Stewart Penney/LONDON
Collapse of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War led to a major change in the structure of NATO as its members moved away from heavily armed forces based at large fixed bases to more flexible, readily deployable units. These changes have been reflected worldwide.
Requirements for adaptable, deployable forces have invariably led to the formation of air mobile units. This in turn has influenced the role and scope of the helicopter - particularly the armed machine. Although the original attack helicopter - Bell's AH-1 Cobra - dates to the Vietnam War, most Cold War armed machines were missile-equipped light utility helicopters with basic sensors, used as highly mobile anti-tank weapons.
Today, attack helicopters have broader roles, typically taking the close support, reconnaissance and surveillance tasks that were the province of armoured fighting vehicles and fixed-wing strike aircraft. In addition, the increase in peacekeeping/support operations has increased the use of attack helicopters.
Power projection
The attack helicopter is an integral part of air power projection. Despite the US Army's failure to successfully operate its force of Boeing AH-64S Apaches in Operation Allied Force last year, such machines have become an essential part of coalition operations over Bosnia, while deployment of Italian army Agusta A129 Mangustas and US Marine Corps Bell AH-1W SuperCobras was one of the few successful elements of the United Nations' intervention in Somalia in the mid-1990s.
The attack helicopter's capabilities have placed it high on the shopping lists of a variety of countries. The most prominent competitions - in Australia and Turkey - have been delayed. Australia's Air 87 programme is under review, along with all other procurements worth more than A$50 million ($31 million). Until earlier this year, the battle for a 30-aircraft order was between the Apache, Mangusta and Eurocopter's Tiger, but Bell successfully appealed against the AH-1Z not being shortlisted. The AH-1Z is a USMC upgrade that incorporates a four-bladed main rotor and other dynamic upgrades, along with improved sensors, cockpit and systems. Assuming that Australian funding continues, first deliveries are set for 2003, although this date will slip if the ongoing hiatus is lengthy.
Turkey wants 145 machines. A decision was expected in February, but instead the shortlist was reduced to the AH-1Z, Mangusta and Kamov Ka-50-2. The latter two have significant input from Israeli companies and Turkey has become a key Israeli customer in recent years. The AH-64D and the Tiger were dropped.
On 7 March, a longstanding competition in South Korea was rekindled when a request for proposals was issued to the usual suspects - Agusta, Bell, Boeing, Eurocopter and Kamov - for 30-40 machines
Other probable contenders are Denel's Rooivalk, now entering service with the South African Air Force, and Sikorsky, which offers a "Battle Hawk" armed version of the S-70/UH-60 Black Hawk. Although the latter has limitations compared with dedicated attack helicopters, it has the advantage of being licence built by Korean Air, which is seeking further orders to keep production going.
The Tiger's chances in competitions are improving as it moves closer to service entry. France and Germany committed to production last year and ordered 80 machines each. Germany has a requirement for 212, with France in the market for 215.
European needs
In Europe, Norway, Spain and Sweden all have longstanding attack helicopter desires. Poland abandoned the Huzar programme to integrate Rafael's NT-D and Spike missiles and Elbit sensors with the indigenous PZL W-3 Sokol. Instead, it now has more modest plans to upgrade Mil Mi-24s with Israeli equipment, a road already taken by India.
Greece, meanwhile, like others with first-generation Apache fleets, has discussed upgrading to AH-64D standard. Israel has signed to upgrade 12 and Egypt is likely to follow.
Russia's attack helicopter programmes are, like the rest of its procurement efforts, moribund - although the single seat Kamov Ka-50 has been deployed to Chechnya. Kamov's participation in international competitions could benefit the Russian military, with an export customer providing development money. Kamov has a pair of two-seat Ka-50 offerings, one with side-by-side seats, which has flown, and a tandem equivalent on offer to Turkey. Russia's other attack helicopter, the Mil Mi-28, is further from service, but received some development funding last year.
Source: Flight International
