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Pakistan returns stealth helicopter debris to US
Pakistan returns stealth helicopter debris to US - CBS News
(CBS/AP)
WASHINGTON - The Pentagon says the wreckage of the U.S. helicopter destroyed in the military operation that killed Osama bin Laden was returned by Pakistan over the weekend.
The helicopter was damaged during the May 2 raid at bin Laden's hiding place in Pakistan, and U.S. commandos blew it up so it wouldn't fall into the wrong hands.
The U.S. demanded that Pakistan return the remains of the helicopter and Pakistan agreed to do so during a diplomatic visit from Sen. John Kerry May 16. Defense Department spokesman Col. Dave Lapan says it is now back in the United States.
The Killing of Osama bin Laden
Pictures of the tail section left behind indicated the Black Hawk had been modified with stealth technology.
Bill Sweetman, Editor in Chief for Defense Technology for Aviation Week, told "The Early Show" that some unusual features were spotted in the wreckage, including special materials covering the tail rotor hub to reduce the helicopter's radar signature, and extra rotor blades to make it quieter.
"At a range of a couple hundred feet even, if you've got a bit of urban background noise, you're not going to hear it," said Sweetman.
Aviation Week published photos of the tail section which showed stealth-configured shapes on the boom and tip fairings, swept stabilizers, and a silver-loaded infra-red suppression finish.
The commandos destroyed the helicopter following the crash so that it could not be salvaged, but the Pentagon later asked Pakistan for the sensitive materials to be returned.
Pakistan returns stealth helicopter debris to US - CBS News
(CBS/AP)
WASHINGTON - The Pentagon says the wreckage of the U.S. helicopter destroyed in the military operation that killed Osama bin Laden was returned by Pakistan over the weekend.
The helicopter was damaged during the May 2 raid at bin Laden's hiding place in Pakistan, and U.S. commandos blew it up so it wouldn't fall into the wrong hands.
The U.S. demanded that Pakistan return the remains of the helicopter and Pakistan agreed to do so during a diplomatic visit from Sen. John Kerry May 16. Defense Department spokesman Col. Dave Lapan says it is now back in the United States.
The Killing of Osama bin Laden
Pictures of the tail section left behind indicated the Black Hawk had been modified with stealth technology.
Bill Sweetman, Editor in Chief for Defense Technology for Aviation Week, told "The Early Show" that some unusual features were spotted in the wreckage, including special materials covering the tail rotor hub to reduce the helicopter's radar signature, and extra rotor blades to make it quieter.
"At a range of a couple hundred feet even, if you've got a bit of urban background noise, you're not going to hear it," said Sweetman.
Aviation Week published photos of the tail section which showed stealth-configured shapes on the boom and tip fairings, swept stabilizers, and a silver-loaded infra-red suppression finish.
The commandos destroyed the helicopter following the crash so that it could not be salvaged, but the Pentagon later asked Pakistan for the sensitive materials to be returned.
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