 In December 1962 , Combat Development Command ( CDC ) drafted a Qualitative Material Requirement ( <unk> ) for an interim , commercial off @-@ the @-@ shelf ( COTS ) aircraft , with a 140 @-@ knot ( 161 mph , 259 km / h ) cruise speed and a 1 @,@ 500 @-@ pound ( 680 kg ) payload . This was seen as an attempt by Army officials , anticipating the potential of the D @-@ 255 , to acquire an interim aircraft to fill the escort role until the Army could determine the requirements for a dedicated armed helicopter . However , the Secretary of the Army disapproved the interim approach and directed that the Army look for a more advanced system that would dramatically improve over current helicopter designs . 
