SH-187 stealth helicopter

The SH-187 stealth helicopter is a vehicle in Deus Ex. The SH-187 is labeled "Black Helicopter" when encountered in-game. Throughout most of the game, JC Denton travels on the SH-187 piloted by Jock.

Background

The SH-187 helicopter was developed under the name Project Dibbuk, whose goal was to create an aircraft with superior range and ceiling to its predecessors, in addition to being a stealth craft. The aforementioned requirements were very important to Majestic 12 military operations, which were often secret and illegal. It is known that some of the advanced components for the helicopter were improved versions of Chinese developments in this field.

The SH-187 utilizes advanced technology. It is powered by high-efficiency ethanol fuel cells that give it a flight range of over 9,000 miles or about 15,000 kilometers. In addition, it incorporates advanced thermoptic technology that renders it invisible on 97% of the non-visible spectrum. Thus, detecting the helicopter is extremely difficult. The effect of the system was described by a Chinese police officer: 'its skin seemed to absorb light, like that of a shark in the deep ocean'.

The SH-187 was designed as a multipurpose platform with various mission capabilities that can operate in enemy territory for extended time. Therefore, it can be remotely disabled or even scuttled, in case it falls into enemy hands. It can also function as a gunship, and carries missiles.

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As sightings of ominous "black helicopters" become increasingly common across the country, from Manhattan to the SoCal shores, many citizens have grown concerned that these gunships are actually a sign that troops may be preparing to mobilize for some unknown action.

"Certainly this concerns me," said Senator Harry Jarvis (D-Texas), a member of the Armed Services Committee. "I intend to bring this up in our next committee meeting and ask some hard questions."

UNATCO Director Joseph Manderley was more skeptical. "If black helicopters were really being used for 'covert operations,' then those responsible are doing a poor job of it." Manderley went on to say that UNATCO employed no such aircraft and declined to pursue the matter any further claiming that it detracted from the "serious nature of [our] mission."

— Black Helicopters a "Concern" Says Senator, Joe Greene (Midnight Sun)

Trivia

• The SH-187 resembles the real-world prototype stealth helicopter Boeing–Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche, which was cancelled due to escalating costs before it became operational.
• The time given for JC Denton's Killswitch shows the helicopter made the trip between Liberty Island and Hong Kong, a distance of roughly 8050 miles, in under 11 hours. This supersonic speed is more than double the current helicopter speed record of 299mph.

Gallery

See also

• Project Dibbuk (book), a book describing the project that resulted in the creation of the SH-187
• Project Dibbuk: Thoughts and Meditations, covers Project Dibbuk and the SH-187
• Attack Helicopter