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AN ANALYSIS OF U.S. ARMY
HELICOPTER PROGRAMS
The Congress of the United States
Congressional Budget Office
 
 
NOTES
All costs are expressed in 1996 dollars of budget authority.
Unless otherwise noted, all years referred to in this report are fiscal years.
Numbers in the text and tables may not add to totals because of rounding.
 
Preface

The Army's helicopters play an important role in the conduct of ground combat operations on the modern battlefield. Although the Army has invested heavily in its helicopter fleet during the past 15 years, it still retains many Vietnam-era helicopters in its inventory. The Army's plans for modernizing its helicopters focus on its attack and scout aircraft, with no major programs for replacing or overhauling its aging utility helicopters. Furthermore, because the Army's new reconnaissance and attack helicopter, the Comanche, will not begin to enter the fleet for at least 10 years, the Army will have to retain many older combat helicopters for at least another 20 years.

This analysis, conducted by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) at the request of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, examines several alternatives for modernizing the Army's helicopters and compares the costs and benefits of each alternative with the Army's plan for its helicopter fleet. In keeping with CBO's mandate to provide objective analysis, the study makes no recommendations.

Frances M. Lussier of CBO's National Security Division prepared the study with the assistance of Shaun Black under the general supervision of Cindy Williams and R. William Thomas. Joanne Vines and Raymond Hall of CBO's Budget Analysis Division provided the cost analysis. The author gratefully acknowledges the contributions of Robert M. Hunt, Matthew Eyles, and David Mosher of CBO and Dean Simmons of the Institute for Defense Analyses. (The assistance of external participants implies no responsibility for the final product, which rests solely with CBO.)

Sherry Snyder edited the manuscript, and Christian Spoor provided editorial assistance. Judith Cromwell and Cindy Cleveland produced drafts of the study. Kathryn Quattrone prepared it for publication.

June E. O'Neill
Director
December 1995
 

Contents

                SUMMARY
 

ONE       INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

                Problems with the Army's Helicopter Fleet
                Problems Related to Modernizing the Army's Helicopters
 

TWO     THE ARMY'S HELICOPTER FLEET TODAY

                Missions and Requirements for Army Helicopters
                The Army's Numerical Requirements for Helicopters
                The Army's Current Helicopter Fleet
 

THREE  THE ARMY'S PLAN FOR ITS HELICOPTER FLEET

                Aviation Modernization Programs
                The Aviation Restructure Initiative
            Assessment of the Army's Plan
 

FOUR    ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS FOR MODERNIZING

                Alternative I: Retain a Smaller Comanche Program, Buy Improved Kiowa Warriors, and Extend the Life of 
                the Hueys
            Alternative II: Continue to Buy Helicopters Currently in Production
                Alternative III: Buy Improved Kiowa Warriors and New Utility Helicopters
                Alternative IV: Retain and Modernize Helicopters in the Army's Inventory
                Comparison of the Alternatives
 

APPENDIX Aviation Force Structure
 

TABLES
 

S-1.     Programs for Modernizing Army Aviation
S-2.     Total Acquisition Costs Under the Army's Plan and Four Alternatives
S-3.     Effect of the Army's Plan and Four Alternatives on the Army's Helicopter Fleet
1.         The Army's Requirements for Helicopters to Equip and Support Its Units Based on the Army of Excellence Design
2.         Comparison of the Army's Helicopter Requirements and Its Inventory
3.         Effect of the Army's Aviation Restructure Initiative on the Composition of Some Combat Units
4.         Changes in Overall Helicopter Requirements Resulting from the Aviation Restructure Initiative Design
5.         Comparison of Combat Helicopter Requirements and Inventories Under Two Force Designs
6.         Comparison of Transport Helicopter Requirements and Inventories Under Two Force Designs
7.         Total Acquisition Costs Under the Army's Plan
8.         Programs for Modernizing Army Aviation
9.         Total Acquisition Costs Under Alternative I
10.       Helicopter Inventories Under Alternative I
11.       Total Acquisition Costs Under Alternative II
12.       Helicopter Inventories Under Alternative II
13.       Total Acquisition Costs Under Alternative III
14.       Helicopter Inventories Under Alternative III
15.       Total Acquisition Costs Under Alternative IV
16.       Helicopter Inventories Under Alternative IV
17.       Total Acquisition Costs Under the Army's Plan and Four Alternatives
18.       Effect of the Army's Plan and Four Alternatives on the Combat Fleet
19.       Effect of the Army's Plan and Four Alternatives on the Utility Fleet
A-1.    Composition of the Army's Major Fighting Units at the End of Fiscal Year 1996
A-2.    Type and Number of Aviation Units Assigned to the Army's Major Fighting Units Under the Army of Excellence
            Design
A-3.    Type and Number of Helicopters in Combat Aviation Units Under the Army of Excellence Design
A-4.    Type and Number of Helicopters in Transport and Support Aviation Units Under the Army of Excellence Design
A-5.    Type and Number of Helicopters Required Under the Army of Excellence Design
A-6.    Type and Number of Aviation Units Assigned to the Army's Major Fighting Units Under the Aviation Restructure
            Initiative Design
A-7.    Number of Aviation Units in the Army Under the Army of Excellence and Aviation Restructure Initiative Designs
A-8.    Type and Number of Helicopters in Combat Aviation Units Under the AOE and ARI Designs
A-9.    Type and Number of Helicopters in Transport and Support Aviation Units Under the AOE and ARI Designs
A-10.  Type and Number of Helicopters Required Under the Aviation Restructure Initiative Design
 

FIGURES
 
S-1.     Distribution of the Army's Helicopter Fleet by Age
S-2.     Capability of the Combat Fleet Under the Army's Plan and Four Alternatives
S-3.     Lift Capacity of the Utility Fleet Under the Army's Plan and Four Alternatives
1.         Scout Helicopters
2.         Attack Helicopters
3.         Utility Helicopters
4.         CH-47D Chinook Cargo Helicopter
5.         Composition, Average Age, and Capability of the Combat Fleet Under the Army's Plan
6.         Composition and Average Age of the Utility Fleet Under the Army's Plan
7.         Annual Acquisition Costs Under the Army's Plan
8.         Annual Acquisition Costs Under Alternative I
9.         Composition, Average Age, and Capability of the Combat Fleet Under Alternative I
10.       Composition, Average Age, and Lift Capacity of the Utility Fleet Under Alternative I
11.       Annual Acquisition Costs Under Alternative II
12.       Composition, Average Age, and Capability of the Combat Fleet Under Alternative II
13.       Composition, Average Age, and Lift Capacity of the Utility Fleet Under Alternative II
14.       Annual Acquisition Costs Under Alternative III
15.       Composition, Average Age, and Capability of the Combat Fleet Under Alternative III
16.       Composition, Average Age, and Lift Capacity of the Utility Fleet Under Alternative III
17.       Annual Acquisition Costs Under Alternative IV
18.       Composition, Average Age, and Capability of the Combat Fleet Under Alternative IV
19.       Composition, Average Age, and Lift Capacity of the Utility Fleet Under Alternative IV
20.       Capability of the Combat Fleet Under the Army's Plan and Four Alternatives
21.       Lift Capacity of the Utility Fleet Under the Army's Plan and Four Alternatives
 

BOX
 
1.         Designations for Army Helicopters

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