McDonnell Douglas(now Boeing)>AH-64 Apache>Attack Helicopter. DESCRIPTION: Following the failure of the Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne, the US Army was forced to issue a new requirement for an advanced attack helicopter for anti-armor and ground support missions. The Army stressed high performance, survivability, and the use of sophisticated weapons and targeting systems to maximize impact on the battlefield. To meet these challenges, Hughes Helicopter (later purchased by McDonnell Douglas) designed a rugged tandem two-seat aircraft with powerful engines, advanced avionics, and armor protection over key portions of the vehicle able to absorb up to 23-mm fire. In addition to an armor-plated cockpit able to withstand 12.7-mm strikes, the AH-64 Apache was fitted with energy absorbing landing gear and a collapsible chain gun to maximize crew survivability in a crash. Offensive capability is also excellect thanks in large part to the nose-mounted target acquisition and night vision system that pivots in coordination with the gunner's helmet. The primary armament of Hellfire anti-tank missiles, unguided rocket pods, and a 30-mm chain gun makes the Apache well-equipped to deal with any form of ground target. In addition, the AH-64 can be armed with Stinger or Sidewinder missiles for use against other helicopters or low-flying aircraft. The Apache performed well in Panama and the 1991 Gulf War. Iraqi soldiers were so terrified of the helicopter that 10,000 troops once surrendered when three of them appeared. Due to these successes, the more advanced AH-64D was developed to further improve the design's capabilities. At the heart of the AH-64D is the Longbow fire control radar capable of detecting, locating, classifying, and prioritizing targets while minimizing the vehicle's exposure to detection by the enemy. With the radome mounted high above the main rotor, the Apache can hide behind natural terrain while scouting the battlefield before popping up to make precision strikes with its fire-and-forget weapons. In total, over 1,000 Apaches are to be built for the US Army with about 227 of these being AH-64D Longbow models. The remainder are to be upgraded to near AH-64D standard, with only the Longbow radar and uprated engines lacking, by about 2010. Several allies in Europe and the Middle East have also purchased variants of the Apache. Data below for AH-64A and AH-64D Last modified 29 November 2005 HISTORY: First Flight (AH-64A) 30 September 1975 (AH-64D) 15 April 1992 Service Entry (AH-64A) 26 January 1984 (AH-64D) 1997 CREW: 1 pilot and 1 weapons officer ESTIMATED COST: (AH-64A) $10 million (AH-64D) $35 million (new build) AIRFOIL SECTIONS: Rotor Blade Root HH-02 Rotor Blade Tip NACA 64A006 DIMENSIONS: Length 58.26 ft (17.76 m) with rotors turning 48.17 ft (14.68 m) ignoring rotors Rotor Diameter 48.00 ft (14.63 m) Height 14.13 ft (4.30 m) to top of tail rotor 12.89 ft (3.84 m) to top of main rotor 16.25 ft (4.95 m) to top of radome Rotor Disk Area 1,809.5 ft2 (168.11 m2) WEIGHTS: Empty (AH-64A) 11,385 lb (5,165 kg) (AH-64D) 11,800 lb (5,350 kg) Normal Takeoff (AH-64A) 15,075 lb (6,840 kg) (AH-64D) 16,025 lb (7,270 kg) Max Takeoff (AH-64A) 17,650 lb (8,005 kg) (AH-64D) 22,280 lb (10,105 kg) Fuel Capacity internal: 2,440 lb (1,110 kg) external: 5,980 lb (2,710 kg) Max Payload 1,700 lb (770 kg) PROPULSION: Powerplant (AH-64A) two General Electric T700-701 turboshafts (AH-64D) two General Electric T700-701C turboshafts Thrust (AH-64A) 3,392 shp (2,530 kW) (AH-64D) 3,880 shp (2,894 kW) PERFORMANCE: Max Level Speed (AH-64A) 180 mph (295 km/h) (AH-64D) 160 mph (260 km/h) Maximum Climb Rate (AH-64A) 3,240 ft (990 m) / min (AH-64D) 3,090 ft (940 m) / min Maximum Vertical Climb Rate (AH-64A) 2,500 ft (760 m) / min (AH-64D) 1,555 ft (475 m) / min Service Ceiling 21,000 ft (6,400 m) Hover Ceiling (in ground effect) (AH-64A) 15,000 ft (4,570 m) (AH-64D) 17,210 ft (5,245 m) Hover Ceiling (out of ground effect) (AH-64A) 11,500 ft (3,505 m) (AH-64D) 9,810 ft (2,990 m) Range typical: 260 nm (480 km) [AH-64A] typical: 220 nm (410 km) [AH-64D] ferry: 1,025 nm (1,900 km) Endurance 3 hr 9 min [maximum] 2 hr 30 min [typical mission] g-Limits +3.5 / -0.5 ARMAMENT: Gun one M230A1 30 mm chain cannon (up to 1,200 rds) Stations 2 stub wings with 4 hardpoints and 2 wingtip rails Air-to-Air Missile AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-92 Stinger Air-to-Surface Missile AGM-114 Hellfire, AGM-122 Sidearm, TOW Bomb none Other 70 mm rocket pods, 127 mm rockets KNOWN VARIANTS: YAH-64A Prototype built by Hughes Helicopter to compete with Bell YAH-63 for US Army Advanced Attack Helicopter contract AH-64A First production model, all to be upgraded to AH-64D standard (but without for Longbow radar) by 2010 GAH-64A AH-64A models grounded for use as trainers; 17 modified JAH-64A AH-64A models used for special testing; 7 modified AH-64B Proposed interim upgrade to improve 254 AH-64As with GPS, new radios, new rotor blades, and improved navigation systems; cancelled in 1992 AH-64C Designation originally applied to AH-64A models upgraded to near AH-64D standard, including all upgrades except Longbow radar and new engines; approximately 540 to be so upgraded, but designation abandoned in 1993 AH-64D Longbow New build model equipped with mast-mounted Longbow radar, uprated engines, and improved avionics; 227 to be built; older AH-64A models updraded to AH-64Ds not to be equipped with Longbow radar but capabilty exists to convert such aircraft to the full Longbow standard in 4-8 hours WAH-64D AH-64D model for British Army license built by Westland, essentially same as AH-64D but powered by Rolls Royce engines; 67 to be built KNOWN COMBAT RECORD: Panama - Operation Just Cause (US Army, 1989) Iraq - Operation Desert Storm (US Army, 1991) Kosovo - Operation Allied Force (US Army, 1999) Israeli-Palestinian conflict (Israel, 2000-present) Afghanistan - Operation Enduring Freedom (US Army, 2001-present; Netherlands, 2004-present) Iraq - Operation Iraqi Freedom (US Army, 2003-present) KNOWN OPERATORS: US Army Bahrain Egypt Greece Israel Kuwait Netherlands Saudi Arabia South Korea United Arab Emirates United Kingdom