From DefenseNews

 

Pentagon Cancels Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter

By GINA CAVALLARO

Published: 16 Oct 19:39 EDT (23:39 GMT)

 

The Defense Department late today scrapped the $6.2 billion program to replace the aging OH-58D Kiowa Warrior with the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter, citing cost overruns.

The Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter was to replace the Kiowa Warrior, pictured. (M. Scott Mahaskey / Staff)

 

The Army announced in July that the contract with Bell-Textron was then more than 40 percent over cost, triggering a program reviewunder legislation know as the Nunn-McCurdy statute.

 

John Young, undersecretary of Defense for acquisition, technology and logistics announced late Thursday that DoD notified Congress that, as a result of the review, it would not re-certify the program because "the fundamental cost and schedule basis underlying award of the ARH is no longer valid."

 

"Rather than continue this program," Young said in a news release, "I have decided that the best course of action is to provide the Army with an opportunity to define a coherent, disciplined Kiowa Warrior helicopter replacement program, and to obtain more rigorous contract terms for its development."

 

Army Secretary Pete Geren echoed those comments in a press release.

 

"We have a duty to the Army and the taxpayer to move ahead with an alternative course of action to meet this critical capability for our Soldiers at the best price and as soon as possible," he said.

 

Joseph LaMarca Jr., Senior Vice President Communications at Bell Helicopter Textron, said in a statement, "We are extremely disappointed by this decision and still believe that the ARH-70A is the best replacement for the Kiowa Warrior... The ARH has proven to be a great performing aircraft and we are in the process of evaluating the impact of this decision and our next steps."

 

The embattled ARH program has been beset by delays and cost escalation since the program's baseline price tag was established in July 2005.

 

At that time, the per-unit cost for a new armed reconnaissance helicopter was tagged at $8.56 million, including research and development, site construction and labor. As of July, the cost of each aircraft was estimated by the Army to exceed $12 million, a cost 43 percent beyond the baseline estimate was reported July 8 to the Defense Department and Congress.

 

DoD now estimates that development will cost $942 million and the procurement average unit cost will be $14.48 million. Delivery of ARH to the Army was originally scheduled to take place by 2009, but the current projection is for 2013.

 

The Army's chief of operations promised a quick return to the drawing board and sought to reassure Kiowa aviators that their aircraft would be outfitted for their missions.

 

"W will rapidly pursue a re-validation of the particular characteristics needed for this capability so that we can restart the process of acquiring a manned, armed reconnaissance helicopter," Lt. Gen. James Thurman said in an Army news release. "Concurrently, we will invest significant efforts into our existing Kiowa Warrior fleet that ensures our air crews and commanders continue to have the best capability possible to perform the mission," he said.

 

The Army has 339 Kiowa helicopters dispersed among 10 squadrons, almost half of which are deployed. Most of those are in Iraq.

 

Under the original ARH timeline, the new recon aircraft was slated to have begun replacing the Kiowa in June.

 

But a year ago, when it became apparent that the summer 2008 timeline would not be met, the Army began enhancing the existing Kiowas with updated avionics and safety measures at about $2 million an aircraft. The airframe is 40 years old.

 

Seven squadrons now have the reset Kiowas. The aircraft in the remaining three squadrons, which would have been the recipients of the first ARH to be fielded, are also being reset.

 

Bell officials issued a written statement July 9 stating that "we remain confident that that we can produce the ARH at an affordable price. Bell Helicopter and its team of suppliers are ready to begin low-rate initial production of the ARH, and we are dedicated to producing a world-class weapons system for the Army's warfighters."

 

Thurman further stated that an armed recon helicopter was a critical capability for ground combat commanders and that the decision to discontinue the Bell contract "does not, in any way, diminish the imperative for this capability. Our operational tempo, attrition, and losses of six aircraft per year underscore the need to fill this requirement as quickly as possible," he said.

Well, krap, how difficult is it really to build a decent armed recon helicopter? Multiple billions spent on the RAH-66 Comanche, more billions spent on the ARH-70, and still no helo.

Well, krap, how difficult is it really to build a decent armed recon helicopter? Multiple billions spent on the RAH-66 Comanche, more billions spent on the ARH-70, and still no helo.

 

It's certainly not rocket science.

I see as normal these type of attitudes, like in the A400M development, project initiated in 1982, a "simple" subsonic aircraft whitout innovative technologies, first flight postposed, another time, to 2009.

I see as normal these type of attitudes, like in the A400M development, project initiated in 1982, a "simple" subsonic aircraft whitout innovative technologies, first flight postposed, another time, to 2009.

 

The A400M has one notable exception in comparison to the ARH: it is a multi-national program. We all know how most of those usually go.

I see as normal these type of attitudes, like in the A400M development, project initiated in 1982, a "simple" subsonic aircraft whitout innovative technologies, first flight postposed, another time, to 2009.

 

Eurofighter Typhoon, proposed late 1970s for 1980s use, only now cleared for multi-role operations.