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November 12, 2006
Military ditching the new for the old
Strange news via Strategy Page about the which helicopter will take over ocean-going rescue duties
The U.S. Department of Defense selected the HH-47 as its new sea-air rescue helicopter, and will buy 145 of them. These will replace the current force of rescue helicopters (the HH-60G (a variant of the UH-60 Blackhawk.)
The HH-47 is basically an updated version of the 1960s era CH-47 transport helicopter. The HH-47 had an edge because SOCOM (Special Operations Command) already uses a CH-47 variant, the MH-47, for commando operations.
The 22 ton HH-47s will cost about $69 million each, be all weather and will have the long range needed to be able to fly itself to overseas assignments.
The Blackhawk-based choppers are twenty years newer than the CH-47 design, supposedly providing improved performance and reliability as a result of the advances made possible by more than two decades of R&D.
Even taking into account the upgrades made to the airframe and avionics of the older bird, it's hard to believe that the Blackhawks were still unable to equal the capabilities of their older sibling.
I wonder what's behind this change.
Posted by Mike Lief at November 12, 2006 09:59 AM
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Comments
The military needs to face a larger problem. The country no longer has the funds to continue so many adventures in far away places. Imagine the cost for just one of the Blackhawk helicopters in this article?
The United States should immediately pull all but a token force out of German, Korea and every other country that is capable off defending itself. The US should not be looked at as the world's policeman.
Iraq is a poorly planned mess that shows what a boob our current leader is. Stubborn stupidity should not be applauded. Every American soldier should be out of Iraq within 6 months. Troops could then be deployed to Afghanistan where the country's security is really at stake.
If the US downsizes its missions, a higher concentration of troops and material can be concentrated on missions that really equate to national security. If new Blackhawks are necessary, great, buy them. Just buy only enough for a smaller number of missions.
Posted by: Parrot Fish at November 12, 2006 05:10 PM