Weapons of War: Helicopters Helicopters will play a role as the war in Iraq moves closer to the ground. A look at their capabilities:
AH-64D Apache	UH-60 Blackhawk	MH-47E Chinook	MH-53 Pavelow	OH 58D Kiowa
What it can do:
Can rapidly detect, classify, and engage stationary or moving enemy targets at standoff ranges in nearly all environments.	Capable of providing long-range airlifts far into hostile territory in adverse weather conditions. Can carry 11 combat-loaded, air assault troops, and move a 105 mm howitzer and 30 rounds of ammunition.	Infiltrations, extractions, air assault and resupply over a wide range of conditions.	Can carry up to 38 troops and sling up to 20,000 pounds with its external cargo hook.	An advanced aerial scout with high-powered day TV and infrared optics, laser designator/tracker. The mast-mounted sight feature of the OH-58D allows the aircraft to remain concealed during observation and target designation.
Armament:
16 laser-guided precision Hellfire missiles, 76 70 mm rockets, or a combination of both, and a 30 mm automatic cannon with up to 1,200 rounds of higH-explosive ammunition.	Two 7.62 mm miniguns.	A 7.62 mm minigun and an M-60D 7.62 machine gun.	Up to three 7.62 mm miniguns or .50-caliber machine guns.	Combinations of air-to-ground Hellfire and air-to-air Stinger missiles, 2.75" folding fin aerial rocket pods, and a 0.50 caliber machine gun.
Specs:
Top speeds of 273 mph. and altitudes of up to 14,650 feet.	Top speeds of 184 mph. and altitudes of up to 19,000 feet.	Top speeds of 161 mph. and altitudes of up to 10,150 feet.	Top speeds of 165 mph. and altitudes of up to 16,000 feet.	Top speeds of 139 m.p.h. and altitudes of up to 19,000 feet.
Crew:
Two pilots.	Two pilots, one flight engineer and one gunner.	Two pilots. Can carry up to 44 troops.	Two pilots, two flight engineers and two aerial gunners.	Two pilots.