ARH-70 Arapaho, USA - Best Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter for US Forces

2. • INTRODUCTION
• COCKPIT
• SENSORS
• WEAPONS
• ENGINE
• PERFORMANCE

3. • In July 2005, the United States Army placed a contract on Bell
Helicopters for the next-generation armed reconnaissance
helicopter, ARH.
• The ARH, designated the ARH-70A Arapaho, was to replace
the army's current Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warriors which have
been in operation since the mid 1980s and are approaching
the end of their operational life.
• In October 2008, the US Army terminated the ARH
programme.
• Spiralling costs and delays were cited as the reason for the
cancellation. The ARH was originally scheduled for delivery by
2009, but this had slipped to 2013.

5. • Rockwell Collins is responsible for the ARH avionics suite, the
common avionics architecture system (CAAS), which is also
being fitted on US Army's special operations, CH-47F and UH-
60M fleets.
• The CAAS includes two 6in×8in colour active matrix liquid-
crystal MFD-268 multi-function displays and CDU-7000 control
display units which control communications, navigation,
weapons and defensive aids.
• The suite also includes an embedded GPS / inertial navigation
system and Smiths Aerospace integrated standby instrument
system (ISIS).

7. • The sensor suite includes the Bright Star II target
acquisition and sighting system developed by
FLIR Systems.
• The sensor turret will be installed under the nose
of the helicopter and incorporates a laser
designator and range finder, a laser spot tracker,
colour television and a forward-looking infrared
camera.

9. • The helicopter can be armed with a variety of weapons to
suit the mission requirements.
• The helicopter is capable of deploying AGM-114 Hellfire
missiles, GAU-19 (12.75mm) Gatling gun pods which fire
at 2,000 rounds a minute, Hydra 70 air-to-ground rockets
and up to seven 2.75in guided or unguided rockets such
as the folding-fin aerial rocket pods (FAR pods).
• The helicopter will be fitted with an electronic warfare
suite including active and passive countermeasures.

11. • The ARH-70A is powered by one
Honeywell HTS900-2 turbine engine
equipped with dual channel full
authority digital engine control
(FADEC) system.
• The HTS900-2 is rated at 970shp
(723kW).

13. • The performance of the ARH, the militarised 407,
is modified by the additional weight and different
aerodynamic properties based on the weapons
pylons, FLIR pod and other mission equipment.
• Typical approximate performance parameters
are range of 212km and an endurance of two
hours, according to the mission configuration and
battlefield flight profiles.

15. •http://www.army-
technology.com/proj
ects/arh-70a/