Paul Derby
The head of GKN Westland's WAH-64 Apache attack helicopter programme has a short, sharp response to the flurry of media speculation about alleged delays and flight test incidents with the aircraft: "What appeared in the papers was quite simply wrong. Martin Fausset is keen to counter the claims, printed in British national newspapers, saying: "We will achieve exactly what we have agreed with the British Army ¡ to deliver nine aircraft by year-end. We're on programme and under budget. I think people can draw their own conclusions."Newspaper reports implied that the Apache had been grounded indefinitely following problems during testing, but Fausset counters: "Every development programme has issues to resolve: that's the nature of the beast, but our aircraft are flying ¡ indeed we flew into Farnborough." A third aircraft will be delivered to the Army's base at Middle Wallop in the week after Farnborough. The same aircraft made its maiden flight just 10 days before the Show began. Two more will arrive by the end of August, bringing the total to five. One WAH-64 remains at Boscombe Down for testing and evaluation.
"Our focus remains on meeting our schedule for the rest of the year," says Fausset and we have an agreed programme with the Army for our own test pilots to be available to work alongside their people to help drive the flight test programme.
Responding to allegations that the military aircraft release (MAR) for the Apache is several months behind schedule, he adds: "The MAR is phased. The initial release will be in September and we've completed everything we have to do." Hallmarks The WAH-64 bears many of the hallmarks of the US Army's AH-64D Longbow variant, but has a number of 'UK specifics' including Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM-322 engines and the integration of CVR7 rockets, instead of the Hydras employed on the -D model.
Fausset says Westland has had no instructions on integration of the Bowman digital radio into the Apache ¡ a UK MoD procurement delay which has attracted criticism from industry analysts. A second-generation forward looking infra red (FLIR) may also be some years away because of funding constraints.
The US Army is close to concluding a competition between Team Apache Systems, consisting of Lockheed Martin Millimeter Technologies and McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems, offering the Arrowhead targeting and navigation system, and Raytheon, with its FIRE Sight system.
Source: Flight Daily News
