Ash Presentation
My colleague Craig Hoyle received this briefing at a conference in London on Wednesday.View more presentations from Stephen Trimble.
Key takeaways:
- ARH competition delayed at least 18 months for Army to conduct analysis of alternatives
- Airlift requirement likely to shift from C-130 to C-17
- Meanwhile, the Army will spend $1.3 billion to upgrade OH-58D Kiowa Warriors
- KW upgrades include a lighter nose-mounted site (removing mast-mounted site) and integrating a newer, lighter-weight, 50.cal gun.
- Some Army national guard battalions flying A-model Apaches will be upgraded to the AH-64D Longbow
on May 1, 2009 5:47 PM | Reply
Personally, I alway thought basing everything on the capacity of the C-130 was kinda stupid. I'm also happy that the Guard will be receiving upgraded Apaches- I never agreed with the decision to move to the ARH.
Anyways, I can't help but to think the ARH AOA will lead right back to where we were before... with a decrepit fleet of recon choppers and an urgent need to replace them. I do hope this time around they'll just buy the Little Bird.
on May 1, 2009 5:57 PM | Reply
I'm just reading the writing on the wall here. I'm wondering if the switch to the C-17 opens the door to the Apache. The AOA will consider manned-unmanned. So you increase the number of Apaches with Level 4 control of ERMP, which didn't exist when the original ARH contract was awarded. I just don't see the army having the money or the patience in two years to convert an off-the-shelf helicopter into a military machine. Just thinking aloud here really ...
on May 1, 2009 8:55 PM | Reply
That's certainly a possibility... the new Apaches are pretty awesome and will better better still. Though really, by now we should be looking at new chopper rather a continuously upgraded AH-64 variant. Don't get me wrong, I love the Apache... but it does kinda illustrate how the helicopter has always been a neglected technology.
Still, I'm not sure if switching completely over to the manned-unmanned concept is the way to go. There are times the a human presence is needed and the Apache isn't exactly ideal for the armed reconnaissance role.
However, the AH-6M is already serving with SOAR- it would be a perfect fit. Having spoken to many Army pilots, most wonder why it wasn't picked in the first place... (I mean I know the reasons, I'm just not sure they're necessarily valid)
on May 3, 2009 10:16 AM | Reply
What again is nowadays the rational for using helicopters for (armed) scouting? Aaahh ... Bronco!
A scout version of the Apache would get around the problem of introducing yet another type to the fleet. And I doubt a Little Bird can carry a mast mounted sight.
on May 4, 2009 2:35 PM | Reply
The Little Bird certainly can carry a mast-mounted site - see http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Launchpad/5249/530defender.htm
Something to do with the fixed rotor mast making an excellent mount.
Whilst I like its small size and great manoeuvrability for the scout rôle, I'm not sold on single-engined combat helicopters - particularly in Iraq they seem to be just too vulnerable to small arms fire. They also seem to struggle more when hot-and-high.