What’s the single most important capability of a military helicopter?

Some would say a military helicopter’s most important capability is lethality, while others might choose lift capacity or survivability. When you ask AI, the answer is versatility.

We have a somewhat different take on the question. In our view the most important capability is mission capability. That’s because it doesn’t matter what an aircraft’s firepower is, or what its payload is, if it’s unavailable.

According to a 2022 GAO report, the Army’s main rotary wing platforms (Black Hawk, Apache, Chinook) missed their mission capability goals every year from 2011 through 2021.

There are a number of factors at play including diminishing manufacturing sources, parts obsolescence, and parts shortages and delays. Those problems all point to the growing need to protect existing parts and components from damage. One way to do that is to use protective covers to shield them from the elements and prevent corrosion.

“The Army’s main rotary wing platforms (Black Hawk, Apache, Chinook) missed their mission capability goals every year from 2011 through 2021.”

The most vulnerable systems such as rotors and rotor hubs, engines, and avionics can all be protected by covers. They key is to use covers that are highly air-permeable so that heat and moisture can escape from underneath the cover – otherwise a cover can promote rather than prevent corrosion.

Another valuable and high-return step that can be taken is to store parts and components in humidity-controlled facilities. By doing so you can reduce parts loss to zero and avoid unnecessary shortages and strains on supply chains.

To learn more about how corrosion prevention can improve readiness and increase mission capability click here and we’ll connect you with one of our subject matter experts.

Images (left to right) courtesy Staff Sgt. Adeline Witherspoon, Dale Greer, Tad Browning