INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT AH-1W TECHNOLOGIES WHICH OFFER COST EFFECTIVENESS FOR INCREASED ATA COMBAT CAPABILITY

THIS STUDY SHALL ADDRESS TECHNICAL, OPERATIONAL, AND COST ISSUES INVOLVED REGARDING MODIFICATION OF THE U.S. MARINE CORPS AH-1W COBRA HELICOPTER. A DECISION-TREE FOUNDATION SHALL BE PROVIDED TO INDICATE THE RATIONALE ASSOCIATED WITH ANTICIPATED SYSTEM'S MODIFICATIONS. EMPHASIS SHALL BE GIVEN TO THE EVALUATION OF THOSE CONSIDERATIONS WHICH WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE COBRA'S AIR COMBAT CAPABILITIES. ONE SUCH SOLUTION WHICH OFFERS PROMISE IS THE INSTALLATION OF AN ADVANCED ROTOR SYSTEM. THE PHASE I EFFORT SHALL EXAMINE THE TACTICAL REQUIREMENTS TO ESTABLISH SYSTEM DESIGN CRITERIA AND MEASURES OF EFFECTIVENESS. ONCE ESTABLISHED, THEN CONCEPTUAL AND PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING DESIGN STUDIES SHALL BE CONDUCTED. POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS AND PRELIMINARY TRADE-OFF STUDIES ALONG WITH A QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF ASSOCIATED RISKS AND COSTS SHALL ALSO BE PRESENTED. THIS STUDY SHALL ISOLATE REASONABLE COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS WHICH OFFER PROMISE IN ENHANCING THE AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT SURVIVABILITY OF THE COBRA. TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENTS WHICH MAY OFFER BENEFITS TO THE COMMERCIAL ROTARY WING INDUSTRY WILL ALSO BE HIGHLIGHTED. THE PHASE I EFFORT IS STRUCTURED TO PROVIDE BASELINE DATA FOR A COMPREHENSIVE COST AND OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS TO BE CONDUCTED IN PHASE II.