January 13, 2013 at 12:43 am
I know some of you will laugh me to scorn but please hear me out 1st.
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 46.85 ft (14.28 m)
Rotor diameter: 39.04 ft (11.90 m)
Height: 11.06 ft (3.37 m)
Disc area: 1,197 ft² (111 m²)
Empty weight: 9,300 lb (4,218 kg)
Loaded weight: 12,349 lb (5,601 kg)
Useful load: 5,062 lb (2,296 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 17,408 lb (7,896 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × LHTEC T800-LHT-801 turboshaft, 1,563 hp (1,165 kW) each
Fuselage length: 43.31 ft (13.20 m)
Rotor systems: 5-bladed main rotor, 8-bladed fan-in-fin anti-torque system (FANTAIL)
Performance
Maximum speed: 175 knots (201 mph, 324 km/h)
Cruise speed: 165 knots (190 mph, 306 km/h)
Range: 262 nmi (302 mi, 485 km) on internal fuel
Combat radius: 150 nmi (173 mi, 278 km) on internal fuel
Ferry range: 1,200 nmi (1,380 mi, 2,220 km)
Endurance: 2.5 hr
Service ceiling: 14,980 ft (4,566 m)
Rate of climb: 895 ft/min (4.55 m/s)
Armament
1× 20 mm XM301 three-barrel Gatling-style cannon mounted in a Turreted Gun System (capacity: 500 rounds)
Internal bays: 6× AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles, or 6× AIM-92 Stinger air-to-air missiles, or 24× 2.75 in (70 mm) Hydra 70 air-to-ground rockets
Optional stub wings: 8× Hellfires, 16× Stingers, or 56× Hydra 70 rockets
Has Modern tech caught up enough to make the Comanche affordable?
1. Build the Comanche with modern F-35 fiber-mat materials to reduce costs.
2. Build a Unmanned version to increase speed range and or armament.
3.No other fancy new gimmicks with the exception of the new building materials, and or the unmanned sensors
4. Ability to share deck space on a wasp class ship due to the new fiber-mat.
My thinking is that with an increased range the Army would be back in the 1st day 1st strike game. The reasoning behind the cancellation was not just a monetary concern, a operational doctrine concern. I cant help but wonder if with the new Pacific pivot if this would be a good idea. You don’t need to go so far behind enemy lines versus a near peer, that’s a stealthy UAVs JOB.
When and if we fight our next near peer, it would be nice to have all of our service branches able to contribute. Should the Comanche be revived? discuss