US Army helicopter programme set for new lease of life
The potential winner of the decision to slash Boeing Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche numbers is the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow programme, which is set to receive a new lease of life after the US Army almost halved its RAH-66 requirement (Flight International, 22-28 October). The move means the AH-64D will require further upgrades to keep it in service for another 30 years or more, which could see Boeing's remanufacturing line at Mesa, Arizona, maintained beyond 2006.
The US Army is planning to submit its requirements for further Apache modernisation in November, following the Defense Acquisition Board's approval earlier this year for Comanche, which stipulates consideration of extending the AH-64's operational life.
The Apache programme office began work earlier this year on proposed Block 3 improvements for retrofit to existing machines, with funding in2004-09. This, however, has been kept low-key while the army focused attention on shoring up support for the Comanche.
"Things look a lot different than they did," says Ralph Palotta, US Army Apache programme manager, speaking at the Association of the US Army annual meeting in Washington DC last week. The Apache was to be retired by 2024 with Comanche due to assume the heavy attack mission. The AH-64 could now remain in service "well beyond 2030", says an industry source, but in what quantity remains unclear.
The immediate Block 3 focus is to fully integrate the Apache Longbow with the army's future Objective Force with the addition of new communications as part of the Joint Tactical Radio System and new software to connect the helicopter to the digital command, control and intelligence environment. Col Mike Riley, US Army TRADOC Apache manager, says Block 3 will also likely include control of unmanned air vehicles, an up rated General Electric T700-701D engine common with the Sikorsky UH-60M, improved main rotor and gearbox, and extended-range fire control radar and radio frequency interferometer (RFI).
The Northrop Grumman/ Lockheed Martin Longbow joint venture is proposing at least a 100% improvement to the radar's 8km(4.3nm)range in moving target indicator mode, with the capability to automatically classify targets at least half the additional range. There would be added radar classification sets, including different size maritime targets, extended RFI low and high frequency bands, an updated threat library and passive ranging capability.
Boeing is optimistic that the Comanche decision will also open the door to remanufacturing the third and final batch of 241 AH-64As to the Longbow configuration. Boeing has redelivered 268 of the 501 Block 1/2 machines funded to date. The final second-batch machine will roll off the line in 2006, after which international orders alone will not sustain the Mesa plant at current levels, says Al Winn, Boeing vice-president Apache programme.
Source: Flight International
