Boeing AH-64 Apache

The Boeing AH-64 Apache is a tandem two-seat attack helicopter. Is designed by Hughes, sold to McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company in January 1984, and now in production by Boeing after the take over of McDonnell Douglas in August 1997.

The Apache is specially designed to operate at night, the two censors located on the nose make this possible. The basic principle that makes vision at night reality, is called FLIR (Forward Looking Infra-Red). All objects have a certain temperature, by measuring differences in that temperature a video-image can be produced that can be produced that can be used for both flying and target acquisition/designation.

The pilot uses the so-called Pilot Night Vision Sensor (PNVS) located on the top of the nose, this device produces the FLIR-imagery used for flying. The co-pilot/gunner primarily uses the Target Acquisition and Designation System (TADS) to find and engage targets, the TADS can also be used as a backup vision-device for flying.

The AH-64 Apache’s? PIC (Pilot In Command) in the back-seat and pilot/gunner in the front seat, are players in a real-life, hi-tech video game. Able to operate in any weather, Apache gunners can acquire multiple targets and ripple-fire their full range of weapons. A pair of Apaches could rip through a convoy in minutes. The AH-64A was essentially an analogue aircraft on a digital battle field. The AH-64″D” model is a further development, which is a fully digitized (four dual-channel MIL-STD 1553B data-busses) platform and some of them have the mushroom-shaped radar, only they have the name Apache Longbow.

The Longbow Fire Control Radar with its distinctive mast-mounted antenna is a 35 GHz radar system for the detection, location, classification and prioritization of tactical targets.

The Boeing AH-64D is armed with the Lockheed Martin/Boeing AGM-114D Longbow Hellfire air-to-surface missile which has a millimeter wave seeker which allows the missile to perform in full fire and forget mode. Range is 8km to 12km.

The first of the upgraded Block II Apaches was delivered to the US Army in February 2003. Block II includes upgrades to the digital communications systems to improve communications within the “tactical internet”. Block III improvements, slated for 2008 on, include increasing digitization, capability to control UAV’s and new composite rotor blade.

Westland WAH-64 Apache Longbow

59 Westland WAH-64 Apache Longbow are built under license in the UK by GKN-Westland Helicopters Limited at Yeovilton. The first 8 WAH-64 were built by Boeing at Mesa Arizona. Ministry of Defense UK specified a number of different equipments to be incorporated on WAH-64. These included:

• Rolls Royce Turbomeca RTM322 engines.
• A state of the art Helicopter Integrated Defensive Aids Suite (HIDAS).
• A deicing system for rotor blade operation in cold weather.
• CRV7 2.75 inch rockets made by Bristol Aerospace of Canada.
• Folding blades, to facilitate operations from ships.
• A Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS). HUMS will record accurately WAH-64 flight data (such as engine temperatures and rotor torque) to make maintenance easy.
• SATURN (a new NATO UHF secure radio) and BOWMAN (British Army combat radio)
• Air-to-air missile for self protection.

All British Apaches have standard the Longbow Radar.