Originally Posted by
Lonewolf_50
Maybe the answer is that OH-58D being replaced by drones and attack helicpters handles the attack and scout requirements, but if we look at what Apache has become, an armed scout (something like Comanche, but not as expensive) still fits into the combined arms approach.
If we go back to the original LHX idea, and add the never ending mission systems growth, you at best end up with a "needs 1.5 pilots to fly" that has to be rounded up to 2, which problem Comanche ran into also.
Regarding Apache acting as an armed scout, that was the
fifth attempt to replace the OH-58 and how that turned out was what drove Army to start FARA. One of the FARA missions is to launch Air-Launched Effects (ALE) mini drones in place of missiles and also to work with them. There's speculation that
if FARA is successful it could eventually replace part or all of the Apache fleet (hence the first "A" in "FARA". AH-64 can carry a big load, but experience has shown that rarely does it need its full payload.
Originally LHX was supposed to be single seat but it became apparent that the workload, especially at low altitude, would be too much for a single crewmember