Posted on 10/13/2014 4:55:00 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
The U.S. Army is engineering its Apache AH-64 attack helicopters with additional avionics, radar and sensor technology to perform better in maritime environments, service officials said Monday at the Association of the United States Armys Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington D.C.
Were looking at sensor upgrades to the fire control radar and adding a maritime feature to the Apache. We want to extend the radar and broaden its bandwidth to pick up things in a littoral (shallow water) environment and detect small ships in the water, said Army Col. Jeff Hager, Apache program manager.
The Army plans to test these and other upgrades in 2017 in order to keep the attack helicopter platform current into the 2050s, Army and Boeing officials said.
Part of the Pentagons rebalance to the Pacific involves a greater use of land and sea-based assets in the region, underscoring the need for the Army to strengthen its expeditionary capabilities. The Army has conducted multiple exercises with the Navy wherein they landed Army helicopters on Navy ships in order to prepare for these type of contingencies.
Additional upgrades will include software upgrades and improvements to the mission processor, Hager explained.
The software-based radar improvements will allow crew members to see maritime littoral targets and be able to pick targets out at sea like they do on land, he added.
The upgrades will also give the Apache the ability to better communicate with assets from other services through a connection with LINK 16, a digital data link used widely by the Air Force and Navy.
This does give the crew members the ability to see joint assets, so everybody see the same combined aerial picture that we have in the Air Force and Navy, Hager added.
The first AH-64E Block III Apaches are now returning from combat service in Afghanistan, after deploying this past September. While explaining the newer, high-tech Block III Apache received favorable reviews from crew members and commanders, Hager said the Army will soon begin work on a formal after action review of the aircrafts combat performance.
The Block III Apaches are built with composite main rotor blades, improved transmission and next-generation avionics.
In addition, the AH-64E helicopters are configured with whats called Level IV Manned-Unmanned teaming, a technology which gives Apache crews the ability to view live feeds from nearby UAS and also control the sensor payload, Hager explained.
Adding a hunter-killer capability with manned-unmanned teaming increases the range with UAS, Hager explained.
British Apaches at sea
Ping.
Whats the tactical advantage of these? Loiter time?
This should be a tactical advantage in the ME deserts. /s
This is an about dang time fine idea
I don’t see the point.
Poor range and slow reaction time to deliver over-the horizon anti-ship missiles. You want the missiles off as soon as you can after getting a contact.
Vulnerable to interception.
The only advantage I can see is the ability to use terrain to hide in until they pop up to fire.
That would work if there is terrain.
It certainly should pucker up some anatomical parts of the Somali pirates when they get wind of it, first hand I hope.
Harpoon is a pretty big weapon. I would think they would want something smaller like a Penguin.
Send it to Gas Monkey garage and have them pimp it out.
Me neither. That's why the Navy spent a gazillion dollars on Seahawk gunship upgrades - this is a mission that is already being done.
I’d wager the driving factor here is the currently nonexistent offensive capabilities of the LCS class.
+1
Zulu Cobra ? Why the Apache?
Active Duty ping.
China.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.