OSD, Army Consider ARH Alternatives

Defense Daily, Oct 8, 2008 by Ann Roosevelt

By Ann Roosevelt

The fate of the Army's Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH), produced by Bell Helicopter Textron [TXT], is in the hands of the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and both the service and OSD analysts are examining alternatives.

Brig. Gen. Walter Davis, director of Army Aviation, said, "we are weighing alternatives...it's a prudent measure."

Maj. Gen. James Barclay, Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Ft. Rucker commanding general, said exploring alternatives for the service's requirement for an ARH is also being examined by one of four OSD teams going over the ARH program.

In July, the program triggered a mandatory Defense Department review by exceeding its $6.2 billion budget by more than 40 percent (Defense Daily, July 10).

Thus, when the OSD teams finish their work, it will be up to John Young, the Pentagon acquisition chief, to give ARH the nod to continue or for the Army to fill the requirement another way.

Paul Bogosian, Program Executive Officer for U.S. Army Aviation, said the Army is still on contract with Bell. If the program is recertified, the service will re-engage vigorously, with the intent to move forward with a rapid response, then present a strategy that conforms with OSD oversight and ensure that "OSD and the Army are aligned as to expectations."

If the program is not certified, the Army will evaluate how to fill the requirement for a manned armed reconnaissance helicopter and move to the force as rapidly as possible.

"We'll move rapidly with Bell or rapidly to an alternative," he said.

The ARH, which is to replace the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior, also produced by Bell, is part of the emerging new mission area of manned/unmanned teaming, Barclay said.

In Afghanistan, Davis said, the Kiowa Warrior has the highest operational tempo of any airframe in the Army inventory right now.

To bridge any potential gap until the ARH or an equivalent is fielded, upgrades are planned to buy back some performance on the Kiowa, Barclay said.

[Copyright 2006 Access Intelligence, LLC. All rights reserved.]

TICKER(S): Bell Helicopter Textron [TXT]: