MISSION

Conducts armed reconnaissance, close combat, mobile strike, and vertical maneuver missions when required, in day, night, obscured battlefield, and adverse weather conditions.

DESCRIPTION

The AH-64 Apache is a twin-engine, four bladed, multi-mission attack helicopter designed as a highly stable aerial weapons-delivery platform. With a tandem-seated crew consisting of the pilot, located in the rear cockpit position and the co-pilot gunner (CPG), located in the front position. The helicopter is designed as a weapons delivery platform and is equipped with: a M230E1, 30mm automatic gun, aerial rockets system (2.75 inch folding fin), and point target weapons system (Hellfire missiles). It is highly mobile, lethal, and can destroy armor, personnel, and materiel targets in obscured battlefield conditions at ranges out to 8 kms. Modifications to the Fire Control Radar (FCR), Radar Frequency Interferometer (RFI), and the Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight (M-TADS) enable new capabilities and ensure long-term sustainment. With the addition of improved situational awareness, flight performance, and joint interoperability, the AH-64E has become the most advanced aerial fighting vehicle in the world.

Today, the Army's attack helicopter fleet consists of a mixture of AH-64D and AH-64E model aircraft. Running aircraft back through the production facility to remanufacture -- or upgrade -- existing aircraft has been the Apache programs fleet sustainment strategy. The initial AH-64A Apache, first fielded in 1984, ran back through the remanufacture line to become AH-64D Longbow aircraft. Now, we're running the fleet through this process once again and adding a new fuselage to the process. The E model aircraft will have an extended life expectancy, have added capability, and will be the pure fleet objective of the Army. The E model has two planned technology insertions built into the program.

The AH-64E meets all the requirements for Army and Joint interoperability goals for the future and will add significant combat capability while addressing obsolescence issues, ensuring the aircraft remains a viable combat multiplier beyond 2050.

The AH-64E will be designed and equipped with an open systems architecture to incorporate the latest communications, navigation, sensor, and weapon systems.

Combat mission speed: AH-64D 145 knots (max speed); AH-64E 164 knots (max speed)

Combat range: 260 nautical miles

Combat endurance: AH-64D - 2.5 hours AH-64E - 2.6 hours

Maximum gross weight: AH-64D - 20,260 pounds AH-64E - 23,000 pounds

Ordnance: 16 HELLFIRE missiles, 76 2.75-inch rockets, and 1,200 30mm chain gun rounds

Crew: Two (pilot and copilot gunner)

SYSTEM INTERDEPENDENCIES

Aviation Combined Arms Tactical Trainer (AVCATT), Aircraft System (UAS), HELLFIRE Family of Missiles, 2.75 Inch Rocket Systems (Hydra), Air Warrior (AW), Joint Tactical Radio System Airborne and Maritime/Fixed Station (JTRS AMF), Laser HELLFIRE, Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV)

TCDL, Link 16, JSTARS, AWACS, GPS, AMPS, DCGS-A, GCCS-A, BFT, Have Quick, SATCOM, SINCGARS, Land Warrior, M-1 Tank, M-2 Bradley, Stryker, Fire Support, UH-60, CH-47, A2C2S, OH-58D, ERMP UAS

PROGRAM STATUS

• 3QFY12: Full-rate production decision

• 3QFY14: Follow-on Test and Evaluation (FOTE) for Capability Lot 4 Technology insertions

• Current: Upgrading Block I and II AH-64D Longbow aircraft to the AH-64E configuration with eventual acquisition objective of 634 remanufacture airframes and 56 new build airframes for a total of 690 AH-64E aircraft

PROJECTED ACTIVITIES

• 2QFY17: FOTE II Capability Lot 6 Technology Insertions

FOREIGN MILITARY SALES

Egypt, Greece, Israel, Kuwait, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Qatar, Indonesia

Direct commercial sales:

Greece, Japan, United Kingdom

CONTRACTORS

Airframe: Boeing (Mesa, AZ)

MTADS/MPNVS: Lockheed Martin (Orlando, FL)

UAS Tactical Common Data Link Assembly (UTA): Longbow LLC [Lockheed Martin (Orlando, FL)

Northrop Grumman (Linthicum, MD)]

Radar Electronics Unit (REU): Longbow LLC

Manned/Unmanned Teaming 2 (MUMT-2): L3 Communications West (Salt Lake City, UT)

Electronic Image Intensifier (EI2): Intevac Photonics (Santa Clara, CA)

Radar Frequency Interferometer (M-RFI): Lockheed Martin (Owego, NY)

MTADS/MPNVS Reset: Lockheed Martin (Gilbert, AZ)