UK highlights Apache delays: UK report

Jane's ^ | October 31 2002 | Craig Hoyle

[knighthawk]

A number of key capability shortfalls must be addressed if the UK's Apache AH Mk 1 attack helicopter is to achieve its planned initial operating capability (IOC) in August 2004, according to a report published by the UK's National Audit Office (NAO).

Failure to remedy these issues will cause further delays to the £4.1 billion ($6.3 billion) project, and result in a "significant capability gap" during the development of an air manoeuvre force, the document warns.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) awarded Westland Helicopters - now part of AgustaWestland - a £2 billion prime contract in April 1996 to deliver 67 AH Mk 1s, which feature about 85-90% commonality with the US Army's Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow. While the UK aircraft are being delivered "broadly to time and cost" - equipment updates and an extended trials programme mean that the procurement is expected to run £71 million over budget - the status of vital weapon and mission systems could threaten the IOC deadline. This IOC calls for the operational availability of one squadron of four aircraft.

Identified concerns include the UK's ability to fully utilise the capabilities of the Apache's Longbow fire-control radar and to adequately protect the aircraft from surface threats. While an interim Helicopter Integrated Defensive Aids System will be available from December, this will not be fully automatic, since some system components are not yet under contract. A UK-specific secure communications system will also initially lack the ability to share voice and data information with many other UK aircraft types and some ground troops.

The aircraft's ability to deploy its primary armaments - AGM-114 Hellfire anti-armour missiles and CRV7 70mm unguided rockets - without risking damage to its tail rotor and horizontal stabiliser assembly also continues to raise concern. Actions under consideration to address this issue include weapon system modifications, restrictions on the use of some weapon stations, and airframe changes. Insys is responsible for integrating these munitions under a further contract.

Procured for a unit cost of £27.5 million, the AH Mk 1 was declared in-service in January 2001, with production of the last aircraft due for completion in April 2004, four months behind schedule. Work to bring the first 37 aircraft to the final production standard will conclude in mid-2005 (Jane's Defence Weekly 13 February).

The key factor in the UK's failure to field a brigade-level attack helicopter force until February 2007 is the delayed availability of a £1 billion training system for the aircraft. This has caused a three-year delay in crew-conversion activities. Supplied under a 30-year private-finance-initiative (PFI) contract placed with a Boeing/Westland joint venture, this capability was delivered 17 months late, with its Full Mission Simulator still awaiting software and imaging system updates.

[knighthawk]

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