Making a whisper-quiet helicopter is still beyond the means of modern technology, but military defense analysts say the Sikorsky choppers that Navy SEALs used in the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan were clearly an advance toward that long-sought goal.
One of the helicopters was damaged during a hard landing and the commandos destroyed it before leaving with the infamous terrorist's body. Military aviation experts have been poring over photographs of the debris, particularly the tail section.
Precisely how the Black Hawk helicopters were modified is not known, but the photographs of the wreckage, analysts say, offer new clues to the military's cutting-edge methods.
Several analysts agreed the aircraft used technology that appeared to stem from the Comanche, a $39 billion, joint project between Sikorsky and Boeing that employed hundreds of people in Connecticut until it was scrapped in 2004 due to high costs.
"It's clearly something unusual," said Dan Goure, a defense analyst with the Virginia-based Lexington Institute.
But with only the tail boom to look at, picturing the entire machine is a bit like trying to rebuild a dinosaur from one bone, Goure said.
"Nobody could afford to do a purpose-built stealth helicopter," Goure said. "If you're not going to spend $1 billion on a purpose-built helicopter," then a modified aircraft is the next best thing."
Aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia said it's clear to him that Comanche technology was incorporated in the modified Black Hawks.
"I was hoping that something would be salvaged from that thing," Aboulafia said.
The curved, bulbous structure of the chopper is crucial to confounding radar, he said.
"You don't want sharp angles and you don't want gaps to appear in the structure — that's where radar emissions can bounce around," Aboulafia said.
U.S. officials confirmed that the marquee helicopter of Stratford-based Sikorsky Aircraft was the platform for the warbirds that delivered 25 SEALs to the compound. But that's all they would say.
"We have no additional operational details, or comments on operational details, to make at this time," U.S. Army Lt. Col. Elizabeth Robbins, a Department of Defense spokeswoman, wrote in an email Friday.
Sikorsky also declined to comment other than to say the company has not been asked to help investigate why the aircraft sustained a hard landing.
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PHOTOS OF THE SECRET STEALTH HELICOPTER USED IN THE OSAMA RAID
(WITH REPORTING BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS) A PAKISTANI YOUNGSTER SHOWS METAL PIECES COLLECTED FROM THE WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE A HOUSE, WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS CAUGHT AND KILLED IN ABBOTTABAD, PAKISTAN, ON TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2011. LOCAL RESIDENTS SHOWED OFF SMALL PARTS OF WHAT APPEARED TO BE A U.S. HELICOPTER THAT WASHINGTON SAID MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS DISABLED BY THE AMERICAN COMMANDO STRIKE TEAM AS THEY RETREATED, WHILE PAKISTAN'S LEADER ON TUESDAY DENIED SUGGESTIONS THAT HIS COUNTRY'S SECURITY FORCES HAD SHELTERED OSAMA BIN LADEN. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
A PAKISTANI SECURITY OFFICIAL CARRIES METAL PIECE COLLECTED FROM THE WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE A HOUSE, WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS CAUGHT. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
A BOY COLLECTS TROPHY PIECES OF METAL FROM THE WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE THE COMPOUND AND HOUSE WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS CAUGHT AND KILLED LATE MONDAY, IN ABBOTTABAD, PAKISTAN. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
A PAKISTANI YOUNGSTER SHOWS METAL PIECES COLLECTED FROM WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE A HOUSE, SEEN BACKGROUND, WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN LIVED IN ABBOTTABAD, PAKISTAN. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
VEHICLES CARRY THE WRECKAGE OF A HELICOPTER THAT CRASHED NEXT TO THE WALL OF A COMPOUND. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/AQEEL AHMED)
A TRACTOR TROLLEY CARRIES THE WRECKAGE OF A HELICOPTER THAT CRASHED NEXT TO THE WALL OF A COMPOUND. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/AQEEL AHMED)
©COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS
PHOTOS OF THE SECRET STEALTH HELICOPTER USED IN THE OSAMA RAID
(WITH REPORTING BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS) A PAKISTANI YOUNGSTER SHOWS METAL PIECES COLLECTED FROM THE WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE A HOUSE, WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS CAUGHT AND KILLED IN ABBOTTABAD, PAKISTAN, ON TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2011. LOCAL RESIDENTS SHOWED OFF SMALL PARTS OF WHAT APPEARED TO BE A U.S. HELICOPTER THAT WASHINGTON SAID MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS DISABLED BY THE AMERICAN COMMANDO STRIKE TEAM AS THEY RETREATED, WHILE PAKISTAN'S LEADER ON TUESDAY DENIED SUGGESTIONS THAT HIS COUNTRY'S SECURITY FORCES HAD SHELTERED OSAMA BIN LADEN. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
A PAKISTANI SECURITY OFFICIAL CARRIES METAL PIECE COLLECTED FROM THE WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE A HOUSE, WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS CAUGHT. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
A BOY COLLECTS TROPHY PIECES OF METAL FROM THE WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE THE COMPOUND AND HOUSE WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS CAUGHT AND KILLED LATE MONDAY, IN ABBOTTABAD, PAKISTAN. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
A PAKISTANI YOUNGSTER SHOWS METAL PIECES COLLECTED FROM WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE A HOUSE, SEEN BACKGROUND, WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN LIVED IN ABBOTTABAD, PAKISTAN. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
VEHICLES CARRY THE WRECKAGE OF A HELICOPTER THAT CRASHED NEXT TO THE WALL OF A COMPOUND. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/AQEEL AHMED)
A TRACTOR TROLLEY CARRIES THE WRECKAGE OF A HELICOPTER THAT CRASHED NEXT TO THE WALL OF A COMPOUND. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/AQEEL AHMED)
©COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS
PHOTOS OF THE SECRET STEALTH HELICOPTER USED IN THE OSAMA RAID
(WITH REPORTING BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS) A PAKISTANI YOUNGSTER SHOWS METAL PIECES COLLECTED FROM THE WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE A HOUSE, WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS CAUGHT AND KILLED IN ABBOTTABAD, PAKISTAN, ON TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2011. LOCAL RESIDENTS SHOWED OFF SMALL PARTS OF WHAT APPEARED TO BE A U.S. HELICOPTER THAT WASHINGTON SAID MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS DISABLED BY THE AMERICAN COMMANDO STRIKE TEAM AS THEY RETREATED, WHILE PAKISTAN'S LEADER ON TUESDAY DENIED SUGGESTIONS THAT HIS COUNTRY'S SECURITY FORCES HAD SHELTERED OSAMA BIN LADEN. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
A PAKISTANI SECURITY OFFICIAL CARRIES METAL PIECE COLLECTED FROM THE WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE A HOUSE, WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS CAUGHT. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
A BOY COLLECTS TROPHY PIECES OF METAL FROM THE WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE THE COMPOUND AND HOUSE WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS CAUGHT AND KILLED LATE MONDAY, IN ABBOTTABAD, PAKISTAN. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
A PAKISTANI YOUNGSTER SHOWS METAL PIECES COLLECTED FROM WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE A HOUSE, SEEN BACKGROUND, WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN LIVED IN ABBOTTABAD, PAKISTAN. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
VEHICLES CARRY THE WRECKAGE OF A HELICOPTER THAT CRASHED NEXT TO THE WALL OF A COMPOUND. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/AQEEL AHMED)
A TRACTOR TROLLEY CARRIES THE WRECKAGE OF A HELICOPTER THAT CRASHED NEXT TO THE WALL OF A COMPOUND. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/AQEEL AHMED)
COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS
COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS
COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS
PHOTOS OF THE SECRET STEALTH HELICOPTER USED IN THE OSAMA RAID
PHOTOS OF THE SECRET STEALTH HELICOPTER USED IN THE OSAMA RAID
PHOTOS OF THE SECRET STEALTH HELICOPTER USED IN THE OSAMA RAID
(WITH REPORTING BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS) A PAKISTANI YOUNGSTER SHOWS METAL PIECES COLLECTED FROM THE WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE A HOUSE, WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS CAUGHT AND KILLED IN ABBOTTABAD, PAKISTAN, ON TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2011. LOCAL RESIDENTS SHOWED OFF SMALL PARTS OF WHAT APPEARED TO BE A U.S. HELICOPTER THAT WASHINGTON SAID MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS DISABLED BY THE AMERICAN COMMANDO STRIKE TEAM AS THEY RETREATED, WHILE PAKISTAN'S LEADER ON TUESDAY DENIED SUGGESTIONS THAT HIS COUNTRY'S SECURITY FORCES HAD SHELTERED OSAMA BIN LADEN. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
A PAKISTANI SECURITY OFFICIAL CARRIES METAL PIECE COLLECTED FROM THE WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE A HOUSE, WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS CAUGHT. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
A BOY COLLECTS TROPHY PIECES OF METAL FROM THE WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE THE COMPOUND AND HOUSE WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS CAUGHT AND KILLED LATE MONDAY, IN ABBOTTABAD, PAKISTAN. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
A PAKISTANI YOUNGSTER SHOWS METAL PIECES COLLECTED FROM WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE A HOUSE, SEEN BACKGROUND, WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN LIVED IN ABBOTTABAD, PAKISTAN. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
VEHICLES CARRY THE WRECKAGE OF A HELICOPTER THAT CRASHED NEXT TO THE WALL OF A COMPOUND. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/AQEEL AHMED)
A TRACTOR TROLLEY CARRIES THE WRECKAGE OF A HELICOPTER THAT CRASHED NEXT TO THE WALL OF A COMPOUND. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/AQEEL AHMED)
(WITH REPORTING BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS) A PAKISTANI YOUNGSTER SHOWS METAL PIECES COLLECTED FROM THE WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE A HOUSE, WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS CAUGHT AND KILLED IN ABBOTTABAD, PAKISTAN, ON TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2011. LOCAL RESIDENTS SHOWED OFF SMALL PARTS OF WHAT APPEARED TO BE A U.S. HELICOPTER THAT WASHINGTON SAID MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS DISABLED BY THE AMERICAN COMMANDO STRIKE TEAM AS THEY RETREATED, WHILE PAKISTAN'S LEADER ON TUESDAY DENIED SUGGESTIONS THAT HIS COUNTRY'S SECURITY FORCES HAD SHELTERED OSAMA BIN LADEN. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
A PAKISTANI SECURITY OFFICIAL CARRIES METAL PIECE COLLECTED FROM THE WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE A HOUSE, WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS CAUGHT. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
A BOY COLLECTS TROPHY PIECES OF METAL FROM THE WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE THE COMPOUND AND HOUSE WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS CAUGHT AND KILLED LATE MONDAY, IN ABBOTTABAD, PAKISTAN. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
A PAKISTANI YOUNGSTER SHOWS METAL PIECES COLLECTED FROM WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE A HOUSE, SEEN BACKGROUND, WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN LIVED IN ABBOTTABAD, PAKISTAN. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
VEHICLES CARRY THE WRECKAGE OF A HELICOPTER THAT CRASHED NEXT TO THE WALL OF A COMPOUND. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/AQEEL AHMED)
A TRACTOR TROLLEY CARRIES THE WRECKAGE OF A HELICOPTER THAT CRASHED NEXT TO THE WALL OF A COMPOUND. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/AQEEL AHMED)
(WITH REPORTING BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS) A PAKISTANI YOUNGSTER SHOWS METAL PIECES COLLECTED FROM THE WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE A HOUSE, WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS CAUGHT AND KILLED IN ABBOTTABAD, PAKISTAN, ON TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2011. LOCAL RESIDENTS SHOWED OFF SMALL PARTS OF WHAT APPEARED TO BE A U.S. HELICOPTER THAT WASHINGTON SAID MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS DISABLED BY THE AMERICAN COMMANDO STRIKE TEAM AS THEY RETREATED, WHILE PAKISTAN'S LEADER ON TUESDAY DENIED SUGGESTIONS THAT HIS COUNTRY'S SECURITY FORCES HAD SHELTERED OSAMA BIN LADEN. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
A PAKISTANI SECURITY OFFICIAL CARRIES METAL PIECE COLLECTED FROM THE WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE A HOUSE, WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS CAUGHT. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
A BOY COLLECTS TROPHY PIECES OF METAL FROM THE WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE THE COMPOUND AND HOUSE WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS CAUGHT AND KILLED LATE MONDAY, IN ABBOTTABAD, PAKISTAN. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
A PAKISTANI YOUNGSTER SHOWS METAL PIECES COLLECTED FROM WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE A HOUSE, SEEN BACKGROUND, WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN LIVED IN ABBOTTABAD, PAKISTAN. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
VEHICLES CARRY THE WRECKAGE OF A HELICOPTER THAT CRASHED NEXT TO THE WALL OF A COMPOUND. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/AQEEL AHMED)
A TRACTOR TROLLEY CARRIES THE WRECKAGE OF A HELICOPTER THAT CRASHED NEXT TO THE WALL OF A COMPOUND. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/AQEEL AHMED)
(WITH REPORTING BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS) A PAKISTANI YOUNGSTER SHOWS METAL PIECES COLLECTED FROM THE WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE A HOUSE, WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS CAUGHT AND KILLED IN ABBOTTABAD, PAKISTAN, ON TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2011. LOCAL RESIDENTS SHOWED OFF SMALL PARTS OF WHAT APPEARED TO BE A U.S. HELICOPTER THAT WASHINGTON SAID MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS DISABLED BY THE AMERICAN COMMANDO STRIKE TEAM AS THEY RETREATED, WHILE PAKISTAN'S LEADER ON TUESDAY DENIED SUGGESTIONS THAT HIS COUNTRY'S SECURITY FORCES HAD SHELTERED OSAMA BIN LADEN. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
A PAKISTANI SECURITY OFFICIAL CARRIES METAL PIECE COLLECTED FROM THE WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE A HOUSE, WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS CAUGHT. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
A BOY COLLECTS TROPHY PIECES OF METAL FROM THE WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE THE COMPOUND AND HOUSE WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN WAS CAUGHT AND KILLED LATE MONDAY, IN ABBOTTABAD, PAKISTAN. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
A PAKISTANI YOUNGSTER SHOWS METAL PIECES COLLECTED FROM WHEAT FIELD OUTSIDE A HOUSE, SEEN BACKGROUND, WHERE AL-QAIDA LEADER OSAMA BIN LADEN LIVED IN ABBOTTABAD, PAKISTAN. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/ANJUM NAVEED)
VEHICLES CARRY THE WRECKAGE OF A HELICOPTER THAT CRASHED NEXT TO THE WALL OF A COMPOUND. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/AQEEL AHMED)
A TRACTOR TROLLEY CARRIES THE WRECKAGE OF A HELICOPTER THAT CRASHED NEXT TO THE WALL OF A COMPOUND. (AP CAPTION AND PHOTO/AQEEL AHMED)
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