Boeing AH-64 Apache Helicopter

Abstract
The Boeing AH-64 Apache is an American four-
blade, twin-turboshaft attack helicopter with a
tailwheel-type landing gear arrangement and a
tandem cockpit for a two-man crew. It features a
nose-mounted sensor suite for target
acquisition and night vision systems. It is armed
with a 30 mm (1.18 in) M230 chain gun carried
between the main landing gear, under the aircraft's
forward fuselage. It has four hard points mounted
on stub-wing pylons, typically carrying a mixture
of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and Hydra 70 rocket
pods. The AH-64 has a large amount of systems
redundancy to improve combat survivability.
2. Development
Following the cancellation of the AH-56
The U.S. Army is the primary operator of the AH-
Cheyenne in 1972, in favour of projects like
64; it has also become the primary attack helicopter
the U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II and
of multiple nations, including Greece, Japan, Israel, the Marine Corps Harrier, the United States Army
the Netherlands, Singapore, and the United Arab sought an aircraft to fill an anti-Armor attack role
Emirates; as well as being produced under license that would still be under Army command; the
in the United Kingdom as the AgustaWestland 1948 Key West Agreement forbade the Army from
Apache. American AH-64s have served in conflicts owning combat fixed-wing aircraft. The Army
in Panama, the Persian Gulf, Kosovo, Afghanistan, wanted an aircraft better than the AH-1 Cobra in
and Iraq. Israel used the Apache in its military firepower, performance and range. It would have
conflicts in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip; British the manoeuvrability for terrain following nap-of-
and Dutch Apaches have seen deployments in wars the-earth (NoE) flying. To this end, the U.S. Army
in Afghanistan and Iraq. issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for an
Advanced Attack Helicopter (AAH) on 15
1. History November 1972. As a sign of the importance of this
project, in September 1973 the Army designated its
The Apache originally started as the Model five most important projects as the "Big Five", with
77 developed by Hughes Helicopters for the United the AAH included.
States Army's Advanced Attack Helicopter program Proposals were submitted by Bell, Boeing
to replace the AH-1 Cobra. The prototype YAH-64 Vertol/Grumman team, Hughes, Lockheed
was first flown on 30 September 1975. The U.S. and Sikorsky. In July 1973, the U.S. Department of
Army selected the YAH-64 over the Bell YAH- Defence selected finalists Bell and Hughes
63 in 1976, and later approved full production in Aircraft's Toolco Aircraft Division (later Hughes
1982. After purchasing Hughes Helicopters in Helicopters). This began the phase 1 of the
1984, McDonnell Douglas continued AH-64 competition. Each company built prototype
helicopters and went through a flight test program.
production and development. The helicopter was
Hughes' Model 77/YAH-64A prototype first flew
introduced to U.S. Army service in April 1986. The
on 30 September 1975, while Bell's Model
first production AH-64D Apache Longbow, an 409/YAH-63A prototype first flew on 1 October
upgraded Apache variant, was delivered to the 1975. After evaluating the test results, the Army
Army in March 1997. Production has been selected Hughes' YAH-64A over Bell's YAH-63A in
continued by Boeing Defense, Space & Security; 1976. Reasons for selecting the YAH-64A included
over 2,000 AH-64s have been produced to date. its more damage tolerant four-blade main rotor and
the instability of the YAH-63's tricycle landing
gear arrangement.
The AH-64A then entered phase 2 of the AAH
program under which three pre-production AH-64s
would be built, additionally, the two YAH-64A
flight prototypes and the ground test unit were (IHADSS); among its capabilities, either the pilot
upgraded to the same standard.[13] Weapons and or gunner can slave the helicopter's 30 mm
sensor systems were integrated and tested during automatic M230 Chain Gun to their helmet, making
this time, including the laser-guided AGM-114 the gun track head movements to point where they
Hellfire missile. Development of the Hellfire look. The M230E1 can be alternatively fixed to a
missile had begun in 1974, originally known by the locked forward firing position, or controlled via
name of Helicopter Launched, Fire and Forget the Target Acquisition and Designation
Missile ('Hellfire' being a shortened acronym), for System (TADS). On more modern AH-64s, the
the purpose of arming helicopter platforms with an TADS/PNVS has been replaced by Lockheed
effective anti-tank missile. Martin's Arrowhead (MTADS) targeting system.
The AH-64 is adaptable to numerous different roles
3. Design within its context as Close Combat
Attack (CCA). In addition to the 30 mm M230E1
The AH-64 Apache has a four-blade main rotor and
Chain Gun, the Apache carries a range of external
a four-blade tail rotor. The crew sits in tandem,
stores and weapons on its stub-wing pylons,
with the pilot sitting behind and above the co-
typically a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank
pilot/gunner. Both crew members are capable of
missiles, and Hydra 70 general-purpose unguided
flying the aircraft and performing methods of
70 mm (2.756 in) rockets. One 18-aircraft Apache
weapon engagements independently. The AH-64 is
battalion equipped with Hellfire missiles is capable
powered by two General Electric
of destroying 288 tanks. Since 2005, the Hellfire
T700 turboshaft engines with high-mounted
missile is sometimes outfitted with
exhausts on either side of the fuselage. Various
a thermobaric warhead; designated AGM-114N, it
models of engines have been used on the Apache;
is intended for use against ground forces and urban
those in British service use engines from Rolls-
warfare operations. The use of thermobaric
Royce. In 2004, General Electric Aviation began
"enhanced blast" weapons, such as the AGM-114N,
producing more powerful T700-GE-701D engines,
has been a point of controversy. In October 2015,
rated at 2,000 shp (1,500 kW) for AH-64Ds.
the U.S. Army ordered its first batch of Advanced
One of the revolutionary features of the Apache Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) guided
was its helmet mounted display, the Integrated 70 mm rockets for the Apache.
Helmet and Display Sighting System
 Table 1: Attack Helicopter Missions (1997)

Mission Hellfire 30mm Hydra Maximum Rate of Climb Endurance

Rounds 70 speed (knots) (feet/min) (hours)

Anti- 16 1200 0 148 990 2.5

Armor

Covering 8 1200 38 150 860 2.5

Force

Escort 0 1200 76 153 800 2.5

4. Indian Apache withdrew. In 2009, the competition was

restarted. In December 2010, India
5. In 2008, the Indian Air Force (IAF) requested the possible sale of 22 Apaches
released a tender for 22 attack helicopters; and associated equipment. On 5 October
there were six contending submissions 2012, IAF Chief NAK Browne confirmed
Sikorsky's UH-60 Black Hawk, the AH- the Apache's selection. The IAF sought
64D, Bell's AH-1 Super Cobra, Euro control of the 22 proposed Apaches for air
copters Tiger, Mil's Mi-28 and combat missions, while the Army
AgustaWestland's A129 Mangusta. In
October 2008, Boeing and Bell
6. Aviation Corps argued that they would be 10.
better used in army operations. In April
2013, the Indian Ministry of 11.References
Defence (MoD) decided that the IAF 1. Sterling, Robert. "Apache helicopters roar
would receive the 22 AH-64s. In May ahead". Boeing.com. Boeing.
2013, the Indian Army requested 11 AH- Retrieved 16 July 2014.
64Es; and has a requirement for 39 2. Hudson, Joel B. (2 April 1997). "Attack
Apaches. The Indian Ministry of Defence Helicopter Operations" (PDF).
approved the procurement in August Department of the Army. p. 166.
2014, as did India's Cabinet Committee on 3. Rash, Clarence E.; Martin, John S.
Security (CCS) in September 2015. On 28 (August 1988). "The Impact of the U.S.
September 2015, a contract was formally Army's AH-64 Helmet Mounted Display
signed; the first helicopter is expected to on Future Aviation Helmet Design". Army
be delivered to India in the next three to Aeromedical Research Lab Fort Rucker.
four years.
4. "IAF, not Army, will get Apache attack
7. helicopters". Times of India. 2013-04-02.
5. Jump up^ India; Army Wing request its
8. own Apache Squadron Dmilt.com, 14 May
2013.
9. 6. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_AH64_Apa
che#Specifications_.28AH-64A.2FD.29