Summary: The Advanced Attack Helicopter is being developed to defeat a wide range of targets, including tanks and other armored vehicles, and will become the Army's primary attack helicopter in the mid-1980's.
The program cost estimate was $3.58 billion at September 30, 1976, an increase of $748 million from the prior year and almost double the original cost estimate. The current program unit cost for each of the 536 helicopters is estimated to be about $6.6 million. This estimate does not include several items required for the helicopters to destroy targets, including Hellfire missile development and procurement costs of $735 million. The Advanced Attack Helicopter program has undergone numerous changes--mostly in the last year--in cost, schedule, and technical characteristics. Costs increased; schedules were extended; and new equipment was added. Because of these changes, the success of the program now also depends upon the concurrent successful development of the Hellfire missile, the Target Acquisition and Designation System, and new 30-millimeter ammunition.
