posted on Oct, 20 2013 @ 03:27 AM
reply to post by IamSirDrinksalot
Would a stealth attack chopper be able to defeat shoulder launched guided munitions (depending on the seeker I suppose)/ IR/Heat/Laser but not Optical
or unguided.
Unguided munitions like RPGs have a 900 meter burn out range. Staying at altitude would suffice 800 to 1000 ft AGL hard decks and maintaining at least
90-120 KIAS.
As for other threats from guided MANPADS, and other guided missiles we have CMWS, EOMS, LDS and RDS that all work in conjunction with each other. And
that's not even for stealth aircraft. CMWS systems work, they are battle tested.
What would the primary role of an attack chopper be in modern warfare - CAS / Anti Tank - therefore, when you are close up and personal, how much use
is physical stealth.
The RAH-66 primary mission set was going to be recon and surveillance. Stealthy and not so stealthy UAV technology makes that role unnecessary.
I would imagine sound suppression is a massive goal, not sure how much the Commanche had.
Survivorbility against small arms and shoulder launched weapons would mean great armour and defence aids.
Sound suppression would only be needed by UH class helicopters. Which is what a stealth helicopter would be most useful for anyway. They are the ones
that are going to perform high risk air assaults that require as much stealth as can be gleaned from a rotary wing aircraft.
Small arms fire can be handled by making flight control components ballistically tolerant as they have already done. The Blackhawk has 2 sets of
ballistically tolerant primary flight control servos for every motion. The rotor head and blades are also ballistically tolerant up to 20mm rounds. We
also have BAPS installed. Shoulder fired munitions can be taken care of by doing what I mentioned above. Maintain hard decks and certain airspeeds. On
the ground there's not much you can do. But this is where having good intel on you LZs and PZs are so important.
That's about all I got for ya.