The Army had initiated the Advanced Aerial Fire Support System (AAFSS) program to develop the Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne for the anti-tank gunship role, but development of the Cheyenne did not go smoothly, and as one writer put it, "the vultures began to gather", with Sikorsky and Bell trying to sell unsolicited alternatives to the Army.
The US Army launched the Advanced Aerial Fire Support System (AAFSS) program to build the Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne for anti-tank missions, but the project faced setbacks, leading one writer to note that "the vultures started gathering", with Sikorsky and Bell trying to market their own unrequested options to the Army.