Douglas Barrie/MIDDLE WALLOP
THE BRITISH ARMY Air Corps (AAC) could eventually supplement its procurement of attack helicopters by picking up secondhand McDonnell Douglas AH-64A Apaches from US Army stocks.
In an exclusive interview with Flight International, Maj. Gen. Simon Lytle, Director Army Aviation, made it clear that the AAC viewed the possible availability of ised Apaches as "very attractive".
The Government announced in July that the Westland/McDonnell Douglas WAH-64D had been chosen as the winner of what Lytle described as an "excellent competition". Westland and McDonnell Douglas, beat rival bids for the £2.5 billion contract from British Aerospace/Eurocopter, offering the Tiger and GEC-Marconi/Bell with the Cobra Venom.
While it was widely expected that the UK would purchase 91 helicopters, the Government cut the purchase to only 67 AH-64Ds. All are to be fitted with the Lockheed Martin Longbow millimetre-wave (MMW) surveillance and target-acquisition radar.
He adds, however: "If needs must, there are likely to be opportunities of acquiring at relatively low cost ex-US Army Aviation AH-64A models which could be enhanced."
The purchase of only 67 helicopters surprised many observers, as did the decision to equip them all with the Longbow MMW radar. The US Army, for instance, plans to use its Longbow-equipped aircraft in mixed packages of typically 1:1 alongside D-model aircraft without the radar.
Lytle describes any possible purchases as being "...ideas for the future, and will depend on completely unknown developments in the meantime".
One argument, which enhances the prospect of additional purchases of AH-64s, is the likely decision not to proceed with converting AAC Westland Lynx Mk7s to fulfil the armed-reconnaissance role.
The AAC will retain a yet-to-be- determined number of Lynx Mk7s after the AH-64D enters service, but with the Lynx TOW anti-tank missiles removed.
Fitting the helicopter with a mast-mounted sight has been considered, but this option appears increasingly unlikely. Instead, the Mk7s are expected to be used as additional utility aircraft.
The MMW-radar equipped AH-64Ds will be tasked with meeting the reconnaissance requirement - possibly providing the AAC with an argument for an additional purchase of AH-64s.o
The UK Ministry of Defence says: "Sixty-seven was the number that met the bill in terms of capability." Asked whether an additional procurement was a future possibility, given a change in circumstances, it says: "It's difficult to predict that far in advance."
Source: Flight International
