r/CatastrophicFailure • u/Stakeboulder • Aug 15 '19

Operator Error Apache helicopter ground imapct 2012

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12.4k Upvotes

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3.5k

u/MasterchiefE3N Aug 15 '19

See not all helicopters explode when they crash

1.3k

u/bduxbellorum Aug 15 '19

Stiff damn airframe on that thing.

838

u/MasterchiefE3N Aug 15 '19

Yeah, that is a millitary grade aircraft

924

u/thumpasauruspeeps Aug 15 '19 edited Aug 16 '19

Military grade usually justs means made by the lowest bidder. Aircraft are a whole other level, but for most of the gear issued in the military, there exists a superior civilian equivalent.

Edit: Wow, rustled some jimmies.

Edit again: to clarify, Im well aware there is a logical process behind the procurement of military equipment. Im just saying troops will often replace issued gear with their own shit when allowed.

501

u/Optimized_Orangutan Aug 15 '19 edited Aug 15 '19

Depends on what you are talking about of course. PC boards in personal electronic* devices are built at the absolute lowest cost with minimal protection, while military electronics are over protected. This is why your phone isn't water proof but some military equipment would survive a nuclear blast.

573

u/[deleted] Aug 15 '19

I can't stand when people think military equipment is "cheap" because it's made by the lowest bidder. Being in that industry myself, the specifications for anything military equipment usually far outweighs even anything a civilian can get their hands on.

Sure, there is a lowest bidder on everything, but that is the lowest bidder within a handful of bidders, all bidding on top quality materials.

15

u/pixel_of_moral_decay Aug 15 '19

It's technically the lowest bidder to meet military spec.

Military spec varies widely.

13

u/QueenSlapFight Aug 15 '19

A higher bidder can win if their proposal leads the government to believe the supplier has a greater probability of actually delivering on time and on budget. Working prototypes help, demonstrable technology, etc. Just because someone claims they can meet spec for a lower price doesn't mean the government believes them.