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Aviation History
1985
1985 - 1479.PDF
DEFENCE Hughes proposes Apache Bravo MESA Hughes Helicopters is recom mending a pre-planned product improvement (P3I) scheme for the AH-64 Apache to meet the projected 1990s threat, reports Mike Gaines from Mesa. The AH-64B will, says Hughes' Jim Rourke, give the Army more bang per buck, but retain configuration common ality with the A model. The Hughes plan is to carry out the Apache update in two phases. Block 1 will include the incorporation of advanced systems and software archi tecture and will be "very modular". Block 2 P3I is suggested to take place "after LHX" and will put matured LHX technology into the Apache. This phase, which is expected around 1995, will update Block 1 AH-64Bs with interactive (talkback) voice control and fly-by-light control system. The Block 2 mods will be eased by the systems modularity built in at the Block 1 stage. Other "stand-alone" modifications are proposed for all Apaches, whether or not Army approval is gained for the B model P3I. The stand-alone modifi cations include a new com posite construction wet wing for long-range self-deploy ment, cockpit protection against nuclear, bio-logical, chemical (NBC) contami nants, improved in-frared signature suppression, and hardpoints under the fuselage for slung loads. The latter is a spin-off from the Falklands war experience, says Hughes. "You never have enough helicopters in a shooting war. If, for instance, an AH-64 is sitting doing nothing because the mission avionics are unserviceable, then you can use it to move equip ment and help the UH people out." The new wing will have carbon/epoxy ribs and carbon/epoxy/Kevlar skins over a Nomex honeycomb Pre-production Apache A V05 is presently being gutted for inclusion of sidearm controllers in the front cockpit allied to a fly-by-wire system as part of Hughes Helicopters' LHX experiments. Should the company's marketing efforts on "Apache Bravo" be successful, A V05 will provide a useful experience lead-in to the AH-64B core. At present the Apache wing suffers from flow prob lems on the inboard half, aris ing from the close proximity of the avionics bulges below the wing and the engine intakes above it. The new wing will have some degree of inboard twist to alleviate the problem and will have 1ft2 less drag. With 40gal internal fuel each side, it will also have a slightly larger span to give station separation when carrying large-diameter 450gal drop tanks for self deployment. With two 450gal and two 230gal tanks, the AH- 64B will have a range of 1,167 n.m. against a lOkt headwind with 10 per cent reserves, worked out on 105 per cent of normal fuel flow. At present, the cockpits have only a slight over pressure; for better NBC protection the overpressure will be increased and NBC fdters fitted to the cockpit air intake. A contaminant- penetration warning system will be fitted, as will warning of areas contaminated, to alert groundcrew to the danger. The crew will wear liquid-cooled protective suits and use forced ventilation masks. Mission critical avionics will be housed in sealed compartments to pro tect them both from contaminants and the adverse effects of post-NBC wash- downs. The major changes pro posed for the P3I Apache are in the mission avionics and cockpit. A new navigational system will be fitted using both Doppler radar and GPS data from satellites. The Martin-Marietta Target Acquisition Designation Sys tem (TADS) and Pilot Night Vision System (PNVS) will be improved and a frequency- hopping communications system fitted. Other new WEIGHT ADDITION/SAVING AH-64 P3I System Wing Advanced technology cockpit Provision for air-to-air missiles NBC protection Navigation equipment Infrared suppression Flight control system Wire cutter Cargo hook Total Weight (lb) + 120 -29 +20 +60 +210 -12 -140 +30 + 10 +269 systems are a digital target hand-off system and a new threat warning suite. The 1553B databus, at present serving only the weapon system, will be ex panded to incorporate flight and navigation systems. The present analogue-gauge flight instrumentation will be re placed by multifunction CRT displays. The major change in the cockpits will be the replace ment of the traditional helicopter flight controls by four-axis single sidearm controllers (but retaining pedals for yaw control), feed ing into a fly-by-light flight control system. The dual redundant flight control systems will be 1401b lighter than the AH-64A's mechani cal flight control system and will be less vulnerable to battle damage. A spin-off of the new system will be select able agility for air-to-air combat with two Stinger Post infrared missiles. Other new features include auto-hover and autopilot. Hughes Helicopters says: "With a reasonable funding programme, all the proposed P3I modifications could be qualified for production within 36 months of the Army giving the go-ahead." FLIGHT International, 18 May 1985 9
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