This study investigates whether the Army should procure the total quantity of Black Hawk helicopters needed to meet Bottom-Up Review Army force structure requirement of four corps and fifteen divisions. Procurement of Black Hawk helicopters was canceled at the end of fiscal year 1996. This leaves the Army with a dilemma of whether to pursue programming procurements of the Black Hawk in the fiscal year 1996-2001 Program Objective Memorandum (POM) or to retain a mixed fleet of Black Hawk and UH-1H helicopters. This thesis does a comparative analysis of the Black Hawk and UH-1H to determine capabilities and cost differences that exist, and provides an analysis of their ability to perform Army utility helicopter doctrinal mission requirements. The results are intended to be provided to Headquarters Department of the Army, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, Aviation Force Development Office (DCSOPS) for use in their effort to resolve the modernization issue of the Black Hawk versus the UH-1H. The results of the analysis suggest that based on current doctrinal requirements and force structure levels, the Army should continue to procure the Black Hawk helicopters needed to meet the requirement of 2195 Black Hawks determined by the Bottom-Up review.

ADA 284503 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)