COMANCHE

The COMANCHE program was a Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP) managed by the U.S. Department of Defense under Acquisition Category ID. Operating under the Major Capability Acquisition pathway, the program appears to have been active from at least 2000 through the mid-2000s, with some contracts extending through 2010. The program focused on the development and acquisition of the RAH-66 Comanche helicopter system and associated components.

The contract awards under this program primarily consisted of research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) services, aircraft components, and technical support services. Contract values ranged from several thousand dollars for individual components to nearly $1 billion for major development efforts, with typical durations of 6 months to 5 years. Major contractors included Boeing Sikorsky Comanche Team, General Electric Engine Services, Honeywell International, and DRS Technologies. The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command was the primary contracting authority, with most work performed in Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Florida. The majority of contracts were awarded without set-aside designations, using predominantly Firm Fixed Price and Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract types. Notable contract categories included aircraft engines and spares, airframes, and specialized maintenance equipment.