Boeing AH-64 Apache

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The AH-64 Apache is the United States Army's principal attack helicopter, and is the successor to the AH-1 Cobra. The AH-64 is powered by two General Electric T700 turboshaft engines. The crew sits in tandem, with the pilot sitting behind and above the copilot-gunner in an armored crew compartment. The AH-64 is armed with a 30mm M230 chain gun and carries a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire and Hydra 70 rockets on four hard points mounted on its stub-wing pylons.

Designed by Hughes Helicopters in response to the Army's Advanced Attack Helicopter Program, it was built to endure front-line environments and to operate during the day or night and in adverse weather using avionics and electronics, such as the Target Acquisition and Designation System, Pilot Night Vision System (TADS/PNVS), passive infrared countermeasures, Global Positioning System (GPS), and the Integrated Helmet And Display Sight System (IHADSS). McDonnell Douglas purchased Hughes Helicopters and continued the development of the AH-64 resulting in the AH-64D Apache Longbow which is currently produced by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems.

Development

Following the cancellation of the AH-56 Cheyenne, the United States Army sought an aircraft to fill an anti-armor attack role. The Army wanted an aircraft better than the AH-1 Cobra in firepower, performance and range. It would have the maneuverability to fly nap of the earth (NoE) missions. To this end, the US Army issued a request for proposals (RFP) for an Advanced Attack Helicopter (AAH) in 1972.[1]

Proposals were submitted by 5 manufacturers: Bell, Boeing-Vertol (teamed with Grumman), Hughes, Lockheed, and Sikorsky. In 1973, the US Department of Defense selected finalists Bell and Hughes Aircraft's Toolco Aircraft Division (later Hughes Helicopters).[1]

Each company built prototype helicopters and went through a flight test program. Hughes' Model 77/YAH-64 prototype first flew on September 30 1975, while Bell's Model 409/YAH-63 prototype first flew the following day.[1] After evaluating test results, the Army selected Hughes' YAH-64 over Bell's YAH-63 in 1976.[2]

Hughes was approved for full scale production in 1982.[1] In 1983, the first production helicopter was rolled out at Hughes Helicopter's facility at Mesa, Arizona. In 1984, Hughes Helicopters was purchased by McDonnell Douglas for $500 million. Hughes later became part of The Boeing Company with the merger of Boeing and McDonnell Douglas in August 1997. The total cost of the AH-64D program is US$ 10.5 billion through April 2007.[3]

Operational history

Hydra 70 and AGM-114 Hellfire.

United States

The Apache was first used in combat during the 1989 invasion of Panama, Operation Just Cause. The AH-64A Apache and the AH-64D Apache Longbow have played important roles in several Middle Eastern wars, including the Gulf War, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq. The Apaches were proven to be excellent tank hunters and also destroyed hundreds of armored vehicles (mainly of the Iraqi army).

During Operation Desert Storm on January 17, 1991, eight AH-64As guided by four MH-53 Pave Low IIIs, were used to destroy a portion of the Iraqi radar network to allow bomber aircraft into Iraq without detection.[1] This was the first attack of Desert Storm.[1] The Apaches carried an asymmetrical load of Hydra 70 flechette rockets, Hellfires, and one auxiliary fuel tank each.[citation needed] During the 100-hour ground war, a total of 277 AH-64s took part. Apaches destroyed over 500 tanks, numerous armored personnel carriers and many other vehicles during Operation Desert Storm.[1]

File:P320007.jpg
AH-64A at Forward Operating Base Speicher, Iraq in 2005.

During Operation Iraqi Freedom, some Apaches were damaged in combat, including one captured by Iraqi troops near Karbala on March 24, 2003, and shown on Iraqi television. The captured helicopter was destroyed via airstrike the day after it was captured.[4] The March 24 attack, against an armored brigade of the Iraqi Republican Guard's Medina Division, was largely unsuccessful, apparently because the tank crews had set up a "flak trap" in broken terrain, employing their guns to good effect.[5][6] More recently two Apaches were lost along with their crews between January 28 and February 2, 2007 to Iraqi insurgent ground fire in Taji and Najaf.[7]

An AH-64 provides air support over Tikrit, Iraq on February 24, 2006.

The vast majority of Apache helicopters that have taken heavy combat damage have been able to continue their assigned missions and return safely to their bases. For example, of the 33 Apaches employed in the March 24, 2003 attack, 30 were damaged by Iraqi ground fire with several being damaged beyond repair, but only one of these did not make it back to base.[6]

Israel

IAF AH-64A "Peten" פתן
Apache Longbow at the International Aerospace Exhibition 2006.

The Israeli Air Force uses the Apache to strike various targets with guided missiles. The AH-64A attacked and destroyed dozens of Hezbollah outposts in Lebanon during the 1990s, attacking in many weather conditions — day and night. During the al-Aqsa Intifada, the IAF used the Apaches to kill senior Hamas figures, such as Ahmed Yasin and Adnan al-Ghoul, with guided missiles. In the Israel-Lebanon conflict of July – August 2006, two IAF AH-64A helicopters collided, killing 1 pilot and wounding 3, all critically. In another incident in the conflict, an IAF AH-64D Longbow crashed, killing the two pilots, due to a malfunction in the rotor hub.[8]

United Kingdom

Main article: Westland WAH-64 Apache

The UK operates a version of the Apache called the Westland WAH-64 Apache, and is designated Apache AH Mk1 by the British Army. Westland has built 67 WAH-64 Apaches under licence with Boeing. The Westland Apache replaces the Westland Lynx as the British Army's tactical attack helicopter. They will operate alongside amphibious forces as necessary and have a folding blade assembly for carrier operations. The WAH-64s are currently deployed in Afghanistan.[1].

Netherlands

Royal Netherlands Air Force ordered 30 AH-64D Apaches in 1996,[9] after leasing 12 AH-64As. The radar domes were not included, hence the Dutch AH-64Ds are not referred to as Longbows. Their first deployment was in Djibouti, Africa. They were also deployed alongside US AH-64s in support of NATO peacekeeping forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 2004, Dutch AH-64s were deployed as part of the Netherlands contribution to Multinational force in Iraq.[10] At the same time Dutch Apaches were also deployed to Kabul as part of the Netherlands contribution to ISAF. In February 2006, the Netherlands contribution to NATO forces in Afghanistan was increased from 600 to 1,400 troops and 6 AH-64s were sent in support.[11]

Variants

Royal Netherlands Air Force AH-64D at the Farnborough Air Show, 2006.

Two major models of AH-64 Apache are in service in the US Army: the AH-64A (USAR and ARNG) and the AH-64D (active).

AH-64A

The AH-64A is a two-seat attack helicopter powered by two GE T700 turbo-shaft engines, with high-mounted exhausts on either side of the rotor shaft. The crew sit in tandem, with the pilot sitting behind and above the copilot-gunner. The crew compartment is armored against 23mm gunfire fired from ZSU-23/4s. The helicopter is armed with a 30mm M230 chain gun that is slaved to the gunner's helmet-mounted gunsight. The AH-64 carries a range of external stores on its stub-wing pylons, typically a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missiles Hydra 70 general-purpose unguided 70mm rockets, and AIM-92 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles for defence. In case of emergency the pylons also have mounting points for personnel transfer.[12]

AH-64B

An AH-64B variant was initially designed for naval operation by the Marine Corps, but was never manufactured.[citation needed] As of 2007, the Marine Corps continues to use the AH-1 SuperCobra.

In 1991 after Operation Desert Storm, the AH-64B was a proposed upgrade to 254 AH-64As. The upgrade included new rotor blades, a Global Positioning System (GPS), improved navigaton systems and new radios. Congress approved US$ 82 million to begin the Apache B upgrade. The B program was cancelled in 1992.[1]

AH-64C

Additional funding from Congress in late 1991 resulted in a program to upgrade AH-64As to a AH-64B+ version. More funding changed the plan to upgrade to AH-64C. The C upgrade would include all changes to be included in the Longbow except for mast mounted radar and newer engines. However, after 1993, the C designation was dropped.[1]

The upgrades would go forward. However, since the only difference between the C model and the radar-equipped D model was the radar, which could be moved from one aircraft to another, a decision was made to not distinguish between the two versions, despite the presence or absence of the radar.


AH-64D

AH-64D at the Farnborough Air Show, 2006.

The advanced model, the AH-64D Apache Longbow, is equipped with an improved sensor suite and weapon systems. The key improvement over the A-variant is the AN/APG-78 Longbow dome installed over the main rotor which houses a millimeter-wave Fire Control Radar (FCR) target acquisition system. The elevated position of the radome allows detection and (arcing) missile engagement of targets even when the helicopter itself is concealed by an obstacle (e.g. terrain, trees or buildings). Further, a radio modem integrated with the sensor suite allows a D-variant Apache to share targeting data with other AH-64Ds that do not have a line-of-sight to the target. In this manner a group of Apaches can engage multiple targets but only reveal the radome of one D-variant Apache. Apaches that include all of the improvements of the Longbow Apache, with the exception of the Fire Control Radar are still designated as "AH-64D Apache Longbows", as the radome is removable and interchangeable between aircraft. American AH-64Ds are currently flying in Iraq and Afghanistan without the Fire Control Radar as there are simply no armored threats for coalition forces to deal with.[2]

The aircraft was updated with T700-GE-701C engines, and a fully-integrated cockpit. The forward fuselage of the aircraft was expanded to accommodate new systems. In addition, the aircraft receives improved survivability, communications, and navigation capabilities. Most existing capabilities of the AH-64A Apache are retained.

A number of other models have been derived from both AH-64A and AH-64D for export. The British-built Westland WAH-64 Apache (assembled from kits purchased from Boeing) is based on the AH-64D with several different systems, including newer engines.

Operators

Military operators of the AH-64
Red: Current Green: Projected

The original unit cost for the AH-64A was about US$14.5 million. In September 2003, Greece ordered 12 AH-64D (in addition to the already existing fleet of 20 AH-64A+) for a total cost of $675 million (presumably including weapons and support), indicating a gross unit cost for the AH-64D of $56.25 million. Singapore purchased a total of 20 AH-64D Longbow Apache aircraft in two batches between 1999 and 2001. Pakistan is thought to have ordered 6 Apache Longbow for its various anti-terrorism missions;[citation needed] unofficial reports suggest that the Pakistan Army has a requirement of up to 30 AH-64D Apache Longbow by 2010.[citation needed]

Current operators

Bahrain, and Jordan have ordered Apaches but deliveries of these aircraft had not begun as of 2006. South Korea had a plan to purchase 36 AH-64D but the plan is presumely canceled caused by fundamental problems.

The Republic of China (Taiwan) plans to purchase 30 AH-64D from 2008 onwards for its Army.[13]

Specifications (AH-64A)

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2: pilot, CPG (co-pilot/gunner)
  • Fuselage length: 49 ft 5 in (15.06 m)
  • Rotor system: 4 blades

Performance Armament

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Bishop, Chris (2005). Apache AH-64 Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) 1976–2005. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-816-2. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  2. ^ YAH-63
  3. ^ AH-64D Apache Longbow - Deagel.com
  4. ^ "Downed Apache Blown Up"
  5. ^ CNN: "U.S. Apache pilots taken prisoner"
  6. ^ a b Fred Kaplan. "Chop the Chopper: The Army's Apache attack-helicopter had a bad war". Slate. Retrieved 10 March 2007.
  7. ^ "Iraq fire downed US helicopters"
  8. ^ "Boeing Leads Inquiry Into Israeli Apache Crash"
  9. ^ "Boeing Delivers 30th AH-64D Apache to Royal Netherlands Air Force"
  10. ^ government.nl news archive "Six Apaches to Iraq to boost security"
  11. ^ "More Dutch troops for Afghanistan"
  12. ^ "Helicopter rescue bid for Marine"
  13. ^ "Taiwan seeks military helicopters from U.S." Reuters. 2007-04-11. Retrieved 2007-04-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

Related content

Wikimedia Commons has media related to AH-64.

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

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