Here you have it; the artists’ renderings of what the secret helicopter that crased during the raid to kill Osama bin Laden might look like have begun to surface. Since the only photos of the beast to emerge so far show only the tail section, the drawings are pretty much based on imagination and educated guesswork, but they’re still entertaining.
The first one, found on David Cenciotti’s blog, shows a chopper (we’ll call it the Stealth Hawk) that’s so souped up it’s pretty much a brand new helo save for the size and general shape. It makes the tricked out Air Force HH-60 Pave Hawk look primitive in comparison.
Here’s another image found on the militaryphotos forum. It’s a bit more conservative, sticking the stealthy-looking tail found at bin Laden’s mansion onto a fairly standard H-60 airframe.
Enjoy and please send any other renderings you can find our way.
UPDATE: Here’s yet another take on what the bird could look like via the secretprojects forum:
And here’s the first Chinese take I’ve seen:
{ 82 comments… read them below or add one }
This is very very very, very very very, very very very wrong.
Look at the wreckage photos. It looks nothing like the MH-60.
The rear is more a straight tube.
The rotor is at the end of said tube.
The vertical stabilizer is like a backwards slanting triangle that is far forward of the rotor.
It doesn’t resemble an MH-60 from the tail rotor at all.
Just a bad shop of an MH-60, and hacked render of a modified MH-60, where the part we know of isn’t even actually modeled.
Wait, I correct myself, it’s that the rotor is facing down.
It actually does look like that.
Are you retarded? Obviously you've never seen any H-60 variant up close before.
That first one looks a lot like an S-76 at first glance, which to me makes it plausible. I'm still shocked that this thing has stayed hidden so well, considering that we've seen pictures of things like the "Beast of Kandahar" out there on the web. I still wonder what good it does to send in a stealthy Blackhawk that's being flanked by a monster Chinook.
What's to say the Chinook is a normal helo as well?
Maybe its a space ship !?
The chinook only came near the compound as a backup after the helicopter was experiencing problems. The CIA had two chinooks waiting as backup with backup crews.
It is no S-76, the rotorhead on the wreckage is 100% a Blackhawk family rotor. I even made a pict of this comparing the two.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_3J1zLipPZlA/Tc…
Because you're second guessing a tactic that evidently you know little about. That said, you haven't "googled" the prototype Comanche or the M model UH60 ie. blade design. I love hearing you guys talking about "tactics" when your balls aren't getting shot at from your couch.
Sea king
RAH-66 tech?
I get that feeling too. The flaring on the rotor hub looks very reminiscent of the RAH-66 main rotor. Also the angular construction of the rear tail is clearly stealthy. I like knowing this is out there, but it’s a pity everyone knows about this. I bet they are not happy about it, at least they got their man.
I see a lot of RAH-66 RCS shaping in the vertical fin, and the tail rotor hub fairing is clearly to cover the tail rotor blade roots. What's really interesting is that the horizontal stabilizer appears to be swept forward. Can't figure that one out.
P.S. – the Silent Hawk drawings appear to be reversed – there would be no reason to reverse the direction of main rotor rotation or flip the tail rotor to achieve lower signature.
Rotors are backwards on the first one, plus a 5-bladed head on a blackhawk would be a HUGE undertaking, not for some one-off ship.
Why are you presuming its a one-off?
You can build things inexpensively at micro-scales. Rapid prototyping and Skunk Works sets a precedent. Granted it would suggest that the item is in very low quantities.
This will drive the black helicopter people nuts….
Off topic but have you heard about the new bar drink called a Bin Laden?
Two shots and a splash of water!
I don't get it. Why two shots and water?
He was double tapped and buried at sea.
Hahahahaha I love it. Now I've got to try it.
U just made my day !!!! thanks !!! i had not heard that one yet. YES!!!
This rotor either way is designed to reduce noise… if people don't know. The area with all the exposed linkages create a fair bit of extra noise. It's fair to say that this however might reduce certain aspects of performance.
I assume the rotor should have a similar cover too, to help it reduce the noise. A lot of noise comes from the interaction of the downwash with the tail rotor… hence the thin blades used here too. This does mean though that the rotor would have to be increased in speed from the MH-60… if it is a modified one… and hence a major gearbox change.
I still stand by a prior comment… they should have dropped a JDAM after the raid :)
Repost… for clarity:
This tail rotor is designed to reduce noise… if people don't know. The area with all the exposed linkages create a fair bit of extra noise. It's fair to say that this however might reduce certain aspects of performance.
I assume the main rotor should have a similar cover too, to help it reduce the noise. A lot of noise comes from the interaction of the main rotor downwash with the tail rotor… hence the thin blades used here too. This does mean though that the rotor would have to be increased tail rotor speed from the MH-60 original… if it is a modified one… and hence a major gearbox change.
I still stand by a prior comment… they should have dropped a JDAM after the raid :)
Ditto on the JDAM!
It probably looks like the one from China. Taken from the real thing after being delivered in the covered trucks. It wouldn't be surprising. But I hope it's like the first, that's nice!
1978 Sikorsky details of three design studies of Blackhawk fuselages modified for low radar cross section:
http://up-ship.com/blog/?p=9714
Let's be a bit more realistic… why would they need to make it low radar signature?! Last time I checked the most that the Afghans (including those living in Pak) only have access to MANPADS… and even then, only to soviet heat seeking designs.
This is all about noise reduction only. In helicopter assault… you need to keep the element of surprise as long as possible. A helicopter coming into land or hovering to zip-line troops is an easy target. If you fly NOE, then there is very little visual warning… but loud things (i.e. chinooks) can be heard from very far away. Sadly the hueys in Vietnam didn't have such a quiet rotor either.
Well, Vstress.
U R right, noise signatures matters the most in Helo stealth, but I don’t relive that they’ll just build/mod a copter just for noise and infra-red suppression when you can go all the way with a little shape modification.
Who knows? may be one day you do need to go pick up a agent in a site with radar installation near by. I do remember reading that the Pak. did launch some F-16 to intercept, but it didn’t go any further than that. Figure that someone somewhere made some calls, or turn on some jammers, and turn off and on some fake IFF, or just shut those F-16 electronics down with some secret build-in codes.
Price you pay for buying foreign equipments and aids. :-)
Yeah… but making a chopper invisible to radar is nearly impossible due to the fact that you have huge rotating blades! Intake and exhaust design is one of the most critical parts on a fixed wing stealth aeroplane for that reason.
p.s. if you make them out of carbon fibre etc. doesn't help… as you always need to coat it with some form of lightning protection, or the moment lightning hits a blade, you have lost the blade.
You'd want a low observable airframe when you're launching an op into Pakistan, whose government seems to have a significant percentage of AQ sympathizers.
Not to mention the fact that the Pakistanis apparently weren't notified beforehand; I'm guessing they wanted to keep them in the dark as long as possible. Also would be a good idea to counter the possibility of some mook on the roof of the compound w/ IR goggles and a MANPAD.b
View pictures #4 and #5 here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2011/may/…
Its a standard 4 bladed MH60 with a bunch of stealth fairings, thats all. You can see the -60 pitch horn in the wreckage pretty clearly.
John’s pitcher’s do make it look like the helicopter pitcher’s by defense tech.
What about a new model of mh-53 pave low? The tail rotors on those are at the top of the tail like that…
This?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZHrRLAps6s
Doesnt match up with the photos.
looks like the h 66
The Silent Hawk Concept picture looks like the best candidate. The change from a standard MH-60 (L/K/M) could be as simple as:
New fairings
New main rotor blades (similar to those on UH-60M or Eurocopter "Blue Edge" blades)
New main rotor head (only half the swashplate would need redesign)
Different reduction gearing for the tail rotor(5 shorter tail rotor blades take advantage of the higher RPM and reduce noise)
Smoothed sheetmetal and composite surfaces with flush hardware
New stabilator
The only change in the Silent Hawk Concept from a standard H-60 that didn't seem to make it to production was swapping sides with the tail rotor and changing the direction of rotation on the main rotor. Those would have been larger changes in how the aircraft is controlled and powered.
Surprised they didn't destroy the tail rotor as it seems to bring about the most speculation. It begs the question of what was more important that they had to destroy the fuselage.
Would this kind of thing come out of a DARPA project to reduce detection, or would it come out of a project by a company to either modify or deliver completely new helicopters?
i agree..18 of them made….with this new package
I think we are all spending to much time on the SECRET….they updated an older airframe, they basically streamlined it, so what. It's about time we look ahead and try to better ourseleves and give our soldiers what they need to survive.
umm, the ny times stated that there were 79 "commandos" on 4 choppers — you can't do that with the hawk frame.
You are forgetting that there were MH47's on the mission. In theory, the Silent/Blackhawks would have delivered the primary assault team, with the 47's providing backup force as well as backup lift capability. Probably the primary assault force went in on aircraft that were quieter to achieve surprise. Thus the troop numbers are probably correct as well as the numbers and types of aircraft being speculated.
SB
FYI – http://www.armytimes.com/news/2011/05/army-missio…
Fox news just had a feature saying the DOD is 'very worried' about the survival of the tail and is pressing Pakistan to return it.
Yeah…and they also said it was a downed apache. I take fox news like I eat meatloaf, with a pinch of salt
FINALLY, someone who speaks of FOX for what they are. . .a SALT MINE. Why is it that those who watch it complain of a foreign influence in the USA and don't realize that the two biggest holders of ownership interest are FOREIGNERS. . .one an Arab, the other an Australian?????
While i'm ranting about this. . .wasn't Democracy developed by intellectuals in France? And didn't the French finance, AND PARTICIPATE, in our revolution?
The French certainly joined up during the revolution, and publicly so, but only after it they knew the American revolutionaries could win it. They wouldn't commit to anything until after the rebels were successful at the Battle of Saratoga. Prior to that they just covertly sold gunpowder and arms and reaped enormous profits. Had they offered help at the outset or when it looked most desperate (like when the British took Philadelphia) that would have warranted a lot more credit.
2 Modified MH-60s and 2 MH 47s flown by The 160th SOAR.
These wannabees all have their own over thought ideas. You are right, desert 1 showed us about simplicity. A Delta, 160 op. milk run for them, done on a daily basis. Hot/High was an issue, and exact Nav. infill, 160 finger prints all over. Right down to the smoking hole that was left. Let the 'aquatic critters' take credit and keep the spotlight off the real players.
Just an old 'Snow Birder' FE for Hooks observation
Blue1 that was a Fox News correspondent receiving reports from eyewitnesses. My guess is the eyewitnesses didn't understand what they were seeing and mistakened apaches for something else. Meatloaf doesn't require salt if you undrstand or comprehend what you are tasting.
http://www.geoeye.com/CorpSite/gallery/detail.asp…
The helo probably wasn't designed just for this one op, so the arguments against it having low observable signature don't work. Its just their go to bird that can do *everything*, not specific to this one op.
Really you can do a low observable helo? With Big rotor blades, air intakes, and the tail itself. I doub it
Dude you fail. Check back on the foto on the wired article: http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/05/aviation-…
If this is the COMPLETE cabin this thing held either one drone computer or one dude.
These short metal blade thingies they stuffen ontop? prolly couldnt even make it hop if it wanted. AND WTF are these wing type things underneath it? This "helo" was prolly made by his neighbour and test-flown that day.
Folks working at Loral in the 80's said they had seen a demo chopper that was practically silent 25 years ago. That would have had to rely on analog damping mechanisms. Imagine how much better things should be now.
"We now have nearly 3,000 soldiers serving in our ranks, keeping us on track to meet our current approved growth of 3,600 by 2015. We anticipate our MH-47G model Chinook fielding to be complete next spring, and our MH-60M model Black Hawk fielding to be complete in 2015." source: AirWarrior, dec. 2010. Col. John. W. Thompson cmdr 160th SOAR.
Looks like a awesome helo that can get troops to LZs more soundly due to stealth tech. BUT now with Pakistan letting Russian and Chinese personnel swarming the crash remains they can now catch up.
Who knows what type of really cool stuff they're cooking up at Area 51 these days. Have Blue was 11 years old before we saw our first F-117 in photos.
The side that the tail rotors are on don't match from picture to picture….this is BS.
Technology obvious is the same as the RAH-66 with advanced tail rotor. This would account for the stealth and sound suppression. I can't tell about the size, but it could fit. The RAH-66, AKA as the Comanche series was cancelled because of cost, but prototypes did exist with an unknown number of variations.
RAH-66 was a ducted fan. nothing like what we're seeing here.
It's already out that these were Modified Blackhawks.
Maybe they just leaked that its a an MH-60 variant……could be something else entirely.
The Marine One you are talking about doesnt have the same back tail rotor as these images, it's just as loud as your average helicopter as seen from the video Anon posted above me.
none of this remotely resembles the Stealth chopper that crashed according to the pictures published, if they are indeed legitimate. It appears to be a very tiny chopper /plane 2-4 man combo, it obviously has technology way beyond what they have made public. I bet it can go into the lower atmosphere as well, above 50 000 ft. It almost resembles a space ship. It had small, short, wide blades. They were chased by a larger chopper or two no doubt, but perhaps this particular stealth chopper was on a first official mission. What I want to know is how many Billions does one cost?
Artist's rendition. Check this out.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/mystery…
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE ABOUT THE STEALTH HELO..
Its becoming more obvious to me as these stories go on that many people don't understand how radar works. The idea is not to make the helicopter invisible, but instead lower its radar returns. If you can make its return low enough it makes it easier to evade radar or give you more time before being detected. If you can make the return resemble a large bird it makes it easier to fool either the radar or the operator. As for the rotor blades they are thin from head on, which is what the radar would be seeing for most of the inbound assault.
A very careful analysis of the remnants of the main rotor hub indicates a strong liklihood the aircraft was a heavily modified MH-60: http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/5798/proofgi.j…
just thinking outloud….if this "secret helo" is so secret, then why is it all over the media???
It is probably based on the blackhawk airframe, but beyond that it is an entirely new design and manufacturer. Not a bolt-on kit or modification. Judging by the only real evidence, the tail assembly and rotor, it must have a very low radar, infared and accoustic signature. Thank god the SEALs atleast had time to destroy the majority of the chopper, including the real guts of the machine. They probablty used incendiary grenades. The concern now is what remains and whos hands it ends up in. The Pakistanis are very close with the Chinese. Think about the cooperation in building the JF-17 fighter among dozens of other major defense systems they purchase from them. It is not hard to imagine that the Chinese are already looking at it. Hopefully the intelligence agencies are keeping an eagle eye on the wreckage and can somehow sabatoge or collect the remains somehow. Althought at this point the radar absorbant material used, the design and way it is put together, rear avionics, and other secrets of the chopper are already probably in enemy hands. This reminds me of back in 1999 when an F-117 was shot down in Serbia and remains were send by Belgrade to Moscow for examination. Although compared to the RAM we use now the F-117 material was a much older generation.
Based on the scale of the rear rotor with person in frame I saw; looks more like a stealth version of a 53. That would also account for the possibility of high number of operators arriving on two birds. Don' t really know if that would be the Task Force boys or maybe the Air Forces 1st Air wing flying. That airframe has been there platform in the past.
I'm very well acquainted with both airframes, and there is almost no comparison. That tail pylon is H-60 sized, even if it isn't one. The -53 is much bigger.
It could be nothing more than a planned hoax.
They werent even navy helicopters, they were army special operations helicopters
Man, the amount of ******** that comes out of the rumor mill is insane. Do a little research before you guys start saying it’s this, or that. I’ll listen to armytimes.com over any of you ******** any day of the week. In fact, there are dozens of credible sites all stating the same information as I listed below.
It was a Lockheed & Beoing designed chopper people. Stop debating on what it was.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2011/05/army-mission-helocopter-was-secret-stealth-black-hawk-050411/
http://www.warisbusiness.com/items/lockheed-boeing-made-stealth-helicopter-that-crashed-in-bin-laden-raid/
Was it Airwolf?
Yep.
this is a ploy to distract you from the fact bin laded killing was faked..and the copter in the photo was small and looked like a drone