[sci.military] Army selects LH

x35147d3@usma8.usma.edu (Bergman Charles CDT) (04/07/91)

From: x35147d3@usma8.usma.edu (Bergman Charles CDT)


The U.S. Army has selected the Sikorsky/Boeing Vertol LH over the McDonnell
Douglas(builder of the Apache)/Bell Textron(builder of the Cobra) team.

     The decision was made official today 6 April 1991.  It seems that since
Bell/Boeing is the builders of the V-22, Sikorsky builds the Blackhawk, and now
Sikorsky/Boeing on the LH---McDonnel Douglas, formerly Hughes Helicopter
is all out of its helicopter military sales. The LH will replace the OH-58s and
Hueys to complement the UH-60s and AH-64s.  Ultimately by say 2010, there will
be no or very little Bell built aircraft in U.S. Army inventory, unless they
get in on the V-22!  It seems that if the V-22 fails then Sikorsky's CH-53E and
more Blackhawks will win even bigger.  Big bucks here and Bell and McDonnell
Douglas won't get to many, but then again the V-22 could go far and McDonnell
Douglas might be building Hornets for a long time for the Navy.

I guess the AH-64s production future along with the M1A2 tanks rest on foreign 
military sales.

We'll see.

Phantoms Phoever!

CDT Charles Bergman
x35147d3@usma.usma.edu
x35147d3@usma8.emh2-army.mil

major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt) (04/11/91)

From: bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt)


> From: x35147d3@usma8.usma.edu (Bergman Charles CDT)
> The U.S. Army has selected the Sikorsky/Boeing Vertol LH over the McDonnell
> Douglas(builder of the Apache)/Bell Textron(builder of the Cobra) team.

I had the opportunity to work on Boeing's LHX proposal (about 2 years ago).
We provided human engineering support (MANPRINT) to some avionic components
and some flight recorders.  Most of the work will be done at Boeing Vertol
in Philadelphia.  Boeing's other experience in helicoptors is as the prime
contractor for the CH-47 family of Chinooks.  

mike schmitt