Introduction
Boeing (AH64 D Apache Longbow) and Mil (Mi 28 Havoc) competed to supply 22 attack helicopters of 2.5t class to the IAF. The Mi 28 did not meet IAF requirements during flight trials. Boeing is currently the only contender in the field. The contract is estimated to be worth $550 million.
Procurement History
A $550 million-tender procure 22 attack helicopters to replace IAFs ageing Mi-25 and Mi-35 attack helicopter fleet was issued in 2008.
India scrapped the tender on March 25, 2009 because none of the three companies still in the fray met the qualitative requirements.
A fresh tender was floated in mid 2009 and seven companies were invited to bid. The contract, estimated to be worth $600 million, stipulates aircraft in the 2.5t-class and envisages an optional delivery of additional 22 helicopters.
Qualitative Requirements
The qualitative requirements are as follows
* Twin engine
* High maneuverability
* Anti armor capability
* All weather capability
* All terrain capability
The IAF wants these gunships to be highly-agile, have good armor protection and a 20mm caliber turret gun, as also be capable of firing 70mm rockets with a 1.2-km range and missiles with at least 7-km range.
The helicopters are likely to be equipped with an electronic warfare and self protection suite developed by EADS and India's Defense Avionics Research Establishment.
Contenders
Of the seven companies invited to bid, only one remains in the fray as detailed below.
* Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow
* Eurocopter Tiger
* AgustaWestland AW129
* Bell AH-1Z SuperCobra
* Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk
* Mil Mi-28
* HAL's Light Combat Helicopter
Eurocopter reportedly opted out of the race because the Tiger is undergoing upgrades and will not be available for trials in mid 2010 as required by the IAF.
Bell opted out of the race because its helicopter is still undergoing evaluation by the US Marine Corp.
HAL's Light Combat Hircraft, which is still underdevelopment, first took to the air in 2010.
Agusta Westland pulled out due to technical reasons
Sikorsky pulled out due to time constraints and procedural bottlenecks within their country.
Mil's Mi-28 did not make the cut during flight trials
Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow
Apache Longbow AH-64D
General characteristics
Crew: 2 (pilot, and co-pilot/gunner)
Length: 58.17 ft (17.73 m) (with both rotors turning)
Rotor diameter: 48 ft 0 in (14.63 m)
Height: 12.7 ft (3.87 m)
Disc area: 1,809.5 ft² (168.11 m²)
Empty weight: 11,387 lb (5,165 kg)
Loaded weight: 17,650 lb (8,000 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 23,000 lb (10,433 kg)
Powerplant: 2× General Electric T700-GE-701 and later upgraded to T700-GE-701C (1990–present) & T700-GE-701D (AH-64D block III) turboshafts, -701: 1,690 shp, -701C: 1,890 shp, -701D: 2,000 shp (-701: 1,260 kW, -701C: 1,490 kW, -701D: 1,490 kW) each
Fuselage length: 49 ft 5 in (15.06 m)
Rotor systems: 4 blade main rotor, 4 blade tail rotor in non-orthogonal alignment
Performance
Never exceed speed: 197 knots (227 mph, 365 km/h)
Maximum speed: 158 knots (182 mph, 293 km/h)
Cruise speed: 143 knots (165 mph, 265 km/h)
Range: 257 nmi (295 mi, 476 km) with Longbow radar mast
Combat radius: 260 nmi (300 mi, 480 km)
Ferry range: 1,024 nmi (1,180 mi, 1,900 km)
Service ceiling: 21,000 ft (6,400 m) minimum loaded
Rate of climb: 2,500 ft/min (12.7 m/s)
Disc loading: 9.80 lb/ft² (47.9 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.18 hp/lb (0.31 KW/kg)
Armament
Guns: 1× 30 × 113 mm (1.18 × 4.45 in) M230 Chain Gun with 1,200 rounds
Hardpoints: Up to 6 pylon stations on stub wing
Rockets: Hydra 70 air-to-ground rockets
Missiles: combination of AGM-114 Hellfire, AIM-9 Sidewinder, and AIM-92 Stinger
Trials
Competitive trials of the helicopters were held in Ladakh and Rajasthan and also in the US and Russia.
Boeing AH-64D Selected
India announced on Tuesday, October 25, 2011 that Boeing AH-64D had been selected to meet the IAF requirement.
An Indian Defense Ministry source said, “We decided not to choose the Mi-28 for technical reasons. Our experts believe that the Mi-28N did not meet the requirements of the tender on 20 positions, while the Apache showed better performance.”
In August 2012, TOI reported that India was poised to sign a $1.4 billion deal for the purchase of the 22 helicopters as also the supply of 812 AGM-114 L-3 Hellfire Longbow missiles, 542 AGM-114 R-3 Hellfire-II missiles, 245 Stinger Block I-92 H missiles and 12 AN/APG-78 fire-control radars. [via Economic Times]
Boeing AH-64E Capabilities
The IAF is getting the Block III version of the Apache AH-64D. The US Army has renamed the AH-64D Block III the “AH-64E,”
The helicopter is a fine example of where attack helicopter technology is headed.
The Apache is powered by two turboshaft engines, has a top speed of 296 kph, range of 520 km, and carries laser-guided precision missiles, 70 mm rockets and 30 mm automatic cannon.
Some of the outstanding features of the helicopter are:
Mast Mounted Radar
A mast mounted radome on the Apache AH-64D houses the AN/APG-78 Longbow fire control radar. Its millimeter-wave sensing improves performance under poor visibility conditions, and is less sensitive to ground clutter. The short wavelength also allows a very narrow beam-width, which is more resistant to countermeasures while guiding the helicopter’s missiles to their targets.
Block III will extend the radar’s range, or give commanders the option of trading it for an Unmanned Aerial Systems Tactical Common Data Link Assembly (UTA) that’s mounted in the same place on the mast.
Integrated Helmet and Display Sighting System (IHADSS)
The AH-64 introduced the Integrated Helmet and Display Sighting System (IHADSS). The pilot can slave his chin mounted gun to the helmet display.
Target Acquisition and Designation Sights (TADS)
The TADS on the AH-64 is a combined sensor and targeting unit comprising stabilized electro-optical sensors, a laser rangefinder and laser target designator.
Pilot Night Vision System (PVNS)
The PVNS on the Apache AH-64 comprises an infra-red camera slaved to the head movement of the pilot.
Ground Fire Acquisition System (GFAS)
GFAS cameras and infrared sensors detect the muzzle flash from ground fire, classify the firing weapon, and move the information through an Aircraft Gateway Processor into the cockpit. Pilots immediately see the enemy icon on their display screen, integrated with Blue Force Tracking maps.
NewsBoeing AH-64D Bid Detailed
Flight magazine reported on January 4, 2011 that the US government had approved a direct commercial sale of the AH-64D Block III to India.
A notice issued by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on 27 December estimates that a direct commercial sale of 22 AH-64Ds, plus weapons, sensors, spares and training would cost about $1.4 billion.
According to the DSCA the sale will include 50 General Electric T700-701D engines, over 1,350 Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, 245 Raytheon Stinger missiles, 12 Lockheed/Northrop Grumman APG-78 fire control radars and 23 Lockheed modernised target acquisition designation sight/pilot night vision sensors.
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