First Photo Ever Of A Stealthy U.S. Black Hawk Helicopter

Warzone/The Drive: This Is The First Photo Ever Of A Stealthy Black Hawk Helicopter

Almost a decade since we learned of the stealth Black Hawks used in the Bin Laden raid, we have seen no images of them or of their lineage, until now.

We are constantly on the lookout for more details about the U.S. military's highly elusive stealthy Black Hawk helicopters, one of which famously crashed during the raid that led to the death of Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden in 2011, as well as any possible predecessors that predated them. Now, what appears to be a previously unpublished picture has come to our attention that shows a heavily modified EH-60 electronic warfare and signals intelligence variant of the Black Hawk. Is seems to be, at the very least, one of the missing links connecting the unique Black Hawk helicopters used on the Bin Laden raid and stealthy Black Hawk design concepts dating back to the 1970s.

It is our understanding that the picture in question seen at the top of this story and again below in a slightly enhanced manner, has a relation to Fort Eustis in Virginia. In addition to being home to 128th Aviation Brigade, previously known as the U.S. Army Aviation Logistics School, Fort Eustis' Felker Army Airfield it also hosts a unit commonly known as the Flight Concepts Division (FCD), that is now called the Aviation Technology Office (ATO). This is the unit understood to be responsible for leading the development of the stealth Black Hawks used during the Bin Laden raid and many of the U.S. Army's most advanced and secretive rotary-wing capabilities.

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WNU Editor: It looks bad-ass.

China Is Developing A Stealth Helicopter

Harbin Z-19 at the China Helicopter Exposition. © WIKIPEDIA/ YU MING

Reuters: China developing new attack helicopter with stealth abilities

China has begun developing a new generation of attack helicopter which will have stealth abilities and should start deliveries to the Chinese armed forces by about 2020, the official China Daily newspaper said on Friday.

The helicopter is being developed by Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC), one of the country's leading arms manufacturers, the state-run English-language publication said.

Its stealth capabilities will "reshape the combat patterns" of the People's Liberation Army, company chairman Lin Zuoming was quoted as saying.

"It is a trend that the ground force will become increasingly dependent on helicopters because they have better strike capability and mobility than armored vehicles, and transport supplies to frontier troops," Lin said.

Update: China Reveals Fourth-Generation Combat Stealth Helicopter in Development -- Sputnik

WNU Editor: The Chinese had help, they did get a glimpse of U.S. stealth technology on a helicopter .... Pakistan let China see crashed U.S. "stealth" copter (Reuters)

America's Super-Stealthy Copters Were Not Used In The Bin Laden Raid

White House Kept Super-Stealthy Copter from Bin Laden Raid, Book Claims -- Danger Room

There are lots of surprising claims in Chuck Pfarrer’s new book, SEAL Target Geronimo, a supposedly inside account of the May 2 raid that killed Osama bin Laden in his Abbottabad, Pakistan, compound — and none more surprising than this. The former commando-turned-author Pfarrer insists the Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment possesses not one, but two stealth transport helicopter designs. The stealthier of the two was held back from the mission for fear of one crashing and giving up its secrets, Pfarrer claims.

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Update: Secret US 'Jedi' ghost-copters kept out of bin Laden raid -- Register

My Comment: Here are 5 bombshells behind the SEAL raid that killed bin laden.

The Secret Stealth Helicopter Used In The Bin Laden Raid (Video)

WNU Editor: This video is a bit dated .... but still interesting to watch.