Stealth helicopter

Stealth helicopters are helicopters that incorporate stealth technology to avoid detection.[1] Helicopters are in many ways less suitable for stealth technology than airplanes are, because of the noise generated by their rotor blades, which also give off a strong radar signature. In recent years, designs for blades have emerged that can significantly reduce noise,[2] which is a major issue for clandestine use of helicopters.[3] A raid on the compound of Osama bin Laden in May 2011 utilized what appeared to be two Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks, heavily modified for quieter operations and employing stealth technology to be less visible to radar.[4][5]

A stealthy RAH-66 Comanche (front) flying in formation with a non-stealthy AH-64 Apache (back)

Examples

There have been a few stealth helicopters:[6][7]

  • A modified Hughes 500P (1972), nicknamed "The Quiet One", had reduced noise operation capability and was used once by the CIA during the Vietnam War to deploy a wiretap.[8]
  • The Boeing/Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche (1996–2004) was a stealth helicopter project; the type was intended to be used for reconnaissance missions by the US Army, however the development project was cancelled during the prototype stage due to rising costs and considerable technical issues experienced.[4]
  • One or multiple of the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks used in the raid upon Osama bin Laden's compound on 1 May 2011 are believed to have featured stealth technologies. These features are said to include specialized materials, and the use of harsh angles and flat surfaces across the exterior fuselage, techniques previously employed upon other stealth aircraft.[9][10][11][12][13]
  • In October 2018, leaked images of a future stealthy unnamed Kamov helicopter have appeared online.[14] The footage was displayed in a meeting chaired by Sergei Mikheyev, General Designer of the Kamov Design Bureau, in front of Russian officials. The stealth technology used to decrease the RCS of this helicopter and to avoid its detection includes infrared heat suppressing systems and various stealthy fuselage contour constructions, in addition to an internal weapons bays[15].
  • Several helicopters, such as the HAL Light Combat Helicopter and Eurocopter Tiger, are said to feature presence-reduction measures or "stealth". The use of advanced composite materials on the airframe has commonly resulted in reductions in an aircraft's radar cross-section (RCS).[16] In the case of the Eurocopter Tiger, measures were taken to produce minimal visual, radar, infra-red and acoustic signatures to improve battlefield survivability.[17][18] HAL's Light Combat Helicopter is reported to feature a digital camouflage system.[19]

See also

References

Notes

    Citations
    1. Richardson 2001, p. 49.
    2. Nusca, Andrew. "Silent rotor blades could lead to true stealth helicopters." SmartPlanet, 2 March 2010. Retrieved: 6 May 2011.
    3. Axe, David "Aviation Geeks Scramble to ID bin Laden Raid’s Mystery Copter." Wired, 4 May 2011. Retrieved: 9 May 2011. Note: Axe quotes a military blog by Bill Tuttle, aviation technician and consultant.
    4. Geoghegan, Tom and Sarah Shenker. "Stealth helicopters used in Bin Laden raid." BBC News, 5 May 2011. Retrieved: 7 May 2011.
    5. Than, Ker. "Top Secret Copter Used in Osama bin Laden Raid, Experts Say." TechNewsDaily, 6 May 2011. Retrieved: 7 May 2011.
    6. Dartford 2004, p. 26.
    7. Singer 2009, p. 206.
    8. Chiles, James R. "Air America's Black Helicopter." Air & Space Smithsonian, February–March 2008, pp. 62–70. ISSN 0886-2257. Retrieved: 6 May 2011.
    9. Ross, Brian, Rhonda Schwartz, Lee Ferran and Avni Patel. "Top Secret Stealth Helicopter Program Revealed in Osama Bin Laden Raid: Experts." ABC World News. 4 May 2011.
    10. Naylor, Sean D. and Marcus Weisgerber. "Army mission helicopter was secret, stealth Black Hawk." Army Times, 4 May 2011. Retrieved: 7 May 2011.
    11. Gunner, Jerry. "Just what was the mystery US stealth-copter?" Key Publishing, 5 May 2011. Archived 14 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
    12. Sweetman, Bill. "Bin Laden Raid Crash Helo Reveals Stealth". Aviation Week, 6 May 2011. Retrieved: 8 May 2011.
    13. Trimble, Stephen. "Pakistan raid reveals US Army’s helicopter secret". Flight International, 6 May 2011. Retrieved: 8 May 2011. Archived 9 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
    14. Huber, Mark. "Russia Working On 378-knot Compound Helicopter". Aviation International News.
    15. "Russia accidentally leaks image of future high-speed helicopter". 27 October 2018.
    16. "Aero India | Event Coverage From Flightglobal | flightglobal.com". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
    17. Moxon 1995, p. 103.
    18. "Tiger – Technology." Eurocopter, Retrieved: 17 February 2013. Archived 9 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine
    19. "Indian Light Combat Helicopter TD-2 successfully tested by HAL | - Defence Aviation". defenceaviation.com. 2011-06-28. Retrieved 7 September 2016.

    Bibliography
    • Dartford, Mark. Helicopters (Military Hardware in Action). Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publishing Group, 2004. ISBN 978-0-8225-4707-5.
    • Richardson, Doug. Stealth Warplanes. Minneapolis, MN: Zenith Press, 2001. ISBN 978-0-7603-1051-9.
    • Singer, P. W. Wired for War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st Century. New York: Penguin, 2009. ISBN 0-14-311684-3.
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