Modern attack helicopters are tremendous battlefield assets, but their value is limited in urban, jungle, forested, and mountainous areas where obstructions block their view.  Another problem is that all weaponry is mounted forward and must be fired by pilots who strain to see targets below and must turn to engage them.  Amazingly, no one has equipped helicopters to engage targets from a high hover.  Helicopters can fly up to 10,000 feet, which is well beyond the effective range of heavy machine guns and shoulder-fired missiles.  Therefore, some helicopters should be converted to fire directly downward from a hover.

      The inexpensive UH-60L Blackhawk helicopter (left) can become an RAH-60 "Gunhawk" by adding a pivoting gun station on both sides of the fuselage, with either a .50 caliber (12.7mm) or 20mm gatling gun, or a 25mm or 30mm automatic cannon, or a 40mm grenade launcher.  Two enlisted gunners in the cabin will control each weapons systems that can be aimed remotely and fired forward, sideways, or downward.  Each will be seated at a weapons station in front of a video screen wired to a video camera gun sight that can provide magnified color or infrared images.  The co-pilot will control a rotating chin mount that he can fire forward, or downward with the aid of a video camera display.

     Each gunner can control the elevation and traverse of his weapons system, just like the chin mounts in service today.  Tests are required to determine the best weapon mix due to recoil, weight, and ballistics.  The range of a gun firing downward is unlimited, but wind becomes a factor as bullets literally rain down upon an enemy.  This is a similar concept as the AC-130H Spectre (below) used by the US Special Operations Command, except that a UH-60L is a much less expensive and more flexible platform that can fire directly downward.  

      Unless major anti-aircraft systems are present, a Gunhawk can hover beyond the range of small arms, heavy machine guns, and small anti-aircraft missiles.  Keep in mind that the vertical range of projectiles fired from below is much less than their horizontal range due to gravity.  Most gun mounts cannot elevate to fire vertically anyway.  However, ballistic floor mats may be installed on Gunhawks for extra protection from small arms fire at lower levels, or large caliber rounds weakened by extreme ranges.  Gunhawks should be painted "haze gray" to help them hide in the sky.

     Firing downward is not new idea, it is similar to the ball turret idea used by World War II bombers. (below)  The aiming technology has already been developed, and a missile countermeasure systems can protect against surprises.  The Gunhawk gunners can engage targets independently without the need to turn the helicopter.  This weapons system can provide unique capabilities in situations like the 1993 ranger fiasco in Somalia, where attack helicopters could not provide effective support to infantrymen trapped in a city.  An RAH-60 could have taken up station high overhead for hours at a time and rained steel upon anything below.

     A rifle company advancing in a city or dense forest may have a Gunhawk overhead with its three dedicated gunners observing all movement below with telescopic-infrared sights to provide immediate intelligence.  Enemy forces may not even notice the Gunhawk high overhead, especially at night or in cloudy weather, until  rounds begin exploding everywhere.  Raining gunfire will devastate foot soldiers since they will have nowhere to hide, and even armored vehicles may explode as rounds penetrate their thin upper armor. 

      Gunhawks will prove superior for helicopter escort missions.  Current attack helicopters rely on pilots who have restricted views.  Once enemy ground fire is observed, they must turn and dive to engage.  This process takes several seconds, assuming they detect the source of the incoming fire.  In contrast, each Gunhawk has three gunners scanning directly below and ready to instantly engage targets.  A formation of four Gunhawks can assume hover positions over an LZ as transport helicopters arrive.  They can provide support from 12 guns that instantly pulverize anything that fires from below. Gunhawks are excellent for shooting down enemy UAVs, low-flying cruise missiles, or other helicopters.

      Gunhawks may seem worthless against an army with modern anti-aircraft weaponry.  However, Gunhawks can operate at low levels with strafing runs by popping up and turning away to allow its gunners several seconds to unleash a barrage.  Gunhawks will also prove valuable in "mopping up" enemy units isolated in rear areas where "steel rain" encourages fanatics to surrender.  In addition, Gunhawks can also serve as light transports to pick up and drop off recon teams, downed pilots, or wounded.  Gunhawks are a simple concept that can greatly increase the effectiveness of airpower.