Despite delays in training pilots for the Boeing/Westland Apache AH1, the British Army has no reservations about its new attack helicopter
This week's Farnborough air show will host a major event in one of the British Army's most important procurements of recent decades when the service accepts the last of its 67 Boeing/Westland Apache AH1 attack helicopters during a ceremony on 21 July. While army officials stress the milestone is a small step on the road to the UK's Apache fleet being declared fully operational in 2007, the acceptance is one of the final markers to be passed before the type achieves initial operating capability (IOC) late next month.
Scheduled to take place on 31 August, the IOC declaration will mark the combat availability of the army's first four-aircraft Apache unit at its Dishforth base, a formation capable of operational deployment within a 90-day notice period. Aircraft assigned to this unit will also form part of the army's first eight-strong squadron, which will stand up at Dishforth in October.
A second squadron will be declared ready at the site before mid-2005, with the two squadrons forming the army's 9 Regiment; the first of three 16-aircraft formations to be equipped with the Apache AH1. The other two attack helicopter regiments will be formed at Wattisham by 2007.
Lynx support
Each eight-strong squadron will be backed by four Westland Lynx AH7/9 combat support helicopters that perform battlefield reconnaissance, airborne command post, forward air control and equipment and personnel transport duties alongside the attack helicopters.
The army's eventual operating fleet of 48 Apaches will be supplemented by around 10 for training, with the remainder to be involved in deep-level maintenance or held as attrition reserves.
A key assessment for the army's Apache fleet will be conducted early next year at the BATUS training range in western Canada, when aircraft from 9 Regiment will undergo an operational evaluation to assess the robustness of the army'straining syllabus.
The introduction of the Apache into UK service represents a massive advance in firepower and situational awareness over the Lynx AH7 assault helicopter and requires a large training area equipped with a full range of battlefield equipment and weapon systems. "BATUS is the only training space we have where we can do the manoeuvre operations we want to demonstrate," says Brig Richard Folkes, the UK's director army aviation.
The objectives and force mix for the rotary element of next year's BATUS deployment have yet to be finalised by the UK's Joint Helicopter Command (JHC). The exercise is also awaiting allocation of Ministry of Defence funding. However, several Apaches from each of the two available squadrons are expected to participate in the exercise, marking their largest operational test to date.
The army's first squadron pilots for the Apache are undergoing six-month conversion-to-role training at Dishforth, building on an earlier six months of conversion-to-type training conducted at the Army School of Aviation at Middle Wallop from September 2003. Pilots for the service's second squadron have started their conversion training there.
Pilot instruction had been delayed by 19 months following difficulties in delivering the aircraft's simulators and associated training systems. The schedule for the £3 billion ($5.6 billion) -plus was adjusted in 2001 programme, but has since remained on track and 60 crew, including instructors, have now received instruction on the Apache. Aircraft deliveries suffered no such delay, however. "The least of our challenges has been the receipt of aircraft," says Folkes. "Deliveries from Westland have been on time and under budget which has been a huge and welcome relief."
NCOs onboard
The army's use of non-commissioned officer (NCO) pilots was recently praised by the UK's National Audit Office, which suggested that the UK's other armed services could learn from its experience. "The army has had NCO pilots since the year dot," says the army. "It is not an issue for us." The service also wasted no time in plunging its first ab initio pilots into the Apache training system.
Its first intake included one new pilot and several more are taking the current conversion course. Each of these starts with 24 pilots and more than 20 are expected to complete the course.
Initial conversion takes place at Middle Wallop over 25 weeks, with around half of the time spent on simulators. Maintainer training takes place at Arborfield, which is equipped with "Virtual Apache" computer courseware supplied by the Boeing/Westland joint-venture Air Training International (ATIL). The company has now delivered training systems to all four of the army's Apache sites. Dishforth has a field-deployable simulator housed in five ISO containers, while Wattisham has two such devices.
The sites connect via a wide-area network for combined training, the full benefits of which have yet to be used. "We are probably only using around 10% of the bandwidth available with the simulators," says an AgustaWestland source. The company aims to boost collective and embedded live training services for the UK's Apaches and provide additional instruction including survival training.
Demonstration
An integrated training demonstration is planned for Farnborough, during which an AH1 will fly a combined training mission with a simulated aircraft via a collective training link.
While the Apache is a proudly held army asset, the service's entire frontline fleet will be made available to planners within the UK's tri-service JHC, which is enthusiastic about the type's potential across a range of scenarios. "The Apache can operate with any [service] component," says an army source. "It will be as comfortable working fully with maritime or airborne assets as when supporting land forces."
The Apache has already completed an initial series of ship-helicopter operating limit trials from a Royal Navy vessel and will expand this capability with a follow-on phase later this year. Training is also likely to increase with other JHC assets.
In preparation for its declaration of initial operating capability, the army expects soon to approve military aircraft release for the BAE Systems' HIDAS self-protection suite. The system will undergo a further series of trials in the USA later this year, to build on successful campaigns undertaken in Wales earlier this year and in the USA in late 2003. First selected to equip the UK's AH1 fleet, the full HIDAS suite has since been ordered by additional Apache operators Greece and the United Arab Emirates.
There has been no movement on a long-held army aspiration to equip its Apaches with air-to-air missiles capable of engaging hostile battlefield and attack helicopters or unmanned air vehicles. "An air-to-air missile remains an endorsed wish and the requirement will continue to be looked at against future threats," says the service.
"We have brought this aircraft into service on time and the aircrew love operating it," says Folkes. "Army aviation has come of age and we are right up at the forefront of technology."
CRAIG HOYLE / YEOVIL
Source: Flight International
