Technology from cancelled programme to be transferred
The US Army has reclassified the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow as a reconnaissance and attack platform, a precursor to shifting key technologies developed for the cancelled Boeing/Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche to the Block 3 Apache upgrade programme.
Aided-target detection, wide-area search and automatic target recognition are among the several Comanche systems that could be transferred to the Block 3 Apache, say industry officials.
Army aviation officials will finalise the plan over the next few weeks, including details on specific subsystems, production rates, and programme schedules. In announcing the demise of the Comanche, the army said some of the programme's left-over cash will be earmarked to fully fund the long-awaited Block 3 Apache upgrade, and to introduce improvements based on the Comanche design.
Boeing says that it can begin deploying the Block 3 upgrades by fiscal year 2008 and sustain a maximum remanufacturing rate of 12 aircraft a month. But its original estimate that Block 3 could be delivered for 75% of the price of the original AH-64D Block 1 conversion has been outdated by the new plan to incorporate some of the Comanche technology.
Components of the RAH-66 fly-by-wire system are expected to be transitioned to the Apache and possibly also to Sikorsky's UH-60M Black Hawk. The flight-control computers are a likely addition to the Apache, but other Comanche fly-by-wire systems, such as actuators, are too small to work on the Apache or the Black Hawk.
Fire-control radar enhancements are also planned. Comanche's sensors offer twice the range of the Apache Longbow, detecting moving targets from 16km (10 miles), and add a target identification capability against littoral threats. The Comanche sensor also can be used to provide passive ranging to detect threats without emitting, and offers a radar-frequency interferometer frequency expansion.
The original Block 3 improvements included an improved General Electric T700-701D engine, based on the UH-60M powerplant. Improvements that could reduce operating costs were also being pursued, such as a transmission upgrade. The aircraft could also have new composite rotor blades lasting twice as long and requiring one-fifth of the maintenance of the current blades.
Boeing says flights have also shown the blades can generate 500ft (150m) of extra lift, 6kt (11km/h) more speed and a 1,500ft increase in maximum altitude.
STEPHEN TRIMBLE / FORT LAUDERDALE
Source: Flight International
