Piss Ants Versus Elephants: A Design for Rapid Deployment.
Abstract
While our attack helicopter development program has technologically increased the capability of the fleet, it has produced a behemoth which is of little use if we cannot get it to the fight in time to participate. Advances in technology to available production aircraft present the opportunity to field a smaller attack helicopter which would use 50% less strategic airlift assets than the current attack helicopter battalion. It could also provide an 80% increase in the battalion's firepower and significantly ease the logistics burden. This paper compares the deployability and supportability of current attack helicopter battalions with a proposed light attack helicopter battalion equipped with off-the-shelf, combat tested helicopters. The conclusion reached is that we need to design some attack helicopter units specifically for the rapid deployment mission by taking advantage of the relatively low cost, easy to deploy and support aircraft that are currently available.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 23, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA149630
Entities
People
- R. D. Hurley
Organizations
- United States Army War College