Army to retire Vietnam-era helicopters

AH-1 Cobra

By Jamie McIntyre
CNN

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Army announced Friday it would retire the UH-1 Huey and AH-1 Cobra helicopters, eliminating the venerable workhorses of the Vietnam War as it reduces its helicopter fleet from 4,500 to 3,500 by 2003.

Cobra attack helicopters will be retired by the end of the year, and the Hueys will be phased out by 2003, Army officials said.

The Army plans to use the money saved from eliminating the 1,000 helicopters to better maintain the remaining fleet, and increase their reliability rate from 75 percent to 90 percent.

In addition, the Army plans to speed up purchases of the next-generation Comanche reconnaissance helicopter, which is scheduled to begin service in 2006.

RESOURCES The Army's helicopter fleet

Under the new plan, the Army will operate only four types of helicopters --the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, the UH-60 Blackhawk utility helicopter, the OH-58 Kiowa scout helicopter and the Ch-47 Chinook transport helicopter -- by 2003.