{
  "id": "RL32447",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RL32447",
  "active": false,
  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
  "versions": [
    {
      "source": "EveryCRSReport.com",
      "id": 104386,
      "date": "2004-06-24",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-07T20:13:29.751210",
      "title": "Military Helicopter Modernization: Background and Issues for Congress",
      "summary": "Recent military operations, particularly those in Afghanistan and Iraq, have brought to the fore\na\nnumber of outstanding questions concerning helicopters in the U.S. armed forces, including\ndeployability, safety, survivability, affordability, and operational effectiveness. These concerns are\nespecially relevant, and made more complicated, in an age of \"military transformation,\" the \"global\nwar on terrorism,\" and increasing pressure to rein in funding for the military, all of which provide\ncontradictory pressures with regard to DOD's large, and often complicated, military helicopter\nmodernization efforts. Despite these questions, the military use of helicopters is likely to hold even,\nif not grow. This report includes a discussion of the evolving role of helicopters in military\ntransformation. \n  \n  The Department of Defense (DOD) fields 10 different types of helicopters, which are largely\nof 1960s and 1970s design. This inventory numbers approximately 5,500 rotary-wing aircraft, not\nincluding an additional 144 belonging to the Coast Guard, and ranges from simple \"utility\"\nplatforms such as the ubiquitous UH-1 \"Huey\" to highly-advanced, \"multi-mission\" platforms such\nas the Air Force's MH-53J \"Pave Low\" special operations helicopter and the still-developmental\nMV-22B \"Osprey\" tilt-rotor aircraft.\n  Three general approaches can be taken to modernize DOD's helicopter forces: upgrading\ncurrent platforms, rebuilding current helicopter models (often called recapitalization), or procuring\nnew models. These approaches can be pursued alone, or concurrently, and the attractiveness or\nfeasibility of any approach or combination of approaches depends largely on budgetary constraints\nand operational needs. In some cases, observers argue that upgrades to helicopter sub-systems,\nespecially radar, communications, and targeting systems, are the most cost effective way to satisfy\ncurrent helicopter requirements. Others argue that while upgrades are cost effective in some cases,\ntoday's helicopters are sufficiently aged to require re-building, a more involved modernization\napproach.\n  The modernization programs outlined in this paper suggest a number of issues that may\ncompete for congressional attention. These issues include 1) budgetary concerns (Helicopter\nmodernization plans and programs described in this paper would account for approximately $34.6\nbillion in spending between FY2005 and FY2009), 2) impact on overall force structure, 3) whether\nthere is adequate coordination among the Services, 4) how modernization may effect the helicopter\nindustrial base, and 5) a number of operational considerations such as whether the envisioned\nprograms will adequately improve operational shortcomings identified in recent conflicts such as\ndeployability, reliability, and survivability.\n  This report will be updated as events warrant.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORTS",
      "active": false,
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      "topics": []
    }
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Foreign Affairs",
    "Intelligence and National Security",
    "National Defense"
  ]
}