Army begins Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter initiative with Aug. 29 ceremony
August 26, 2005
The U.S. Army and representatives of Bell Helicopter Textron will participate in a contract-signing ceremony at Fort Worth, Texas, on Monday, Aug. 29, for the Army’s new Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter. Army dignitaries attending the ceremony will include the Army’s senior aviator General Richard Cody, the Army Vice Chief of Staff.
Media planning to attend the helicopter ceremony should plan on arriving by 12:45 p.m. Monday to ensure sufficient set-up in time for the 1 p.m. event start. The ceremony will be Bell Helicopter’s Alliance Airport facility located at 13901 Aviator Way, Fort Worth, Texas 76177.
Bell Helicopter was awarded the contact July 29, 2005. The contract calls for Bell to build 368 aircraft for delivery during fiscal years 2006 through 2013 with the final cost estimated at $3 billion.
The ARH will replace the Army's Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter that was first fielded in 1985 and will be a dual crew station, single-pilot-operable aircraft capable of operating worldwide. The ARH is a militarized version of the highly successful 407 single-engine light helicopter and will provide the Army with and enhanced capability in the areas of reconnaissance and light attack.
The Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter has state-of-the-art, glass cockpit avionics and operates day and night in limited weather environments. It will be equipped with a wide array of weapons including a 2000 round per minute Gatling gun, 2.75 rockets and Hellfire missiles.
For more information about this ARH and Army Aviation Transformation, contact Army Public Affairs at (703) 697-2664 or (703) 697-2564. For additional information about the ceremony, call (817) 280-8416.
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