13 October, 2015 BY: Stephen Trimble - FG

Washington DC - A Lockheed Martin communications system will be replaced on the Boeing AH-64E Apache fleet as the US Army moves to standardise data links for manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T).

Having Apache pilots communicating and controlling unmanned air systems (UAS) in flight is a central element of the army’s strategy for replacing the armed scout role now performed by the Bell Helicopter OH-58D Kiowa Warrior. But the transition to the MUM-T future has been complicated by a fleet of UAS fielded with incompatible data links.

Read more

February 19, 2015: Strategy Page

The U.S. Army received its first AH-64Es in 2011. Then in 2014 this most recent version of the Apache completed a seven month tour in Afghanistan. There the 24 AH-64Es with an aviation battalion performed better than expected. Each of these AH-64Es flew an average 66 hours a month while there. The readiness rate of the AH-64Es was 87 percent, compared to the army standard of 80 percent. One of the surprising new capabilities of the AH-64E was its ability to fly about 29 percent (at 288 kilometers an hour) faster that the D model. That translated into moving about one kilometer per minute faster and this cost the experienced Taliban commanders a lot of casualties. That was because these guys knew from experience how long it took a D model to arrive after the Taliban ambushed NATO forces. Suddenly the E model was showing up earlier and catching the Taliban exposed to attack rather than safely away or under cover. The AH-64E also had new electronics that enabled it to work more closely with UAVs, as in getting the video feeds directly and basically using the UAVs more effectively as scouts to spot targets. The Taliban weren’t expecting that either. NATO troops supported by the AH-64Es also noted the new capabilities and quickly began exploiting them when they knew they were getting air support from Es instead of Ds. These speed and commo capabilities were built into the AH-64E based on past experience and testing and training exercises gave pilots and ground commanders hints that these changes could be very useful. Battlefield experience confirmed that and led to new tactics for the E crews and the troops supported that no one had foreseen.

Testing of these new capabilities began in 2011 when the army began receiving the first of 51 "low rate initial production” AH-64s. This came three years after the first flight. These aircraft were then called the AH-64D Block III Apache helicopter gunship. It was decided in 2012 that the Block III improvements were so numerous and dramatic that it made more sense to go to a simpler and more descriptive AH-64E designation. The D model also had a name; Longbow (as it was optimized to kill tanks). The E model was called Guardian (because it was optimized for supporting infantry).

This goes back to the AH-64A, which was the initial model and entered service in 1986. The last AH-64A was taken out of service in 2012 for upgrade to the AH-64D standard. The AH-64B was an upgrade proposed for the early 1990s, but was cancelled, as was a similar “C” model upgrade. Some of these cancelled improvements were in great demand. Thus the “B” and “C” model upgrades were incorporated in the AH-64D Block I (1997). The AH-64D Longbow (because of the radar mast, making it possible to see ground targets and flying obstacles in all weather) models began appearing in 2002.

By the end of the decade 634 army AH-64Ds will be upgraded to the new AH-64E standard. The first AH-64Es entered service in 2012 and were heavily used to reveal any design or manufacturing flaws. These were fixed before mass production and conversion began in late 2013.

AH-64Es have more powerful and fuel efficient engines, as well as much improved electronics. AH-64Es also have Internet- like capabilities enabling these gunships to quickly exchange images, video, and so on with other aircraft and ground troops. Each AH-64E can also control several UAVs and launch missiles at targets spotted by these UAVs. The AH-64E radar has longer range and onboard computers are much more powerful than earlier ones. The electronics are easier to upgrade and maintain. The combination of improved fire control and Internet capabilities greatly increases the combat effectiveness of the AH-64.

The 10 ton AH-64E carries a pilot and a weapons officer, as well as up to 16 Hellfire missiles (plus the 30mm automatic cannon). Sorties average three hours. The AH-64 can operate at night and has a top speed of about 300 kilometers an hour.

In addition to the U.S. Army, the AH-64E the UAE (United Arab Emirates) bought 60. Neighboring Saudi Arabia ordered 70, as well as upgrades for its existing twelve AH-64s to the “E” standard. Many more of the existing 1,100 AH-64s (American and foreign) may be upgraded as well.

8 octobre, 2014 Frédéric Lert (FOB)

C’est un communiqué du Pentagone qui l’annonce : ce week-end, des hélicoptères de combat Apache ont été utilisés contre des objectifs de l’Etat Islamique en Irak. Six raids distincts ont été conduits, en coordination avec des avions de l’US Air force. Les raids ont continué semble-t-il en ce début de semaine. Les appareils de l’US Army étaient revenus en Irak au début du mois de juillet pour protéger les intérêts américains et notamment la zone verte et les accès à l’aéroport à Bagdad. Les Apache étaient notamment utilisés pour escorter les convois routiers et les déplacements en hélicoptères Blackhawk. Selon certaines sources, huit Apache seraient basés à Bagdad et ils proviendraient d’unités basées en temps normal au Koweit. Lors de leur retour au mois de juillet, ils étaient accompagnés de plusieurs centaines de soldats US et de drones RQ-7 Shadow destinés à renforcer la présence américaine face à une rébellion islamiste qui commençait à gagner du terrain. Ironie de l’histoire, les attaques américaines du week end semblent s’être concentrées sur la région de Falloujah, une ville dont la conquête avait déjà coûté tant d’effort aux Américains en 2004.

Le président Obama a déjà annoncé dans les semaines passées qu’aucun soldat américain ne prendrait part aux combats au sol. L’engagement des hélicoptères, optimisés pour un soutien direct des combattants et des combats en zone urbaine peut être diversement perçu : face aux armes automatiques et aux missiles portables, les risques de perte sont singulièrement plus élevés qu’avec des avions de combat.  A noter enfin que les Irakiens ont depuis longtemps demandé à acheter leurs propres Apache : le Pentagone avait annoncé en début d’année la vente possible de 24 appareils, sans que celle-ci ait pour l’instant abouti. Lassés d’attendre, les Irakiens se sont depuis tournés vers les Russes. Ils auraient reçu récemment trois hélicoptères de combat Mi28 « Havoc ». Environ 350 raids aériens ont été montés à ce jour contre les forces de l’Etat Islamique, dont les trois quarts en territoire irakien.

La cérémonie de délivrance de l'IOC de l'AH-64E sur la base Lewis-McChord. Photo US Army

27.11.2013 Helen Chachaty journal-aviation.com

L’US Army annonce ce mercredi que la dernière version des hélicoptères d’attaque Apache de Boeing, l’AH-64E, avait obtenu son IOC (Initial Operating Capability), première certification au standard militaire, lors d’une cérémonie qui s’est tenue le 21 novembre dernier sur la base Lewis-McChord, dans l’Etat de Washington.

Le bataillon d’attaque et de reconnaissance 1-229, « Tigersharks » avait reçu le premier exemplaire de l’AH-64E en janvier 2013. Les premiers déploiements à l’étranger sont prévus pour 2014.

L’AH-64 Apache a été mis en service en 1984 dans l’US Army, la flotte a accumulé depuis plus de 3,7 millions d’heures de vol, dont 6 000 pour la dernière version en date, l’AH-64E.

Oct 31, 2013 ASDNews Source : Lockheed Martin Corporation

LONGBOW LLC, a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, received a $92.8 million contract from the U. S. Army to provide Life Cycle Contractor Support (LCCS) for LONGBOW programs on the AH-64D and AH-64E helicopters.

The LCCS contract provides integrated logistics support for LONGBOW Fire Control Radar (FCR) systems equipping AH-64D and AH-64E Apache helicopters. The contract also includes support for the AH-64E Unmanned Aerial System Tactical Common Data Link Assembly (UTA) and upgraded FCR Radar Electronics Unit (REU). The period of performance for the LCCS contract extends through 2016.

Read more

26/08 LesEchos.fr (Reuters)

L'armée indonésienne va acquérir huit hélicoptères américains Apache dans le cadre d'un contrat de 500 millions de dollars (374 millions d'euros) comprenant aussi la fourniture de radars et de services de formation et de maintenance, a-t-on appris lundi de source militaire américaine.

La vente des huit appareils AH-64E, fabriqués par Boeing , a été annoncée lors d'une visite à Djakarta du secrétaire américain à la Défense Chuck Hagel, actuellement en tournée dans le Sud-Est asiatique.

14 March 2013 army-technology.com

The US Army's 1-229th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion (ARB) has fielded the first AH-64E Apache attack helicopter during a ceremony at Gray Army Airfield within Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, US.

Eight out of 24 helicopters were received by the battalion, since January 2013, and all are scheduled to be operational by the end of April this year.

Known as Guardian, the new heavily-armed helicopter features more powerful, fuel-efficient T700-GE-701D engines, enhanced rotor blade technology, as well as advanced electronics, and is designed to replace the army's existing AH-64D Longbow model helicopters.

Other features include improved drive system and sensor enhancements, improved handling and performance, as well as the ability to hover at 6,000ft with a full mission payload, providing pilots with more control during high-altitude operations.

Commenting on the helicopter, 1-229th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion commander lieutenant colonel Geoffrey Crawford said it would increase the battalion's lethality and survivability, while also improving its ability to support ground forces.

"The increased power will now allow us to stay on the objective longer and with more ammunition," Crawford added.

With a combat speed of around 189mph, the helicopter, which was formerly known as AH-64D Block III, can turn faster and tighter in challenging environments, and also provide pilots with options to remotely operate nearby unmanned aerial vehicles/systems.

In addition, 1-229th ARB maintenance test pilot chief warrant officer 3 Richard Crabtree said: "They can view UAV camera feeds, adjust their flight path and launch missiles at targets spotted by the UAV."

The battalion flight crews are scheduled to conduct familiarisation training using the actual aircraft and AH-64E flight simulators at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, in addition to training in preparation for upcoming rotations to the Army's National Training Center (NTC) later this year.

Oct. 24, 2012 by Dave Majumdar – FG

Washington DC - The US Army is re-designating the Boeing AH-64D Block III Apache as the AH-64E.

The decision comes as the upgraded attack helicopter is moved into full rate production after a successful operational test phase.

The Block III has a significant enough boost in capabilities to warrant the change in designation, says Boeing's Ray Handy, marketing manager and a pilot for the AH-64.

The soon-to-be E-model's rotor blades are made of composites and the airfoil is shaped differently, he says. Moreover, the entire drive system has been completely revamped, with the engines and transmission significantly upgraded. "It's a completely new gearbox," Handy says.

The new drive system, in many respects, restores performance of the helicopter to earlier days. The introduction of the D-model in the 1990s added a large amount of weight to the aircraft over the years.

"It has taken us back to the days when the Apache was a much lighter aircraft," says Todd Brown, Boeing's chief rotary-wing test pilot. The E-model is similar in performance to the much lighter A-model helicopter, he adds.

The Block III's avionics have also been greatly improved. The biggest change is that the system has moved to an open-architecture design. But there have also been improvements to the flight controls and flight management systems.

The aircraft's mission capabilities have also been greatly improved, although Brown declines to elaborate. However, Boeing says one of the biggest improvements in that regard is the addition of a level four manned-unmanned teaming system, which will allow the aircraft's crew to work with unmanned air vehicles.