Russian company unveils plans for 5th-generation 'invisible' helicopters

**Kshasty** · 13-05-2010, 04:45 PM

Russian Helicopters is planning to create the world's first fifth-generation combat helicopter which experts say would be able to attack fighter jets and be invisible for radars, Russian daily Gazeta said on Thursday.

"We are working on the concept of the fifth-generation combat helicopter," the paper quoted the company's CEO, Andrei Shibitov, as saying at a news conference in Moscow.

Shibitov did not specify the characteristics of the helicopter, but said the company was going to spend some $1 billion on the project.

First deputy head of the Russian Academy of Geopolitical Problems, Konstantin Sivkov, told the paper fifth-generation combat helicopters have never been created before, although the U.S. recently began working on a similar project.
He said criteria for a fifth-generation combat helicopter say it must be radar invisible, have an extended flying range, be equipped with an intellectual arms control system, be able to combat fighter jets (existing helicopters are generally only intended to hit ground-based targets) and reach a speed of up to 500-600 km/h (310-370 mph).

Russian company unveils plans for 5th-generation 'invisible' helicopters

-----
Welcome to Russian politics Discussion club on Valdai Club (ValdaiClub) on Twitter

**Don** · 13-05-2010, 06:24 PM

Interesting idea, a radar invisible helicopter, and a natural pursuit. I would love to know how they intend to make the rotor blades 'invisible' to radar. They could modify shapes and use low reflectivity composites and coatings, but the damn things still move at great speed, and I have seen even relatively primitive (late 60's technology) CW tracking radars lock onto hubcaps of moving automobiles, albeit at close range.