The Comanche was fitted with a fire control radar (based on the Longbow millimetre wave radar on the AH-64D Apache helicopter), developed by Northrop Grumman Land Combat Systems and Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. The first complete EOSS system was delivered in June 2003. Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control has developed the EOSS (electro-optics sensor system) which comprised: EOTADS target acquisition and designation system, including solid-state TV sensor, two-colour laser rangefinder / designator and second-generation focal plane array long-wave FLIR (forward-looking infrared) and NVPS night-vision pilotage system with a second FLIR. The analysed data was presented to the crew in the cockpit displays or transmitted to other elements of the force, providing direct relay of near real time intelligence. Northrop Grumman TASS (target acquisition system software) functions included automatic target tracking and target threat management. The Comanche was equipped with a suite of passive sensors and a computer-aided Northrop Grumman mission planning system, which carried out sensor data fusion, high-speed analysis and correlation of the sensor data. “The Comanche was equipped with two T-800-LHT-801 turboshaft engines.” The helicopter countermeasures suite included an AN/AVR-2A(V) advanced laser warning receiver from Goodrich Electro-Optical Systems (formerly Raytheon) of Danbury, Connecticut, and the ITT AN/ALQ-211 SIRCM (suite of integrated radio frequency countermeasures) suite, as well as infrared jammers. The 500 round ammunition supply system could be reloaded in less than eight minutes by two crew members. The gun was mounted on a Giat composite turret (weighing 127kg) under the nose of the helicopter. The stowable externally powered three-barrel 20mm Gatling gun was capable of firing 750 or 1,500 rounds a minute. The Comanche was equipped with a turreted gun system from General Dynamics Armament Systems. The helicopter could be reconfigured with optional stub wings fitted with multiple weapon pylons which carried an additional four Hellfire or eight Stinger missiles. The number of missiles on each door mounting varied, for example each door could hold three Hellfire or six Stinger missiles. The internal weapon bay could be fitted with Stinger, Starstreak or Mistral air-to-air missiles TOW II, Hot II or Longbow Hellfire air-to-ground missiles Sura D 81mm, Snora 81mm, Hydra 70 rockets or the army counter air weapon system. The missiles are mounted on the weapon bay doors which open sideways. The Comanche carried its weapons internally and had a weapons bay on each side of the fuselage. The CNI suite will feature secure multiwave, multiband multimode wireless communications, link 16, satellite communications and enhanced position locating reporting system (EPLRS) via the tactical internet. Northrop Grumman provided the Comanche’s integrated communications, navigation and identification (CNI) suite. The targets were designated and the weapons fired from collective and sidestick control push buttons.Įach integrated cockpit had Harris Corp flat screen liquid crystal displays, a colour display for a digital moving map system, tactical situation and night operation display. HIDSS employed active matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD) technology. The cockpit was fitted with a pilot’s night-vision system from Lockheed Martin and the pilots had a wide field of view (35° × 52°) Kaiser Electronics helmet-integrated display sighting system (HIDSS). US Army cancelled the RAH-66 Comanche helicopter programme.”
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