Army aviation: delivery of armed recon helicopter delayed one year.

• Author: Magnuson, Stew
• Position: UPFRONT

A crucial test to determine whether the Army's new armed reconnaissance helicopter is ready for production has slipped at least six weeks due to problems integrating a new sensor package, officials said.

It is the latest in a series of delays that has pushed back by one year the Army's goal of equipping the first unit with 30 helicopters. Army leadership has put the program on the fast track as the current airborne scout, the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, suffers wear and tear from operations in South Asia. No production line remains open to replace them.

Col. Mark Hayes, system manager of reconnaissance/attack at the Army training and doctrine command, told National Defense that the office of the secretary of defense wanted the first unit equipped by the summer of 2009. Senior Army officials, however, have asked for a September 2008 deadline.

The Army won't be getting its way, Hayes said. He can still equip the first unit by the summer of 2009 if the contractor, Bell Helicopter Textron, "stays on track."

Hayes told an Association of the United States Army aviation conference in January 2006 that the first unit-equipped milestone was September 2008. The first test flight took place in July at Bell's Fort Worth, Texas facility, four months after the original March goal.

The promise to put the aircraft aloft in March, along with several other milestones, was not an easy one to make. The inaugural flight took place 12 months after the Army signed the contract with Bell. Typical first flights take place 17 months later, or longer.

Despite the delays, Army and Bell officials point out that the accelerated schedule is still breaking records as far as major weapons systems acquisitions go.

Steve Bolton, vice president of Bell's U.S. Army programs, said the test flight in July 2006 was a "tremendous accomplishment." Army representatives have been "side by side" with systems integration teams since day one of the program, he said at this year's aviation conference.

"I have delivered all the stuff I promised I would deliver," Hayes said.

Now, it is up to Bell to deliver what it promised to deliver, he told National Defense via email.

"The pressure is squarely on Bell Helicopter to get the aircraft ready for test," Hayes said. The limited user test, initially scheduled for Feb. 7, will not take place until the sensor package is properly integrated, he said. "It is the most important piece of the mission equipment package," he added. The test is now scheduled...