertain to the Boeing / Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche model. Common measurements, and their respective conversions, are shown when possible.

Operational
CREW

Personnel
2

Dimension
LENGTH

Feet
43.31 ft

Meters
13.2 m

Dimension
WIDTH

Feet
39.04 ft

Meters
11.9 m

Dimension
HEIGHT

Feet
11.06 ft

Meters
3.37 m

Weight
EMPTY

Pounds
20,503 lb

Kilograms
9,300 kg

Weight
LOADED

Pounds
12,359 lb

Kilograms
5,606 kg

Installed Power - Standard Day Performance:
2 x LHTEC T800-LHT-801 turboshaft engines developing 1,563 horsepower each while driving a five-blade main rotor with an eight-blade "fan-in-fin" shrouded tail rotor.

Performance
SPEED

Miles-per-Hour
201 mph

Kilometers-per-Hour
324 kph

Knots
175 kts

Performance
RANGE

Miles
1,382 mi

Kilometers
2,224 km

Nautical Miles
1,201 nm

Performance
CEILING

Feet
14,980 ft

Meters
4,566 m

Miles
2.84 mi

Performance
CLIMB RATE

Feet-per-Minute
895 ft/min

Meters-per-Minute
273 m/min

Armament - Hardpoints (4 (2 x internal bays; 2 x optional wing stubs)):

STANDARD:
1 x 20mm XM301 three-barrel cannon in chin turret.

OPTIONAL (INTERNAL BAYS):
6 x Hellfire anti-tank missiles OR 6 x Stinger air-to-air missiles OR 24 x Hydra 70 2.75" air-to-surface rockets.

OPTIONAL (STUB WINGS):
8 x Hellfire anti-tank missiles OR 16 x Stinger air-to-air missiles OR 56 x Hydra 70 2.75" air-to-surface rockets.

Visual Armory:

Graphical image of an air-to-air missile weapon

Graphical image of a short-range air-to-air missile

Graphical image of an aircrat automatic cannon

Graphical image of an aircraft air-to-surface missile

Graphical image of an aircraft anti-tank guided missile

Graphical image of aircraft aerial rockets

Variants: Series Model Variants
• RAH-66 "Comanche" - Base Series Designation
• YRAH-66 - Prototype Model Designation; two constructed.

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