US Army Boeing AH-64 attack helicopters are to undergo a second major upgrade after the Department of Defense-approved development of the Block III Apache. The $1.14 billion system development and demonstration programme will involve five aircraft, with production deliveries to begin in 2010.
The Block III programme will upgrade already-remanufactured AH-64D Longbow Apaches with 25 technologies, including an improved drive system, composite rotor blades, enhanced engine and updated avionics. Upgrades will include Level 4 unmanned air vehicle control, Link 16 datalink, maritime targeting mode, passive radio-frequency ranging and extended-range fire-control radar. New systems will provide image fusion, aided target detection and classification and cognitive decision aiding.
Source: Flight International
