Army dumps helicopter after 21 years, $6.9 billion

°Comanche helicopter project was launched in 1983 and was eventually to have cost more than $39 billion.

°Project was canceled after $6.9 billion and 21 years of effort were spent.

°Senior Army leaders propose that $14.6 billion earmarked to build 121 Comanches be used to buy 796 other helicopters and to upgrade and modernize 1,400 helicopters already in the fleet.

°The per-unit cost has more than quadrupled, from $12.1 million per aircraft when the Army planned to buy 5,023 Comanches, to $58.9 million when the purchase was cut back to 650.

SOURCE: Associated Press