THE UK DEFENCE Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) is reconfiguring its helicopter mission simulator to accurately represent the McDonnell Douglas/Westland WAH-64 Longbow Apache. The DERA says that the capability will enable it to investigate "system trade-off issues" and advise the UK Ministry of Defence on how to optimise the performance of the helicopter.
The agency says that the WAH-64 is designed to "-provide battle-management and attack co-or- dination, together with unrivalled reach and lethality. It is important to understand the relative merits of the systems which deliver these capabilities, in order to maximise its survivability and mission effectiveness." The UK has 67 WAH-64s on order, which are due to be delivered from 1999.
The simulator, called the Hovers, is configured as a generic, tandem-seat, attack helicopter. The crew can fly the aircraft over a range of computer-generated terrains, and encounter realistic battlefield-engagement scenarios against "intelligent" enemy forces.
Initial trials of the Apache configuration are due to begin in early 1997. The simulator is also to be used to represent a Westland Lynx Mk8 operating in a maritime environment, adds DERA.
Source: Flight International
