The U.S. Army could issue a formal request for proposal (RFP) early next year for what could become a helicopter armed aerial scout (AAS) program. The AAS–which might encompass at least 300 helicopters–is a potential $5 billion bonanza for the winner and could have significant implications for civil helicopter manufacturers, not just in terms of revenue but also with regard to driving, or not driving, new technologies such as the Sikorsky X2. Historically, Army aviation has provided the necessary catalyst for successful civil programs, including the Bell 206 and what is now the MD500.
The AAS would replace the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) program, which was canceled in 2008 because of budget and scheduling concerns. The ARH was built around the Bell 407 airframe and was intended to replace the service’s aging fleet of Bell OH-58 Kiowa Warriors, but the program imploded as unit costs grew to $10 million. The Army now plans to keep that fleet flying through at least 2020 with a package of equipment upgrades and weight reduction that will cost nearly $4 million per aircraft, or $1.8 billion for the fleet. Despite the demise of the ARH, within the Pentagon there is still a strong bias for an AAS solution that builds on the guts of a commercial off-the-shelf (Cots) airframe, but with manned and unmanned/optionally piloted capabilities that could potentially be shared with other branches of the military.
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