In the article Mr. Bogosian Mentions a good point about technology. After Vietnam and even during it some of this technology was developed; the tilt rotor (actually much before) and the Contrarotating Rigid Rotor that Sikorsky is using was developed in the early 70's. However these technologies needed the Computer revolutuion we are now in to come to full flower. Their time is now.
There is, however a point he brings up about the Comanche and the recently canceled ARH. Both these helicopters died of mission growth. This to be simply described can be best summed up by the Queen song "I Want It All, And I Want It Now!"
What do I mean by this?
A tale of two Helicopters - Once upon a time,... 1970 - The US Marine Corps had the Cobra helicopter and the US Army had the Cobra helicopter. They did the same thing - shot guns and fired rockets - and they did this well. The Army said I need a new Helicopter for fighting the Russians and it needed antitank missles and night vision and bigger guns, so they put out a call for proposals and got the Apache fielded in 1984 with cost over runs congressional oversight, screaming and nashing of teeth (they're soldiers so I imagine there was little rending of garments). But while this was going on the Marines said they needed a new helicopter to fight the Russians. They took their Cobra and put two engines on it. Then they mounted Tow missiles on it. Then when the requirement for night vision came along they modifieed it again and when the Hellfire missile came along they modified it again to fire both the TOW and the Hellfire (something the Apache doesn't do) so by 1985 the Marines had a fully mission capable attack helicopter while the Army was just introducing their new Helicopter.
The problem was the Army refused to lock in the design and start producing their new helicopter, because something new came along and they WANTED to have that new technology (Nightvision, Lasers, Hellfire) on the new helicopter NOW so when they fielded the helicopter it had it ALL. The problem with that philosophy is you never get what you want for the cost you originally wanted it for. And then someone (usually the Congress comes along and pulls the plug (like Comanche and Crusader and now ARH).
There will always be new technologies and new things that will allow you to run faster and jump higher, but if something is designed corectly in the first place such as the Lynx or the Black Hawk or the B-52, you can just keep sticking things on to it and it keeps doing its job.
The Army has to buy a pickup truck then modify to suit changing missions, not ask for a pint pot and then wonder why it takes forever to fit the quart into it.
The risks are many, and the chances slim... But ..Oh the songs they will sing of us in the Hall of Heros ! - Kor, Dahar Master.