The final Apache AH1 attack helicopter destined for the British Army Air Corps was handed over by prime contractor Westland Helicopters in a ceremony at Farnborough yesterday.
AgustaWestland managing director Richard Case handed keys for the 67th aircraft to Lord Bach, Minister for Defence Procurement. In turn the keys were then passed to commander of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, Lt Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, who accepted the aircraft into service on behalf of the Army Air Corps.
Westland embarked on a licence-production programme to equip the UK Army with an advanced attack helicopter capability in 1996 under licence from Boeing when a £2 billion ($3.7 billion) contract was awarded by the UK Ministry of Defence. The Westland Helicopters-led team included Boeing itself, Lockheed Martin, Longbow International, BAE Systems and Aerosystems International. It delivered its first aircraft in 2000.
Better
"We have taken the world's most capable attack helicopter and made it better," said Richard Case yesterday. "This effort has included the integration of Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM-322 engines for improved performance, the HIDAS Defensive Aid System for enhanced survivability and a new CRV7 rocket system for improved accuracy and target effect."
Lord Bach paid tribute to Team Apache. "This programme has proved a model for Smart Acquisition. Indeed, Apache was one of the original nine 'flagship' programmes and has ably demonstrated its status by delivering to time and cost with the required performance," he said.
Sir Richard Dannatt said the focus would now switch to operational matters: "The Apache programme has been one of the most closely monitored programmes in UK military history. It provides a quantum leap in the capability of the British Army and it is excellent to see the final aircraft here today.
"The focus now is on deploying it tactically and using it operationally and the challenges in the support area have not lessened with this delivery. We need to concentrate on developing the full air and littoral manoeuvre capability, which is central to exploiting the potential of the Apache."
PAUL DERBY
Source: Flight Daily News
