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Capability Sustainment

With the Apache fleet racking up the hours during a hectic Operation Herrick commitment over many years, thoughts turned to sustaining the Attack Helicopter capability.

One option was to upgrade the current fleet of Apache AH1s, however these were getting increasingly difficult to support as they were gradually getting further away from the baseline current Boeing and US Army standard, and therefore becoming less supportable.

The best long-term solution would be to align with the current US Army standard of Apache (AH-64E Guardian v6) as this would be supported by the manufacturer for a longer time.

Apache AH1 and AH64E

The US Army currently have two tracks to get AH-64E models. One is new-build airframes, and the other is to refurbish and upgrade existing airframes. The route chosen depends upon the age, and current standard of the existing airframe.

Both options were available for the AAC, and a single airframe (ZJ202) was despatched to Boeing at Mesa, Arizona to trial the feasibility of the upgrade/refurbish route. After extensive evaluation, it was decided that the upgrade of the existing airframes was not really feasible, and the most cost-effective option was to obtain brand new AH-64E airframes and fit as many existing Apache AH1 components and equipment into them that could be used.

For various political and PR reasons this Capability Sustainment Programme often refers to the process as an “upgrade” or “re-manufacture”, and yes, a large value of the expensive high-tech avionics and other systems are re-used from Apache AH1, but the basic airframes themselves are brand new.

The old Apache AH1s that are selected for the CSP programme have some UK systems removed at Wattisham before being shipped to SES at Huntsville, Alabama. Here, the airframes are stripped of useable components, and the airframe hulks then disposed of. The useable components are then sent to Boeing at Mesa for integration in the new AH-64Es.

The brand-new AH-64E airframes are built on the production line in India, and shipped to Mesa, Arizona for fitting out, and the installation of the previously recovered Apache AH1 components. After test flying, they are then air-freighted to the UK for delivery to the AAC.

This programme proceeds at a rate of roughly one per month and will eventually see the AAC AH-64E fleet numbering 50 aircraft, down from the original 67 Apache AH1s.

Middle Wallop will be home to the AH-64E training unit, whilst the rest will be stationed at the Apache Main Operating Base at Wattisham.

There are numerous external differences between Apache AH1 and AH-64E, but many of these are only obvious when viewed close-up. Three of the most obvious recognition features of an AH-64E are shown in the above image.
1 – the distinctive “egg whisk” SatCom antennae above the “ARMY” stencilling.
2 – the large V/UHF aerial mounted above the right engine.
3 – the 2 vertical black warning bands on the engine cowling, denoting the position of the fan blades.

The old Apache AH1s that were dispatched for CSP at SES Huntsville, Alabama, were: –

February 2018ZJ166ZJ167
March 2018ZJ168ZJ169
22nd May 2018ZJ172ZJ173
24th May 2018ZJ175ZJ176
24th July 2018ZJ170ZJ212
September 2018ZJ214ZJ219
13th December 2018ZJ174ZJ206
6th June 2019ZJ185ZJ200
July 2019ZJ229ZJ232
14th January 2020ZJ180ZJ184
11th March 2020ZJ179ZJ225
26th May 2020ZJ190ZJ205
8th July 2020ZJ183ZJ193
9th September 2020ZJ178ZJ231
December 2020ZJ203ZJ207
13th January 2021ZJ194ZJ222
3rd March 2021ZJ196ZJ227
15th May 2021ZJ181ZJ217
21st July 2021ZJ187ZJ195
7th September 2021ZJ216ZJ218
November 2021ZJ186ZJ230
9th February 2022ZJ204ZJ233
3rd May 2022ZJ198ZJ228
22nd July 2022ZJ182ZJ188
21st July 2022 to BZNZJ199ZJ209

Pages

  • Dedicated Attack Helicopter
  • Technical Specifications
  • Armament
  • Capability Sustainment
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  • Abbreviations

Recent Posts

  • Next 3 AH-64Es in the UK
  • ZM725 takes to the air
  • Another three AH-64Es arrive
  • AH-64E half-way point
  • ZM719 takes to the air

Some images…..

TOM06326 Gunship 1 in 2015 Gunship 2 in 2015 ZM705 Airtest TOM06382 TOM06375

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