Helicopter combat survivability

Of all modern aircraft, helicopters are the least survivable due to their low altitude and relatively low speed flight profiles compared with jet aircraft, and their high acoustic and radar signatures. These are inherent limitations of rotary wing aircraft, which cannot be easily or affordably designed out. Formal survivability analysis is centred on two components: the first being susceptibility analysis that aims to measure the probability of an aircraft being hit; and the second vulnerability analysis, which aims to measure the probability of a hit with a given weapon inflicting fatal damage to the aircraft. Central to discussion of helicopter survivability is the threat environment in which the aircraft must operate. During the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the subsequent counterinsurgency campaign the US Army experimented with a range of tactics, including the use of the AH-64D Longbow Apache to directly attack targets in the manner fighter aircraft would do, but suffered heavy losses in airframes due to concentrated gunfire. The insurgents in Iraq had an abundant supply of Soviet supplied SA-7 SAMs and Chinese clones, and there are claims that newer Russian SA-16 and SA-18s may have been used. These have generally proven less than effective since much of the coalition helicopter fleet was equipped with infrared exhaust suppressors, active infrared jammers and flare dispensers. Many larger helicopters were also equipped with missile approach warning systems to cue countermeasures deployment. The most prominent kills achieved by MANPADS were transport aircraft, spurring the deployment of infrared jammers across coalition fleets. While MANPADS have not produced the losses many anticipated, mostly due to good pre-emptive installation of countermeasures, losses due to larger calibre gunfire and rocket propelled grenades, from the RPG-7 upward, have remained a consideration. Tactics for the evasion of MANPADS involve low flying, which exposes helicopters to gunfire and RPG fire. Recent statistics in the media suggest that 40 per cent of US helicopter losses are due to RPGs and 20 per cent due to gunfire. The latter are all short-range line of sight direct fire weapons, which typically have limited signatures compared to MANPADS. Muzzle flash and RPG motor burn flash are detectable but the shorter ranges compared to MANPADS shots result typically in less warning time for crews. The only redeeming aspect of the RPG, for its target, is that the RPG is unguided and accuracy declines strongly with distance, especially if crosswinds are present. This is often compensated for by operators who fire multiple round RPG salvoes to improve the odds of a hit. With shaped charge warheads built to defeat tank armour, RPGs are absolutely lethal if they can score a hit on any key structural Helicopter combat survivability