Third, in December 1994DoDtrimmed $2 billion from the RAH-66 program and dropped another prototype, going from three to two. The Comanche's Initial Operating Capability (IOC) will be achieved in September 2009, threeyearslater than originally planned, and nine months after the most recent plan. (24) The Marine Corps is expected to seek a replacement for its AH-1ZSuper Cobra helicopters around 2020 and it has been suggested that a joint program with the Army is worthinvestigating. February28, 2002. (back) CRS Report 96-525, ArmyAviation: RAH-66 Comanche .
Although it has been a high Army priority, a number of factors havecomplicated the RAH-66 Comanche program. Since its inception, the program has been restructured severaltimes-postponing the initial operational capability (IOC) and increasing overall program costs. In late 2002, DoDrestructured the RAH-66 program again, cutting the number of aircraft to be procured in half. This report will beupdated