Loading...

Apache AH-64 Block III Performs well in tests.

The new Apache Block III aircraft lifts off the runway at the Boeing complexin Mesa, Ariz. (Photo: PEO Aviation) The U.S. Army's AH-...

The new Apache Block III aircraft lifts off the runway at the Boeing complexin Mesa, Ariz. (Photo: PEO Aviation)

The U.S. Army's AH-64 Apache Block III next-generation attack helicopter is finishing up its Initial Operational Test and Evaluation at Fort Irwin, Calif., and should be ready to deploy with Soldiers sometime next year, officials said April 2 at the Army Aviation Association of America's 2012 Professional Forum and Exposition.

The Initial Operational Test and Evaluation, known as IOT&E, is a
series of combat-like assessments and evaluations placing the aircraft in operationally relevant scenarios as a way to prepare the platform for full-rate production, said Col. Shane Openshaw, project manager, Apache Attack Helicopters.

Although formal results of the Block III Apache's IOT&E are still in the process of being determined, preliminary observations and early indications suggest the high-tech aircraft is performing extremely well, Openshaw said. The force-on-force portion of the IOT&E has been completed and some live-fire exercises remain in coming days, he added.

So far, the Army has already taken delivery of 10 of the Boeing-built AH 64 Apache Block III aircraft, a helicopter engineered to bring the Apache fleet improved, next-generation range, performance, maneuverability and electronics. Total planned procurement for the Apache Block III is 690 aircraft.

Chief Warrant Officer2 Shawn Witt lifts off in an AH-64D Apache Block III helicopter from Boeing'sflight line in Mesa, Ariz. (Photo: Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Troth U.S. Army)


The Block III Apache is being engineered such that an advanced, high-tech aircraft at the weight of the D model can have the power, performance and landing abilities of an original A model Apache. The current D-model Longbow Apache is heavier than the original A-model; the heavier Apache carries significantly improved targeting and sensing capabilities but lacks the transmission-to-power ratio and hard-landing ability of the initial A model.

"I had the opportunity to fly a Block III Apache a week ago and I will tell you the performance of the aircraft is tremendous," Openshaw said. "It's fast, strong and capable. We have also made improvements to the target acquisition platform. The backbone of the aircraft is an open-system architecture with improved mission command and interoperability."

Engineering the aircraft with an open-system architecture refers to efforts to design the electronics such that they have a "plug-and-play" capability and can easily integrate with current state-of-the-art and emerging next generation technologies, officials said.

The idea is to maximize interoperability by developing electronics and computing technologies according to a set of established technical standards through a "system-of-systems" type of approach so that new systems, sensors, applications, electronics, avionics and other technologies such as software-programmable radio can successfully inter-operate and work effectively with one another, they explained.

Built in this fashion, the Apache Block IIIs' avionics and mission equipment will be able to perform sophisticated "networking" and on-board computing functions and more easily accommodate valuable emerging capabilities, they said.

The Apache Block III Structural Flight Test vehicle flies over BoeingFlight Test area, near Mesa, Ariz., in December 2009. (Photo: Apache Project Office photo)


The Block III Apache is also engineered with what's called Level 4 Manned-Unmanned Teaming, or MUM capability, a technology wherein Apache pilots can not only view video feeds from nearby UAS systems scanning surrounding terrain, but can also control the UAS' sensor payload and flight path as well, Openshaw said.

In fact, the Gray Eagle UAS participated in the Manned Unmanned Teaming exercises during the Apache Block III IOT&E at Fort Irwin.

Called the UTA, or UAS Tactical Common Data Link Assembly, the new technology enhances pilots' ability to view and control nearby UAV assets with a mind to intelligence, targeting information and overall situational awareness. Army engineers have developed the software that equips the aircraft with this next-generation capability.

The advent of this technology is leading the Army to establish new tactics, techniques and procedures designed to maximize the value of the emerging technological capability, said Col. John Lynch, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command capability manager.

"For example, with the Block III Apache you might have a UAS that's overhead looking down into urban canyons; with Manned-Unmanned Teaming you have the ability to designate targets and you can see what is in the area where you are going to operate," Lynch said.

The Block III Apache will also bring improved endurance and payload capabilities to the attack helicopter platform; the Block III aircraft will be able to transport a larger amount of ammunition and fuel in what is described as "high-hot" conditions at altitudes of 6,000 feet and temperatures at or above 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

"With Block III you will be able to fly longer with more ammunition and a full tank of gas on missions because the aircraft has an improved drive train, composite rotor blades and increased performance capabilities," Lynch added.

Some of the Block III aircraft will be re-manufactured Block II D-model Apaches and, when full-rate production starts, some of the aircraft will be constructed with entirely new airframes, Openshaw explained.

Throughout its decades-long existence, the Apache platform has consistently upgraded and sustained its capability in order to incrementally incorporate new technologies as they emerge and bring the latest in capability to Soldiers. In fact, all but 51 of the 721 Apache aircraft in the Army inventory began as the initial or first variant, called A-model Apaches; many of these original aircraft were then subsequently remanufactured to become improved D-model Longbow Apaches engineered with Fire Control Radar and improved electronics.

Today, only eight A-model Apaches remain in the fleet, Openshaw said..

Also, Apache attack helicopters will soon be flying with a prototype enemy fire detection system called Ground Fire Acquisition System, or GFAS, a suite of sensors and cameras able to locate the source, location and distance of incoming hostile fire, Army officials said.

Prototypes of the GFAS systems, which will soon undergo a "user evaluation" in theater, are built on to Apache aircraft; they contain camera sensors on each wingtip engineered to detect the signature and muzzle flash of nearby enemy small arms fire. The system is engineered with the ability to distinguish small arms fire from larger guns and rocket-propelled grenades.

The cameras and infrared sensors on the aircraft detect the muzzle flash from ground fire and move the information through an Aircraft Gateway Processor into the cockpit so pilots will see an icon on their display screen; GFAS is integrated with Blue Force Tracking technology, digital map
display screens which show the locations of nearby forces and surrounding terrain.

Apache program officials praised the performance of the attack helicopter platform in theater, calling it the world's most lethal, capable attack helicopter.

"Most of the air assaults we conducted relied upon the Apache platform. Two things you can't talk about enough are the pilots that fly them and the guys inside the cockpit that get the mission done. They are dedicated to supporting the guys on the ground," said Lt. Col. Christopher Downey, Task Force Six Shooters, who spent time with Apache attack helicopter units assigned to RC East, Afghanistan in 2007 and 2008.




US 1074078555877838611

Posting Komentar

Apa pendapat anda tentang artikel diatas?

emo-but-icon

Beranda item

Popular Posts

Labels

AA Missile AARM 2011 ACCS Aerobatic Show Aerobatic Team AEW System. Afghanistan AGL AIP Air Defense Air Refueling Aircraft Carrier Aircraft Manufacturing Airfield Airforce Airport Airshow Airstrike Alkom Alutsista Amphibious ship Analisis Anggara Anggaran Anggaran Pertahanan Anti Anti - Missile Missile Anti - Ship Missile Anti-materiel rifle Anti-Ship Missile Defence Anti-Tank Missile APC APS Arm Race Armour Plate Armoured Vehicle Arms Race Arms Sales Artilery ASEAN ASW ATGM Attack Helicopter Australia AWACS Bahan Peledak Ballistic Missile Bangladesh Battle Cruiser BBM Belanda Bersama Lima BOM BOMB Bomber Border Conflict Border Talk Brasil BRIDEX 2011 Brunei Budget Cut BUMN BUMNIS Cambodia Canada Ceko China Cina Coalition Coastal Defense COIN COIN Aircraft Cooperating Producing Military Assets Counter Terrorism Cruise Missile Cyber Warfare Damage Defense Budget Defense Equipment Defense Expo Defense Strategy Defese Dialogue Defexpo 2012 Destroyers Diplomacy DK PBB Drone East Asia Summit Eksport Alutsista Electronic Warfare Elite Forces Engines Eropa ESM Espionage Fast Attack Craft Fighter Fighters Filipina Flight Test Food Aid Foto Frigate Grounded Guided Bombs Helicopter Helicopter ASW Helm Anti Peluru HMTV HPMM HUT TNI AU Ke - 66 HUT TNI Ke - 66 Hypersonic Aircraft I ICBM IFV IMSS India Indobatt Indonesia Industri Pertahanan Inggris Intelejen Inventor IPSC Iran Israel Japan Jerman Jo Joint Development Joint Exercise Joint Fighter Weapon Course Joint Productions Joint Training JSDAF JSF Kapal latih Kapal Selam KASAD Kecelakaan Pesawat Kemhan Kerjasama Pertahanan Kevlar Konflik Konflik Perbatasan Konga Kopassus KTT ASEAN LAPAN Laser Weapons Latgab Latgab antiteror Latihan Tempur LCAC LCU LHA LHD LIFT Light Tank Lomba Menembak LPD LST LUFT Malaysia Manpads Maritime Patrol Aircraft MBT Military Alliance Military Assistance Military Bases Military Budget Military Dialogue Military Drill Military exercise Military exercise area Military Parade Military Power Minehunting MINUSTAH Missile Missile Defense Missile Shield Missile Warning System MLRS Modernization Program Mortar MPA MRO Facilities Myanmar NATO Naval Base Naval Gun System Navy Navy Drills North Korea NUc Nuclear Nuclear Missiles Nuclear Poliferation Nuclear Research Ocean Surveillance Ship Operasi Amfibi Opini OPV Pakistan Pangkalan Militer Panser Passex Pasukan Khusus Pasukan Perdamaian Patkor Patrol Vessel Patroli Patroli Bersama Patroli Perbatasan Peacekeeping Pelanggaran Batas Wilayah Pelanggaran Kedaulatan Penelitian Pengamanan Laut Penjagaan Perbatasan Perang Kemerdekaan Perpres Pertahanan Udara Pesawat Angkut Pesawat Kepresidenan Pesawat Latih PEta Philippine Philippine Navy Pictures Pilot Pirates PLA PMPP PNG Polandia Polemik Presidential Aircraft Prototype Provocation Radar RAN Ranpur Rantis Rebel Reconnaissance Aircraft Reconnaissance Satellites Research Review Revitalisasi Alutsista Rifle RIMPAC RnD Robotics Rocket RSTA Russia SAM Satelite Saudi Arabia Serangan Militer Serbia Simulator Singapore Smart Munitions so Source Code South Korea Spaceport Spanyol Special Forces Srilanka STAWS Stealth Bomber Stealth Fighters Stealth UAV Strategi Strategi Pertahanan Strike Aircraft Submarine Surveillance Aircraft Surveillance Camera Surveillance Systems Swedia Syria Taiwan Talisman Sabre Tank Tanker Aircraft Tanker Vessel. Terror Thailand Timor Leste TLDB TNI TNI - AD TNI - AL TNI - AU TNI-AL Torpedo ToT Trainer Aircraft Training Helicopter Transfers Technology Transport Aircraft Transport Helicopter Transport Ship Transport vehicle Trikora Truck Turkey UAV UCAV Uji Coba UK UN Missions UNIFIL Unmanned Sensor Platform Urban Warfare US US Air Forces US Army US Marines US Navy USAF USMC Vietnam Warship

Random Posts

Flickr Photo

free counters