us army will retire vietnam era helicopters

defense systems daily ^ | sept-10-2001 | defense systems daily

[green team 1999]

us army will retire vietnam era helicopters

10 September 2001
The US Army has announced a significant acceleration of its aviation modernisation plan. The plan accelerates the retirement of older, Vietnam-era helicopters and the recapitalisation of other types of helicopters remaining in the fleet. Its also will allow The Army to compress the procurement timeline of the Comanche aircraft and moves newer helicopters sooner into the US Army National Guard and US Army Reserve.

"This Aviation Modernisation Plan supports Army Transformation by posturing our aviation force for transitioning to the Objective Force," said Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Eric K. Shinseki. "As in all things associated with Army Transformation, the intent is to transform the force and do it quickly without breaking readiness. These adjustments will improve our posture as a warfighting force."

The plan will reduce the total number of aircraft by more than 400 in the active force and by more than 600 in the reserve forces. This will include accelerating the retirement of the Vietnam-era UH-1 "Huey" helicopters and AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters, which will phased out by. 2004. 240 aircraft will be moved from active to reserve component units.

By the end of 2004 the operational fleet will consist of only four types of helicopters: the AH-64 Apache, the UH-60 Blackhawk, the OH-58 Kiowa, and the CH-47 Chinook. The reduction in the number of types of helicopters will yield significant savings in terms of spare parts inventories, operating costs and training requirements for pilots, crews and maintenance personnel.

The increased effectiveness of the AH-64D model over the A model, as well as enhanced Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, has allowed a reduction in the numbers of attack helicoptersin units. By the end of 2002, attack helicopter battalions in heavy divisions will be restructured from 24 to 18 AH-64 Apaches. Corps-level attack battalions will be converted from 24 to a maximum of 21 Apaches.


For the long-term, Comanche remains the Army's highest aviation priority and is the centrepiece of Army aviation transformation. The UH-60 Blackhawk will remain the foundation of The Army's utility helicopter fleet. The CH-47 Chinook will continue to provide medium/heavy lift capability for the foreseeable future. To have the capability required for the Objective Force, the Army will continue to upgrade these aircraft to the UH-60L/M and CH-47F models.

The Army has established a goal of maintaining a 90 percent operational readiness rate by 2004 as opposed to the current fleet average of 75 percent

for information and discusion only,not for profit etc,etc.

[green team 1999]

they are in a hurry to modernize the equipment.