The British WAH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter (AH), a version of the US Army AH-64D, will replace the ageing Lynx Mk7 system in the anti-armour role. The aircraft is a developed version of the US Longbow Apache, fitted with the advanced Rolls-Royce RTM322 engine already used in the Royal Navy and RAF's Merlin helicopter. It is equipped with the Longbow Fire Control Radar; Semi-Active Laser and Radio Frequency versions of the Hellfire missile; CRV-7 ground suppression rockets; and 30mm cannon.
The WAH-64 Apache is fitted with a state of the art defensive aids suite from BAE Systems which allows it to detect enemy missile attacks and take countermeasures by firing chaff and decoys. Its Longbow fire control radar gives it its main edge, allowing it to detect over 1,000 targets at once and tell the pilot if they are tanks, trucks or air defence systems. Its Hellfire fire-and-forget anti-tank missiles can strike at heavily armoured tanks from nearly four miles away, and its CRV7 rockets, built by BAE Systems, can devastate light armour or unarmoured vehicles. Apache can fly at up nearly 200 mph, and can loiter for up to four hours over the battlefield out to a range of 40 miles.
As the backbone of the new 16 Air Assault Brigade, the WAH-64 is able to work alongside units like the Paras to hold and seize objectives and attack enemy tanks and other armor from a distance of more than four miles. 16 Air Assault Brigade is at the heart of the new Joint Helicopter Command, established October 1999 to bring together the Royal Navy's Commando helicopters, all operational Army Air Corps helicopters, and the RAF's support helicopters . The JHC has responsibility for some 12,000 personnel and some 350 helicopters.
The WAH-64 procurement strategy was based on an "Off-The-Shelf" buy of the complete weapons system through a Prime Contractor. Following an international competition, a Prime Contract for the supply of 67 WAH-64s and the integration of its weapons was placed with GKN-Westland Helicopters Ltd in March 1996. Boeing is the major sub-contractor. A separate contract for the procurement of munitions stocks was placed with Hunting Engineering Ltd on 29 March 1996. Equipment to meet key requirements were added to the Prime Contract in 1999 (i.e. Health and Usage Monitoring System and Communications upgrade). The first eight aircraft were manufactured in the United States by Boeing, who hold the design rights to Apache and are the key sub-contractor. GKN Westland's production line at Yeovil for the remaining 59 aircraft opened on schedule in September 1999. The first aircraft were delivered to the Army for flight trials at the Defence Evaluation and research Agency, Boscombe Down, commencing April 2000. Apache's in service date, defined as the delivery of the first nine aircraft, was December 2000.
Source -
Globalsecurity WAH-64
