In 1983, the United States began a program to modernize the U.S. Army's aging helicopter fleet. What was initially known as Light Helicopter Experimental (LHX), the LHX program would become the Reconnaissance Attack Helicopter (RAH-66) in April 1991. The program was initially designed to replace all light helicopters in the Army's fleet, but was scaled back to a more achievable goal of replacing the AH-1, OH-58, and OH-6 helicopters. This program has significantly improved the commander's capabilities on the battlefield of the future.1 The helicopter of the future would far outperform any helicopter on the planet; boasting capabilities such as wired flight controls, stealth, greater maneuverability, greater speed, and far-reaching technological capabilities, making it the “quarterback of the digital battlefield.” The Comanche program quickly morphed into an over-budget, behind-schedule government project built to fight an enemy that no longer existed. Technological advances made through the $6.9 billion spent on the Comanche have brought some improvements to the Army's current fleet of helicopters (Block III Apache). However, it could be argued that the Comanche project simply exhausted the army and stunted the project's progress. current fleet. 2 Twenty years after the birth of the LHX, the United States had invested $6.9 billion and had two RAH-66 helicopters to its credit. In 2003, as the War on Terror began, President George W. Bush canceled the Comanche program aimed at better equipping the U.S. military for the ongoing fight. In 1983, the Cold War strategy with the USSR was simply to outspend the Soviet Union on the military. The...... middle of paper ......ng,” Defense Media Network, December 16, 2010, www.defensemedianetwork.com3. NATO's Nations and Partners for Peace, Comanche Terended, Air Power, 20044. Pelletier, AJ "Bell Model 406/OH-58D Kiowa Warrior", Avia Star, www.aviastar.org/helicopters_eng/bell_warrior.php, 19925. US Department of Defense News Transcription. Military Aviation Restructuring and Revitalization Briefing, February 23, 2004.6 Department of Defense Office of Inspector General. Financial Management of the RAH 66 Comanche Helicopter Program, August 6, 19987. Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, RAH-66 Comanche Acquisition Management, May 12, 20038. Wayne, Leslie. Pentagon Says Plans to Kill Copter Program, The New York Times, February 24, 20049. Werthman, Robert W, Colonel. The Comanche Helicopter Program: A Strategic Policy Failure, March 30, 2007