AH-64 Apache

AH-64 Apache. The AH-64 Apache is a twin-turboshaft attack helicopter developed for the United States Army and first entering service in 1986. It features a nose-mounted sensor suite for target acquisition and night vision systems, a tandem cockpit for a two-man crew, and a formidable array of armaments including a 30 mm M230 chain gun and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. Designed as a highly survivable and lethal battlefield asset, it has become the primary attack helicopter of the U.S. Army and has been widely exported to allied nations, seeing extensive combat from the Invasion of Panama to the War in Afghanistan.

Development and design

The Apache's development was initiated by the United States Army in the early 1970s following the cancellation of the Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne program. The service sought a new Advanced Attack Helicopter to counter Warsaw Pact armored forces in Europe. Hughes Helicopters won the competitive fly-off against Bell Helicopter's YAH-63 with its Model 77, which was designated YAH-64. Key design features focused on survivability, incorporating redundant systems, crashworthy landing gear, and a fuselage capable of withstanding hits from 23mm cannon fire. The heart of its combat effectiveness is the integrated Target Acquisition and Designation System (TADS) and Pilot Night Vision Sensor (PNVS), providing long-range, day/night targeting and navigation capabilities. Following the acquisition of Hughes Helicopters by McDonnell Douglas in 1984, and later the merger with Boeing, production and further development continued, leading to the significantly upgraded AH-64D Longbow variant.

Operational history

The AH-64 Apache achieved initial operational capability with the U.S. Army in 1986 and first saw combat during the Invasion of Panama in 1989. Its most prominent early use was during the Gulf War in 1991, where it famously destroyed early-warning radar sites in the opening strikes of the air campaign and proved devastating against Iraqi armor, including T-72 tanks. Apaches have been continuously deployed in subsequent conflicts, including NATO operations in the Bosnian War and the Kosovo War. During the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan, they provided persistent close air support for coalition forces and conducted armed reconnaissance. The type has also seen extensive service with other operators, notably the Israel Defense Forces during the 2006 Lebanon War and the British Army during the War in Afghanistan. Combat losses have occurred due to enemy fire and accidents, but the platform's survivability has been repeatedly demonstrated.

Variants

The primary production models are the original AH-64A and the modernized AH-64D Longbow. The AH-64A entered service in 1986 and was equipped with the TADS/PNVS and could carry Hydra 70 rocket pods and Hellfire missiles. The AH-64D, introduced in the late 1990s, is distinguished by the mast-mounted AN/APG-78 Longbow radar, which allows for target detection and engagement in adverse weather and through battlefield obscurants. It also features improved T700-GE-701C engines, upgraded avionics, and digital communications for Network-centric warfare. The latest variant is the AH-64E Guardian, formerly designated AH-64D Block III, which includes enhanced drive systems, the ability to control UAVs, improved data links, and more powerful T700-GE-701D engines. Licensed production versions include the AgustaWestland Apache for the British Army, known as the WAH-64.

Operators

The largest operator is the United States Army, with several hundred active aircraft across its Aviation Brigades. Significant international operators include the Israeli Air Force, the Egyptian Air Force, the Royal Netherlands Air Force, the Republic of Singapore Air Force, and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. The United Kingdom fields the AgustaWestland Apache under the Army Air Corps. Other operators include the Saudi Arabian Army, the United Arab Emirates Air Force, the Indian Air Force, the Indonesian Army, and the Qatar Emiri Air Force. Several nations, such as Poland and Australia, have recently placed orders for the AH-64E to modernize their attack helicopter fleets.

Specifications (AH-64D)

* **Crew:** 2 (pilot, and co-pilot/gunner) * **Length:** 58.17 ft (17.73 m) * **Rotor diameter:** 48 ft 0 in (14.63 m) * **Height:** 12.7 ft (3.87 m) * **Empty weight:** 11,387 lb (5,165 kg) * **Max takeoff weight:** 23,000 lb (10,433 kg) * **Powerplant:** 2 × General Electric T700-GE-701C turboshaft engines * **Maximum speed:** 182 mph (293 km/h) * **Range:** 300 mi (480 km) * **Service ceiling:** 21,000 ft (6,400 m) * **Armament:** 1× 30 mm M230 chain gun; 4× hardpoints for a mix of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, Hydra 70 rocket pods, and AIM-92 Stinger air-to-air missiles.

Category:Attack helicopters Category:United States Army aircraft Category:McDonnell Douglas aircraft