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Did U.S. forces use secret stealth helicopters in bin Laden raid?
By Oliver Tree
Last updated at 3:49 PM on 5th May 2011
They managed to penetrate Pakistani airspace, hover for 40 minutes, and flee
undetected towards Afghanistan until the very last minute.
And now, pictures of the wrecked helicopter that crashed in Osama bin Laden's
compound may shed new light on how Navy SEAL raiders snuck into Abbottabad
without alerting Pakistani forces - by using secret 'stealth' helicopters.
Pictures of the downed chopper's heavily damaged tail section bear a striking
resemblance to the smooth angular design of other stealth aircraft and have
left aviation experts struggling to identify the unknown machine.
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Stealth: The strange design of the rotor tail has led many to speculate that
U.S. Navy SEALs used a secret stealth helicopter in Sunday's raids
Stealth: The strange design of the rotor tail has led many to speculate that
U.S. Navy SEALs used a secret stealth helicopter in Sunday's raids
Unknown: Distinctive features, such as the smooth and angular outer shell,
covered rotor blades and pointed rear end have bamboozled aviation experts
Unknown: Distinctive features, such as the smooth and angular outer shell,
covered rotor blades and pointed rear end have bamboozled aviation experts
The pictures have left aviation experts scratching their heads, with several
concluding it must be a new, as yet unknown helicopter design.
Bill Sweetman, editor of Aviation Week said the pictures show a
'stealth-configuration' on the wrecked rotor housing.
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He said: 'Well, now we know why all of us had trouble ID'ing the helicopter
that crashed, or was brought down, in the Osama raid.
'It was a secretly developed stealth helicopter, probably a highly modified
version of an H-60 Blackhawk.'
Citing pictures shown on MailOnline, he added: 'Photos show that the
helicopter's tail features stealth-configured shapes on the boom and tip
fairings, swept stabilizers and a 'dishpan' cover over a non-standard
five-or-six-blade tail rotor.
'The willingness to compromise this technology shows the importance of the
mission in the eyes of US commanders - and what we're seeing here also explains
why Pakistani defences didn't see the first wave (at least) coming in.
'No wonder the team tried to destroy it.'
Standard: The UH-60 Black Hawk is a workhorse with U.S. forces, with over 1000
currently serving across the Army, Navy and Airforce
Standard: The UH-60 Black Hawk is a workhorse with U.S. forces, with over 1000
currently serving across the Army, Navy and Airforce
Stealth: The strange design of the rotor tail has led many to speculate that
U.S. Navy SEALs used a secret stealth helicopter in Sunday's raids
A US Army Blackhawk helicopter
Comparison: The rotor of the crashed 'stealth' helicopter (left) from Sunday's
raid and a close up of a standard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter
It was previously thought that the Navy SEAL teams involved in last Sunday's
attack used modified MH-60 Black Hawk or Sea Hawk variant helicopters in the
raid - although the White House would not confirm or deny what type of
helicopter was used.
Initially the plan was for the SEAL teams to 'fast rope' from the hovering
'Black Hawks', but according to the White House and defence officials, one of
the helicopters developed a mechanical fault and had make a 'hard landing'.
Equipped: SEALs and other special forces have access to the latest military
hardware, potentially explaining why they would have used an experimental or
secret helicopter type
Equipped: SEALs and other special forces have access to the latest military
hardware, potentially explaining why they would have used an experimental or
secret helicopter type
ID: The rear end bears no resemblance to that of the Black hawk typically used
by special forces
ID: The rear end bears no resemblance to that of the Black hawk typically used
by special forces
As the U.S. special forces fled bin Laden's compound, they destroyed the
crippled helicopter, leaving what they thought were only charred remains.
Discussing the intriguing pictures, a writer for website Defense Tech dismissed
speculation the new craft was a modified version of the MH-60.
He said: 'All I'll say is that it sure doesn't look like it came off even a
modified MH-60 Black Hawk. It looks like a stealthy new aircraft.'
Previous: Experts have speculated the 'clasified' helicopter could be a
descendant of the now abandoned RAH-66 Comanche stealth helicopter project -
seen here in prototype testing
Previous: Experts have speculated the 'clasified' helicopter could be a
descendant of the now abandoned RAH-66 Comanche stealth helicopter project -
seen here in prototype testing
Experts are now speculating the mysterious helicopter may be a descendant of
the abandoned RAH-66 Comanche stealth helicopter project.
The Comanche, in development since 1984, reached the working prototype phase
before it was cancelled in 2004.
It has been suggested that the military could have kept a few examples of the
Comanche for use on high priority missions such as last Sunday's raid on the
bin Laden compound.
The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, manufactured by Sikorsky, first entered
service with the U.S. army in 1979.
Since then, the $44 million helicopter has become a workhorse across all
branches of the American military, with U.S. forces currently operating 1,349.
There are numerous variations on the basic design, with special forces
typically using the highly modified MH-60 variant.
The Black Hawk, which first began flying in 1978, has a crew of three or four
and can carry 11 soldiers equipped for combat.
Eyes: 'The Beast of Kandahar' i.e. the secretive RQ-170 surveillance drone, was
said to have filmed the daring raid and transmitted it back to the President in
real time
Eyes: 'The Beast of Kandahar' i.e. the secretive RQ-170 surveillance drone, was
said to have filmed the daring raid and transmitted it back to the President in
real time
The new 'stealth' helicopter may not have been the only secret weapon used last
Sunday.
Navy SEAL teams have access to the latest weaponry and have the pick of any
hardware deemed necessary to carry out the job.
It is alleged that during the killing of bin Laden in Abbottabad, the SEALS
involved were supported by the Air Force's secretive RQ-170 pilot less drone-
dubbed 'The Beast of Kandahar'.
The Air Force denied the futuristic looking weapons existence until 2009 and
has never released an official photo of the reconnaissance aircraft.
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