Stewart Penney/LONDON
On 15 March, the UK Army Air Corps (AAC) took delivery of the first of 67 GKN Westland WAH-64 Apaches, heralding a change within the British Army that those responsible for service entry compare to its mechanisation in the 1930s.
As with other NATO members, the UK has established lighter, more flexible forces capable of moving rapidly to a trouble spot. Light forces by their nature are not equipped with heavy equipment such as main battle tanks, so rely on the attack helicopter to provide firepower. Highly manoeuvrable attack helicopters also become the "eyes and ears" of the ground forces, with the ability to cover large areas of ground rapidly and to view the battlefield with radar or infrared sensors.
The WAH-64 is a licence-built version of the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow with UK-unique features, including Rolls-Royce Turboméca RTM322 engines in place of General Electric T700s; BAE Systems Helicopter Integrated Defensive Aids Suite; a health and usage monitoring system; manual blade fold, to allow regular operation of the machine from Royal Navy ships; and the re-introduction of main and tail rotor de-icing and a back-up control system. Unlike the US Army, the largest AH-64D operator, the AAC has opted to fit every Apache with the Lockheed Martin/Northrop Grumman APG-78 Longbow fire control radar.
A UK Defence Procurement Agency source says the biggest risk in the programme was introducing a new engine, but adds that the process has gone "well". He says the AAC machines have a more powerful engine than the US Army version, with greater growth potential that is also easier to manage because of its full authority digital engine control (FADEC).
Following hand-over, the first Apache was sent to the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) at Boscombe Down for military certification trials. Tests later this year will prepare the Apache for use aboard RN ships.
Initial operational capability is scheduled for September 2002, with full operational capability by mid-2005. A source in the service introduction team says the Apache's significance is that it is "fundamentally a new capability". The army has spent much of the latter half of the 1990s developing air-manoeuvre forces, he says, adding: "Apache service introduction is comparable with mechanisation in the 1930s."
Structured entry
A structured service entry, therefore, is essential to provide a robust flexible capability. "Apaches will be assimilated into an all-arms force. The force will be deployable in modules, so sending a small force of Apaches will not rob a regiment of its key personnel. Sending the Apache minimises risk to the force as the helicopter provides an inherent force protection capability," says a senior AAC source.
One of the biggest challenges, says the AAC source, is command and control of a capability that has not previously existed. The Apache is part of the digitisation of UK land forces, a process which brings an order of magnitude change in capability and affects the whole army - not only the AAC, he continues.
There are 11 fully trained aircrew in the UK; five more are at Fort Rucker, Alabama, converting to the AH-64A, while another four are at Boeing's Mesa, Arizona, factory, converting from the AH-64A to D model. Those at Fort Rucker will be converted to the more potent Apache by Westland at Yeovil, while later pilots will be trained by Aviation Training International (ATIL) a Boeing/Westland venture.
ATIL will also provide much of the synthetic training environment. Among the training devices will be three field-deployable simulators, two based at Wattisham and one at Dishforth. The latter is likely to be deployed with the Apaches into the theatre, providing mission as well as continuation training. Maintenance trainers will be installed at the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) depot at Arborfield, Berkshire.
A senior source at Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) says the Apache is a key reason for forming the new command. He adds it will function efficiently only when used in concert with the Westland Lynx light utility machine and support helicopters. JHC is working on concepts to take the theory of Apache operations and turn them in to practice, he says.
Amphibious operations
As well as supporting 16 Air Assault Brigade, eight machines are to be available to support 3 Commando Brigade in its amphibious operations. The source predicts that, following the success of US Marine Corps Bell AH-1W SuperCobra support during the evacuation of Western nationals in trouble spots, the Apache will often be seen aboard RN ships providing a deterrent to any warlord who might attack evacuees. A problem arises because the Apache, unlike its AH-1W counterpart, is not marinised, so will suffer a maintenance and logistics penalty resulting from shipboard operations. Maintainers will have to wash the airframe and engines daily to mitigate the worst effects of salt-water corrosion. No specific modifications will be made to AAC Apaches for naval operations, apart from the blade fold, so all 67 machines will be able to embark, limiting problems caused by the creation of "fleets within fleets". This has become an issue in recent years in the UK as small numbers of aircraft are fitted with front-line modifications, limiting the fleet available to deploy and causing logistics problems.
To speed adaptation of the WAH-64 as a naval machine, JHC has discussed with the RAF the lessons learned from regularly deploying the British Aerospace Harrier GR7 on aircraft carriers. Royal Marine aircrew - which operate as part of 847Sqn, Fleet Air Arm - will conduct exchange postings to gain attack helicopter experience. AAC Lynx, maintained by REME, are operated by 847Sqn, providing a cadre of maintenance specialists with experience of operating army equipment afloat.
As with their counterparts in the Royal Netherlands Air Force, finding an area large enough for the Apaches to train with the units with which they will operate is crucial. Although Salisbury Plain, in south-west England, provides enough area for some training, larger war games involving ground manoeuvre forces and possibly fixed-wing assets will almost certainly take place at Suffield, Canada, where the army has conducted such training for many years. Later this year, JHC will put an aviation battle group and other key parts of 16 Air Assault Brigade through their paces at Suffield. The question of live firing training is also being considered, particularly the balance between synthetic and real flying. The integration of attack helicopters operating in the lower airspace with fixed-wing - and ground-based - air-defence assets will also be tested later this year.
The Apache brings a step change to the AAC. As a senior member of JHC says: "The Apache is not a replacement for the Lynx," adding: "It is the backbone of 16 Air Assault Brigade," the key unit created as part of the 1998 Strategic Defence Review and destined to be a major element in the UK's future contribution to international coalition operations.
Source: Flight International
