Copter Force

Within the Army’s arsenal exist a special team of men & women servicing and flying the US Army’s “copter force”. Over the years, names like Blackhawk, Huey and Cobra have become household words as the supported our men on the ground.  Join us now as we go behind the scenes with these brave men as they fullfill their vital mission with the Army.

Black Hawk

Mission
Provide air assault, general support, aeromedical evacuation, command and control and special operations support to combat and stability and support operations.
Entered Army Service 1979

Description and Specifications
The UH 60 Black Hawk is a utility tactical transport helicopter that replaces the UH-1 "Huey". The versatile Black Hawk has enhanced the overall mobility of The Army, due to dramatic improvements in troop capacity and cargo lift capability, and will serve as The Army's utility helicopter in the Objective Force. On the asymmetric battlefield, it provides the commander the agility to get to the fight quicker and to mass effects throughout the battlespace across the full spectrum of conflict. An entire 11-person, fully-equipped infantry squad can be lifted in a single Black Hawk, transported faster than in predecessor systems, in most weather conditions. The Black Hawk can reposition a 105 mm Howitzer, its crew of six, and lift up to 30 rounds of ammunition in a single lift. The aircraft's critical components and systems are armored or redundant, and its airframe is designed to progressively crush on impact to protect the crew and passengers.
Max. Gross Weight:
Cruising Speed:
Endurance:
Max. Range:
External Load:
Internal Load:
Crew:
Armament:
UH-60A
20,250 lbs
139 kt
2.3 hrs
320 nm
8000 lbs
2640 lbs (or 11 combat-equipped troops)
4 (2 pilots; 2 crew chiefs)
Two 7.62mm machine guns
UH-60L
22,000 lbs, 23,500 (external cargo)
150kt
2.1 hrs
306 nm
9000 lbs
Manufacturer
United Technologies (Stratford, CT); General Electric (Lynn, MA)

Chinook

Mission
Transport ground forces, supplies, ammunition and other battle-critical cargo in support of worldwide combat and contingency operations.
Entered Army Service 1962

Description and Specifications
The venerable twin-engine, tandem rotor Chinook helicopter has undergone numerous upgrades since the first CH-47A model was delivered to the Army for use in Vietnam. Beginning in 1982 and ending in 1994, all CH-47A, B and C models were upgraded to the CH-47D version, which remains the U.S. Army standard and features composite rotor blades, an improved electrical system, modularized hydraulics, triple cargo hooks, avionics and communication improvements, and more powerful engines that can handle a 19,500 lb load – nearly twice the Chinook’s original lift capacity. An upgrade program exists to remanufacture 300 of the current fleet of 425 CH-47D’s to the CH-47F standard. The MH-47E is the Special Forces variant of the Chinook and will be remanufactured to the MH-47G.

The Chinook’s cockpit accommodates two pilots and an observer. The communications suite includes jam resistant HF and UHF radio systems and the helicopter is equipped with an Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) interrogator. Three machine guns can be mounted on the helicopter, two in the crew door on the starboard side and one window-mounted on the port side. Additionally, the helicopter is equipped with a suite of countermeasure systems, which could include one or more of the following: a missile approach warner, jammers, radar warner, and chaff and flare dispensers.

The Chinook has a triple hook system, which provides stability to large external loads or the capacity for multiple external loads. Large external loads such as 155mm howitzers can be transported at speeds up to 260km/h using the triple hook load configuration. Multiple external loads can be delivered to two or three separate destinations in one sortie.

The cabin provides 42 cubic meters of cargo space and 21 square meters of cargo floor area and can accommodate two HMMWVs (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle) or a HMMWV together with 105mm howitzer and gun crew. The main cabin can hold up to 33 fully-equipped troops. For medical evacuation, the cabin can accommodate 24 litters (stretchers).

Ramp operations can be carried out on water using an optional power-down ramp and water dam configuration.

The Chinook is equipped with two T55-GA-714A turboshaft engines, which are pod-mounted on either side of the rear pylon under the rear rotor blades. The self-sealing fuel tanks are mounted in external fairings on the sides of the fuselage. The fixed tanks hold 1,030 gallons of fuel. Three additional fuel tanks can be carried in the cargo area. In-flight refueling can extend the range of the MH-47 helicopter.

The CH-47F upgrade program involves the installation of a new digital cockpit and modifications to the airframe to reduce vibration. The upgraded cockpit will provide future growth potential and will include a digital data bus that permits installation of enhanced communications and navigation equipment for improved situational awareness, mission performance, and survivability. Airframe structural modifications will reduce harmful vibrations, reducing operations and support (O&S) costs and improving crew endurance. Other airframe modifications will reduce by approximately 60% the time required for aircraft tear down and build-up after deployment on a C-5 or C-17. These modifications will significantly enhance the Chinook’s strategic deployment capability. First Unit Equipped (FUE) date for the CH-47F is September 2004.

A separate but complementary effort involves the installation of more powerful and reliable T55-GA-714A engines that improve fuel efficiency and enhance lift performance by approximately 3,900 lbs (enabling it to carry the M198 155mm towed howitzer). Installation of an improved crashworthy extended range fuel system (ERFS II) will enable Chinook self-deployment and extend the operational radius of all other missions. A program is also underway to reduce O&S costs through the joint development with the United Kingdom of a low-maintenance rotor hub.
* Max Gross Weight:   50,000 lbs
* Empty Weight:   23,401 lbs
* Max Speed:   170 knots / 184 mph
* Normal Cruise Speed:   130 knots / 137 mph
* Rate of Climb:   1,522 ft/min
* Rotor System:   three manual-folding blades per hub (two hubs); 225 revolutions per minute; 60-ft rotor span
* Troop Capacity:   36 (33 troops plus 3 crew members)
* Litter Capacity:   24
* Sling-load Capacity:   26,000 lb center hook; 17,000 lb forward/aft hook; 25,000 lb tandem
* Minimum Crew:   3 (pilot, co-pilot, and flight engineer)

Manufacturer
Aircraft - Boeing (Philadelphia, PA); Cockpit Upgrade - Rockwell Collins (Cedar Rapids, IA); Engine Upgrade - Honeywell (Phoenix, AZ); ERFS II - Robertson Aviation (Tempe, AZ)

Apache Longbow

Mission
Conducts rear, close, and shaping missions including deep precision strike. Conducts distributed operations, precision strikes against relocatable targets, and provides armed reconnaissance when required in day, night, obscured battlefield and adverse weather conditions.
Entered Army Service

AH-64 (1984); AH-64D (1998)
Description and Specifications

The AH-64 Apache is The Army's heavy division/corps attack helicopter. The AH-64D Longbow remanufacture effort incorporates a millimeter wave fire control radar (FCR), radar frequency interferometer (RFI), fire-and-forget radar-guided HELLFIRE missile and cockpit management and digitization enhancements. The combination of the FCR, RFI, and the advanced navigation and avionics suite of the aircraft provide increased situational awareness, lethality and survivability.
* Combat Mission:   167 mph
* Combat Range:   300 miles
* Combat Endurance:   2.5 hours
* Length:   49 ft 5 in
* Mission Weight:   16,600 lbs
* Armament:   HELLFIRE missiles, 2.75” rockets and 30mm chain gun
* Crew:   2 (pilot and co-pilot gunner)
Manufacturer
Airframe - Boeing (Mesa, AZ); Fire Control Radar - Northrup Grummen (Linthicum, MD); Lockheed Martin (Owego, NY); MTADS/PNVS - Lockheed Martin (Orlando, FL); Boeing (Mesa, AZ)

Kiowa Warrior

Mission
Conduct armed reconnaissance, security, target acquisition and designation, command and control, light attack and defensive air combat missions in support of combat and contingency operations. Replaces AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters (those that function as scouts in air cavalry troops and light attack companies) and OH-58A and C Kiowas in air cavalry troops. Will be replaced by Comanche.
Entered Army Service 1991

Description and Specifications
A single engine, four-bladed helicopter with advanced visionics, navigation, communication, and weapons and cockpit integration systems. The mast-mounted sight (MMS) houses a thermal imaging system, low-light television, laser rangefinder/designator, and an optical boresight system. These systems enable the Kiowa Warrior to operate by day and night and allow target acquisition and engagement at stand-off ranges and in adverse weather conditions. The Kiowa Warrior's highly accurate navigation system provides precise target location that can be sent digitally to other aircraft or artillery via its advanced digital communications system. Battlefield imagery can be transmitted to provide near-real-time situational awareness to command and control elements. The Laser Designator can provide autonomous designation for the Laser HELLFIRE or remote designation for other laser-guided precision weapons.

The Kiowa Warrior is equipped with two universal quick-change weapons pylons. Each pylon can be armed with two HELLFIRE missiles, seven HYDRA 70 rockets, two air-to-air Stinger missiles, or one .50 caliber fixed forward machine gun. The armament systems combine to provide anti-armor, anti-personnel, and anti-aircraft capabilities at standoff ranges.

The Kiowa Warrior is rapidly deployable by air and can be fully operational within minutes of arrival. Two Kiowa aircraft can be transported in a C-130 aircraft. For air transportation the vertical tail fin pivots, the main rotor blades and the horizontal stabilizer are folded, and the mast mounted site, the IFF antenna and the lower wire cutter are removed. The landing gear can kneel to decrease the height.

Although Kiowa Warrior fielding is complete, the Army is currently installing a series of safety and performance modifications to keep the aircraft safe and mission effective until it is retired.
* Crew:   2
* Max Gross Weight:   5,500 lbs (armed)
* Empty Weight:   3,289 lbs
* Height:   12 ft, 10.6 in
* Width:   6 ft, 5.4 in
* Length:   33 ft, 4 in
* Rotor Diameter:   35 ft
* Max Cruise Speed:   128 mph
* Range:   299 miles (sea level, no weapons, 10% reserve)
* Ceiling:   19,000 ft
* Armament:   Air-to-air Stinger (ATAS) (2 round launcher); .50 caliber machine gun (500 rounds); HYDRA 70 (2.75 in) rockets (7-shot pod); HELLFIRE missiles (2-round launcher)

Manufacturer
Rolls Royce/Allison Engines (Indianapolis, IN); Honeywell (Albuquerque, NM); Bell Helicopter, Textron (Fort Worth, TX); Boeing (Anaheim, CA); Simula (Tempe, AZ); Edwards (Bristol, TN)