Well, it looks like the 'Ho is holding on by its fingertips. I honestly don't see the program continuing unless there's some MAJOR restructuring, both on the Army and contractor sides.
As for the -72, sure its a great civilian helicopter. Never argued against that. But with the 'Ho in jeopardy now, they're ALREADY talking about pressing it into the scout/light attack role. I'm sorry, but any advantage that thing had for maneuverability is going out the window the second they start hanging sensors, weapons and armor on it. I'm sure if the Apache didn't have all of the self protection systems, armor, self sealing tanks and weapons systems, it'd out-maneuver the Lakota in a heartbeat. We're still pretty maneuverable and I can use that maneuverability to put my gun/rockets where I want em.
My argument has not been with the Lakota at all. Its been with the shortsightedness that has pigeonholed it into a "non-deployable asset" role, in an environment where we need helicopters that can deploy. It just seemed to me that the -72 is still just a civilian helicopter, even if you paint "US Army" on the tailboom (they can't fit UNITED STATES ARMY on the -72's tailboom, its too short!)
Ok... goin to take a nap now....
Jon