Remarks on the requirement for a light combat helicopter (LCH) capable of multi-role missions as a scout-attack and utility helicopter in support of conventional light infantry forces in a low-intensity conflict environment requiring rapid deployment. The Army is pursuing a planned acquisition of an entire new family of light helicopters, the LHX, that is of high-tech design and capability, and will meet all Army requirements for a LCH well into the 21st Century. Initial fielding of the LHX is not expected before the mid-1990s. The thesis of the author is that technology and innovative ideas exist today that allow fielding of a limited number of near-term LCHs in the light divisions that constitute the US Army's conventional rapid deployment forces. Recent operations such as Grenada have demonstrated the validity of this need, today, for low-intensity situations involving rapid deployment of light forces into combat. Several experimental tests and evaluations using both current production Army helicopters and commercial versions have demonstrated the ability to produce a near-term, affordable LCH. Ideas drawn from these experiments along with suggestions from other authors on this subject are offered as possible solutions until the LHX is fielded.
Requirement for a Light Combat Helicopter
1986
22 pages
Report
No indication
English
WORLD NEWS & ANALYSIS - Spain selects Tiger for combat helicopter requirement
Online Contents | 2003
Shake Test on Light Combat Helicopter
Online Contents | 2011
|The HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH)
Online Contents | 2011
Reduction of Structural Vibration on Light Combat Helicopter
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2015
|