Osama raid helicopter - Identify this part

[rhinochopig]

coanda said:

rhinochopig said:

coanda said:

The complete lack of any other evidence of the existence of a seperate type of helicopter suggests to me that it is a retrofit kit over a 'standard' spec ops UH60. Bolt on - Bolt off.

Why? B2 was glimpses and rumours for years. As was the SR-71, U2, F117a, etc. It's in their interest to keep it secret for as long as possible.

B2 was a 'grey' project. Everyone knew the general shape under the NTB program but the details were 'black'.

The operating locations (in CONUS) suited the SR-71, U-2 when they were still black projects - Groom Lake isn't exactly overlooked.

I have to say, they did a mighty fine job with the F-117's though!

To me, it makes more sense for this particular 'thing' to be a heavy mod for existing helicopters rather than a wholly new type - there are engineering compromises already evident in the released pictures to show that the engineers had to work with the existing platform.

It was the 'bolt on' 'bolt off' statement I was questioning really.

It may have a lot in common with the 60 but I suspect there's more new bits than extant. Knowing how much cash the US have to throw at these sorts of projects, I suspect this has been a big budget project. The US will always have money to throw at a project that can project a spec-ops force into hostile land-locked territory without detection.