Boeing and the US Army are testing a crash-survivable, ballistic-tolerant auxiliary fuel tank for Boeing's AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter. The interal tank, developed by Robertson Aviation, replaces the helicopter's 30mm-ammunition magazine, but frees up all four pylons for long-range missions.
Extended-range missions now require an 870litre external tank to be carried on one pylon, displacing some of the Apache's normal weapons load of 16 Hellfire missiles or 76 70mm rockets. This tank is neither crash survivable nor ballistically tolerant, Boeing says.
The 490litre internal tank developed by Robertson is self-sealing and nitrogen-inerted. The tank can be installed in the ammunition bay in less than 30min, at the expense of 1,200 rounds of 30mm ammunition, leaving sufficient room for some 100 rounds.
The US Army National Guard is flight-testing a pre-production tank in an AH-64A. Formal qualification testing in the upgraded AH-64D is due for 1998.
Source: Flight International
