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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 2130.PDF
Defen National Laboratories. Boeing, looking to 2006 and beyond, is lobbying for money on two fronts - for an MY III upgrade of the remaining AH-64As and a third follow-on block of improve ments. "When you look at the cost of maintaining a dual fleet in terms of train ing, logistics and support, it costs more not to modernise than to modernise. These 240 aircraft could remain in service and save the army about $1.4 billion over 20 years," says Brad Rounding, Boeing Apache Longbow domestic business development. Modernisation The army is less focused on MY III than on securing funds for a Block 3 modernisation in 2004-09. The yet-to-be finalised package of enhancements would be retrofitted to the AH-64D fleet, starting with Block 1 machines in MY I Lots 1-6. "Based on the [Boeing Sikorsky RAH-66] Comanche being nelded at a rate of 62 a year, the D model is shown staying in service until 2027. You cannot let a high-technology platform like the D model sit around for another 25 years without doing something to it. The question is: what do you want to do?" says Col Ralph Pallotta, US Army AH-64 project manager. The list of options has been broken into five categories and distributed to the oper ators for feedback. The list will then go to the army's senior leadership for a final decision. The options include: • improved target detection and acquisi tion - extended range fire control radar (FCR), improved radio-frequency interfer ometer (RFI), common Comanche proces sor, image and sensor fusion and Joint Tactical Radio System. • increased situational awareness and survivability - Rotorcraft Pilot Associate, unmanned air vehicle (UAV) control and improved aircraft survivability equip ment (ASE). • enhanced performance and reduced operations and support cost - improved rotor, uprated General Electric T700- 701C/D turboshafts and drive, Rotorcraft Open System Architecture (ROSA) and advanced flight controls. • maintenance - interactive electronic maintenance manual. • transportability - folding rotor, wing and horizontal stabiliser and collapsible antenna. It is unlikely the army will get all the money it needs for the full menu of Block 3 items, but it is clear some have a higher priority than others. Cody, a veteran Apache pilot from the Gulf War, says: "I always want to see further than I can shoot. I want to be able to identify the tar get at the range of the weapon system and 1 want to be able to know where I am at all times, and where my partners are." The Lockheed Martin/Northrop Grum man joint venture is working to extend the 30km (55nm) range of the Longbow FCR by around 50%, and some customers are asking for expanded target-recognition sets. The company is also offering to enhance Arrowhead by adding third-gen eration 3-5um FLIR. This would give the M-TADS/PNVS a dual-band capability comprising a staring array midwave sensor for long-range and long-wave scanning array for wider field of view and better smoke penetration. The US Army's Apache fleet is powered BOEING AH-64D APACHE LONGBOW Frank Munger and Giuseppe Picarella Mast mounted APG-78 Longbow fire control radar Static mast mounted main rotor head, with bearingles articulated blade hubs and friction lead-lag dampers Tandem cockpit with crash-resistant armoured seats, floor structure and armoured glass divider screen - pilot aft, weapons officer forward Pilot's Night Vision Sensor Aircraft shown with two General Electric T700-701C turboshaft engines - rated at1,410kW(1,890shp) Alternative engine (AgustaWestland-built Apache AH1) Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM 322-01/12 turboshaft - rated at 1,565kW (2,100shp) Target-Aquisition and Designator-Sight turret with night vision FLIR and daylight sensor Boeing M230A-1 chain driven 30mm cannon with 1,200 rounds Aircraft shown with Lockheed- Martin AGM-114 Hellfire anti-armour missiles (inboard) and 70mm rocket pack outboard EUGHJ 102 16-22 JULY 2002 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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