INFLUENCE OF MANEUVERABILITY ON HELICOPTER COMBAT EFFECTIVENESS

An investigation was conducted to quantify the impact of maneuver capability on the combat effectiveness of current and advanced design helicopters in one-on-one engagements against specific threats. A newly developed computational procedure employing a stochastic learning method in conjunction with dynamic simulation of helicopter flight and weapon system operation was used to derive helicopter maneuvering strategies. The derived strategies maximize either survival or kill probability and are in the form of a feedback control based upon threat visual or warning system cues. Maneuverability parameters implicit in the strategy development included maximum longitudinal acceleration, and deceleration, maximum sustained and transient load factor turn rate at forward speed, and maximum pedal turn rate and lateral acceleration at hover. Results are presented in terms of probability of kill for all combat initial conditions for two threat categories. In the first category the use of maneuverability is examined in a defensive role against an antitank guided missile (ATGM) launched by a threat helicopter. The second category is concerned with the impact of maneuverability in both defensive and offensive roles against a gun armed helicopter threat.