The RAH-66 Comanche is an Osean stealth armed aerial reconnaissance and attack helicopter designed for the Osean Defense Force.
During the early 1980s, the Osean Defense Force started to formulate requirements for the replacement of its helicopters then in service, which resulted in the launch of the Light Helicopter Experimental (LHX) program. Nearly a decade later, following the refinement of requirements, evaluation of submissions, and the rebranding of the program as the Light Helicopter (LH) program, during April 1991, the Army announced the selection of the Boeing–Sikorsky team's design as the contest winner, shortly after which a contract for construction of prototypes was awarded. The Comanche was to incorporate several advanced elements, such as stealth technologies, and a number of previously untried design features. Operationally, it was to employ advanced sensors in its reconnaissance role, in which it was intended to designate targets for the AH-64 Apache. It was also armed with one 30mm gatling gun and could carry many other weapons such as missiles and rocket launchers in internal bays and optionally on stub wings for light attack duties, it can even armed with the Pulse Laser.
History[]
During 1982, the Osean Army initiated the Light Helicopter Experimental (LHX) program with the aim of producing a replacement for several existing rotorcraft, including the UH-1, AH-1 Cobra, OH-6, and OH-58 helicopters. It was a further six years until, in 1988, a formal request for proposal (RFP) was issued to various manufacturers, in time which the requirement had evolved into a battlefield reconnaissance helicopter. In October 1988, the Army announced two teams, these being Boeing–Sikorsky and Bell–McDonnell Douglas, received contracts to further develop their concepts. During the 1990s, the program's name was changed from LHX to simply Light Helicopter (LH). Later in April 1991, the helicopter received its official designation of RAH-66 Comanche.
Design[]
The RAH-66 Comanche is a five-bladed, rotary-wing stealth helicopter designed for both armed reconnaissance and ground attack duties.
Armament
The Comanche is armed with a 30 mm gatling gun mounted onto an external gun turret fitted beneath the cockpit. It is pre-loaded with a 2600 round belt of high-explosive (HE) shells.
Features
The Comanche's rotors are modified so that they operate much more silently. It is more difficult to hear a Comanche flying in compared to Yuktobanian and Erusean helicopters, which can be easily heard from many kilometres away.
Meanwhile, its stealth coating also ensures that fighter aircraft and anti-aircraft vehicles will really difficult detecting it from afar.
Mobility
Unlike its bulkier and cumbersome counterparts (Mi-28 Havoc and Ka-52 Alligator), the Comanche is highly agile and very fast for its size. Nonetheless, it can gain lift and generate thrust rapidly at almost any angle and direction.
Its manoeuvrability is even better than the AH-1 Cobra, but in comparison is far better armored and equipped to deal with a variety of threats. However, the Comanche does have a slight problem with losing lift while performing high speed/high-G turns, or from pulling out of a dive.
Drawbacks
The RAH-66's 30mm ammunition reserve is 2600 rounds, more than the Mi-28's (1200 rounds), but the Mi-28 is capable of carrying 250 and 500 kg bombs to destroy fortified and heavily armored targets like fortresses and heavy tanks. The RAH-66 also carries less weapons than the Mi-28, but the Comanche can carries variety of weapons, while its counterparts is mainly focused on ground attacks, the Comanche can perform both Air and Ground attacks.
Weapons[]
Guns:[]
- 1x 30mm gatling gun
Standard Missiles:[]
- STDM (AIM-9 Sidewinder)
Air-to-Air Weapons:[]
- SAAM (AIM-7 Sparrow)
- HVAA (AIM-7 Sparrow)
- HCAA (AIM-120 AMRAAM)
- SASM (AIM-132 ASRAAM)
- HPAA (AIM-9X Sidewinder)
- QAAM (AIM-9X Sidewinder)
- LAAM (AIM-260 JATM)
Air-to-Ground Weapons:[]
- GPB (GBU-16 Paveway II)
- RKTL (Hydra 70)
- UGBS (Mk.81 Firecracker)
- UGBM (Mk.82 Snakeye)
- UGBL (Mk.84 Bomb)
- LASM (AGM-84 Harpoon)
- LAGM (AGM-88 HARM)
- 4AGM (AGM-114 Hellfire)
- 8AGM (AGM-179 JAGM)
- LACM (AGM-158 JASSM)
Multi-Purpose Weapons:[]
- RGP (GPU-2/A)
- MGP (GPU-5/A)
- HGP (GPU-5/A)
- MPM
- MSTM (AIM-9 Sidewinder)
- PLSL
Flares:[]
- 5x Flares
Skins[]
- Dark air superiority grey.
- Desert camouflage based on Israeli AH-64D.
- Leopard pattern camouflage.
- Light silver with black sharkmouth nose art.
- Black with A-10-style sharkmouth art.
