Defense-Technology News: DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Boeing Remanufactures AH-64A Apaches To AH-64D Block II

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: Boeing Remanufactures AH-64A Apaches To AH-64D Block II

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources U.S Department of Defense; issued January 14, 2011

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - January 16, 2011: The Boeing Company, Defense, Space & Security, Mesa, Ariz., was awarded a $190,239,373 firm-fixed-price contract Jan. 12, 2011. The award will provide for the remanufacture of 72 AH-64A aircraft into AH-64D aircraft along with one Longbow Crew Trainer.

Work will be performed in Mesa, Ariz., with an estimated completion date of March 31, 2014. One bid was solicited with one bid received.

The U.S. Army Contracting Command, AMCOM, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-06-C-0093)

When the US Army bought the AH-64D Apache Longbow, with the characteristic mast-mounted radars to control the Hellfire II Longbow dual-guidance laser/millimeter wave missiles, it bought them as remanufactures from its existing AH-64A fleets. By 2006, a total of 501 helicopters had been delivered in AH-64D Block I and the more advanced AH-64D Block II variants. At that point, production was supposed to stop, and Block III conversions would begin.

Unfortunately, late technologies like JTRS radios, and other impediments, have given the Block III program a late start. In order to avoid a production line shutdown, which would require a very expensive restart, the US military decided to go on buying more AH-64D Block IIs until Block III was ready. Additional helicopters bought under that approach are “Extended Block IIs” – extended in their production line, not their technology. Further orders and options that stretch Block II production are “Extended Block II Plus,” or AH-64D EBII+.

AH-64A Apache

Between 1984 and 1997, Boeing produced 937 AH-64As for the U.S. Army, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The combat-proven AH-64A is still in service and includes the following features:

Two high-performance turboshaft engines and maximum cruise speed of 284 kph
Laser, infrared, and other systems (including target acquisition designation sight/pilot night vision sensor) to locate, track, and attack targets
A combination of laser-guided precision Hellfire missiles, 70mm rockets, and a 30mm automatic cannon with up to 1,200 high-explosive, dual-purpose ammunition rounds

AH-64D Apache and AH-64D Apache Longbow

The combat-proven AH-64D Apache and AH-64D Apache Longbow share the following history and characteristics:

Testing in the late 1990s, delivery in 1997, in production for the U.S. Army and several international customers
Selection by the U.S. Army, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, The Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Republic of Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom (as the AH Mk1)
Ability to assimilate advancements in digital connectivity, sensors, weapon systems, advanced training devices, and maintenance support systems

Apache Longbow Enhancements

The radar-equipped AH-64D Apache Longbow features numerous enhanced capabilities, including:

Longer-range weapons accuracy and all-weather/night fighting
Detection of objects (moving or stationary) without being detected
Classification and threat-prioritization of up to 128 targets in less than a minute
Integrated sensors, networking, and digital communications for situational awareness, management of the combat arena in real time, and digital transmission of images and target locations to joint operations battlefield commanders

The AH-64 Apache has been developed since its inception using incremental technology insertions at regular intervals to ensure that the world's most capable multi-role combat helicopter meets the needs of the warfighter today and in the future.