The
AgustaWestland Apache is a licence-built version of the
Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter for the
British Army. The first eight helicopters were built by Boeing; the remaining 59 were assembled by
Westland Helicopters (now part of
AgustaWestland) at
Yeovil, England from Boeing-supplied kits. Changes from the AH-64D include Rolls-Royce engines, a new electronic defensive aids suite and a folding blade mechanism allowing the British version to operate from ships. The helicopter was named "WAH-64" by Westland Helicopters. It is designated
Apache AH Mk 1 (or shortened to
Apache AH1) by the UK's
Ministry of Defence.
Development
The requirement for a new attack helicopter was identified in the early 1990s with initial suggestions that 125 would be ordered, however an invitation to bid was not issued until February 1993. The bids were:
The Apache was selected in July 1995 and a contract for 67 helicopters was signed in 1996. The first helicopter, built by Boeing (which merged with McDonnell Douglas in 1997), was delivered in March 1999. The first Westland built aircraft was delivered in July 2000. The 67th and final Apache was handed over in July 2004. The cost of the helicopter fleet is currently expected to be £3.1 billion, £71 million above the original approved cost. This increase is due to increased costs of trials.
Design
The UK's
Strategic Defence Review called for Apaches to undertake amphibious attack missions, operating from the
helicopter carrier HMS Ocean, the
Invincible class aircraft carriers and their successors, the (
Royal Navy CVF programme), and possibly the amphibious assault vessels
HMS Bulwark and
Albion. As such, one of the major differences between the WAH-64 and AH-64 Apache variants is the folding blade mechanism, required to stow the helicopters in the confined space onboard ships.
The Apache will serve aboard
Royal Navy ships having achieved maritime certification in December 2005 aboard
HMS Ocean. Then on
November 17,
2006,
HMS Ark Royal became the first RN aircraft carrier to land an Apache AH Mk1 at
Portsmouth Naval Base.
There are other differences between them, including
- Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 01/12 engines instead of the General Electric T700-GE-701Cs. The Rolls-Royce engine produces vs for the GE T700C engine. The 11% more power is exploited only during take-offs due to the existing Apache transmission system. A new transmission system to utilise all the available power is also in development.
- Anti-ice protection for rotor blades, allowing for operations in arctic environments.
- An eye-safe training laser was developed and fitted to allow training by the Apache for target designation in the UK, as the tactical laser could not originally be used in the United Kingdom due to range restrictions. These restrictions have now been addressed and it can be used on certain ranges with appropriate safeguards and precautions.
Operational history
In British Army service, the Apache AH Mk1 will replace the
Westland Lynx AH7 Anti-tank helicopters, and will be operated by two regiments of the
Army Air Corps (3 Regt AAC and 4 Regt AAC) as part of
16 (Air Assault) Brigade. The Apache will also operate in attack raids as
US Army Apaches did on the first night of the 1991
Gulf War, destroying a major air defence node. Another mission is armed reconnaissance. Like the US AH-64D Apache Longbows; the Apache AH Mk1 carries a
fire-control radar (FCR) and Radar Frequency Interferometer (RFI), providing an integrated surveillance and attack system. The 'Longbow’ radar is the bulbous unit over the rotor hub assembly. Radar placement above the rotors allows the Apache to hover behind cover scanning for targets, with only the radar unit exposed.
The Apache's first operation tour is as part of 16 Air Assault Brigade in
Afghanistan. On
May 22,
2006, a UK Apache operating in Afghanistan's South
Helmand province fired one of its
Hellfire missiles to destroy a French armoured vehicle that had been crippled during a firefight the previous day, as attempting to recover the vehicle would have been too hazardous. This is the first "kill" by a UK Apache in a hostile theatre. As of February 2007 there are eight Apache AH Mk1s deployed in Afghanistan. These are drawn from
No. 656 Squadron and No. 664 Squadron of
9 Regiment AAC, based at
RAF Dishforth, which take turns to deploy for 3 months.
On
13 January 2007 a 200-strong British force, led by
Royal Marines, launched an operation to attack Jugroom Fort, a major Taliban concentration in southern Helmand Province. After several hours of intense fighting the Marines regrouped and it was discovered that
Lance Corporal Mathew Ford of
45 Commando Royal Marines was missing. A rescue mission was launched to recover Lance Corporal Ford using three volunteer Royal Marines and a volunteer Royal Engineer strapped to the aircraft wings of two Apaches. The helicopters could not be flown faster than 50
mph to ensure the safety of the extra passengers from down thrust of the rotor blades. The Apaches landed under fire with one inside the compound, then the rescuers dismounted and were able to recover the body of LCpl Ford. Ford's body was flown out in the same manner that the passengers had flown in. A second pair of Apache aircraft hovered above throughout and provided suppressive fire. None of the rescuers were injured in the recovery mission and were later hailed for their bravery.
Unlike their American counterparts in Afghanistan, the Apache AH Mk1 is being deployed with its Longbow Fire Control Radar, which enables the pilot to better manage traffic in their airspace.
Operators
Specifications (Apache AH Mk1)
See also
