boeing american blade twin attack helicopter type landing gear arrangement tandem cockpit man crew features nose mounted suite target acquisition night vision systems armed chain gun carried main landing gear aircraft forward fuselage mounted wing typically carrying mixture missiles rocket pods large systems improve combat originally started model developed united_states_army advanced attack helicopter program replace cobra prototype flown september selected bell later approved production purchasing continued production development helicopter introduced service april production upgraded variant delivered army march production continued produced date primary operator primary attack helicopter multiple nations including greece japan israel netherlands singapore produced license united_kingdom american served conflicts panama afghanistan iraq israel military conflicts lebanon british seen deployments afghanistan iraq development advanced attack helicopter following cancellation favor projects like united_states_army sought aircraft fill anti armor attack role army command key west agreement forbade army owning combat fixed wing aircraft army wanted aircraft better cobra firepower performance range terrain following earth flying end issued advanced attack helicopter november sign importance project september army designated important projects big included proposals submitted bell team hughes lockheed july selected finalists bell later began phase competition company built prototype helicopters went flight test program hughes model prototype flew september bell model prototype flew october evaluating test results army selected hughes bell reasons selecting included damage tolerant blade main instability landing gear arrangement entered phase program pre production built additionally flight prototypes ground test unit upgraded standard weapons systems integrated tested time including laser guided missile development missile begun originally known fire forget missile shortened acronym purpose helicopter platforms effective anti tank missile production pre production handed army testing successful afterward decided upgrade powerful version engine rated shp named late keeping army traditional use american indian tribal names helicopters approved scale production production helicopter rolled facility arizona purchased million helicopter unit later merger boeing august cost average unit cost approximately based total costs 1980s studied featuring updated cockpit new fire control system upgrades funding approved multi stage upgrade program improve weapon systems technological advance led program cancellation favor ambitious changes august development approved prototype flew april prototype testing ended april testing helicopters pitted numerically superior group helicopters results demonstrated seven times increase times increase compared october scale production approved billion year contract signed august rebuild standard march production flew delivered march portions produced firms produced number components international market british_army sole manufacturer fuselage fuselage production previously performed transfer fuselage production led prolonged legal dispute boeing program cost total april boeing awarded fixed price contract existing configuration july contracts issued upgraded variant nations operating older urged undertake modernization programs boeing plans terminate support variants near future design overview blade main blade tail crew sits tandem pilot sitting gunner crew members capable flying aircraft performing methods weapon engagements independently powered engines high mounted fuselage models engines british service use engines began producing powerful engines rated shp crew compartment crew member survive hits compartment blades designed sustain hit rounds airframe includes protection self sealing fuel system protect projectiles aircraft designed meet requirements minimum requirement crash impact energy minimize crew injuries fatalities achieved incorporation increased structural strength landing gear seats fuel system standard day temperatures vertical rate climb feet minute service ceiling feet hot day temperatures vertical rate climb reduced service ceiling reduced feet dense air targeting revolutionary features helmet mounted display display sighting system capabilities pilot gunner slave helicopter automatic chain gun helmet making gun track head movements point look alternatively fixed locked forward firing position controlled designation system modern replaced targeting system engagement training performed aerial weapons scoring system integration live rocket ammunition simulated missiles data ground station gunnery evaluation standard performance aerial gunnery achieve hit shots fired wheeled vehicle range designed perform line environments operate night day adverse weather conditions sensors onboard allows perform conditions systems include designation system pilot night vision system passive infrared gps equipped locate targets simultaneously august equipped targets ground based weapons fire sources light conditions visual field consists pods working sensors camera precisely muzzle flashes announced new targeting surveillance sensors development provide high resolution color imagery crews replacing older low definition black white imaging systems lockheed received contract january upgrading turret provide higher resolution color imaging longer ranges wider field view adapting increased maritime performance pentagon pacific additional improvements includes extended range radar capable detecting small ships environments software handle maritime targets adding link data links better communications friendly assets armaments configurations numerous different roles context close combat attack addition chain gun carries range external stores weapons wing typically mixture missiles general purpose rockets aircraft battalion equipped missiles capable destroying tanks missile outfitted designated intended use ground forces urban warfare operations use enhanced blast weapons point controversy october ordered batch guided rockets starting 1980s air air missiles anti radiation missile evaluated use initially selected considering air air missile external fuel tanks carried wings increase range mission time wing mounting points maintenance access secure externally personnel emergency transportation missiles non foreign forces air superiority aircraft control skies initially lacked ability use room self defense equipment capability added following south korean demand ability control aerial vehicles perform aerial scouting missions previously performed request control shadow ground control stations safely scout communications levels indirectly receives data receives data direct communication armaments takes flight control search enemies equipped laser target friendly aircraft boeing suggested fitted directed energy weapon company developed small laser weapon initially designed engage small uses high resolution direct beam diameter penny range nmi laser destroy enemy communications radio equipment july reported successfully completed testing anti armor missile operational history united_states_army early service formally accepted production january training pilots began later year operational unit began training april fort hood texas operational units deployed europe september took large military exercises fielding capabilities extensive night operations clear capable operating forward line troops previous attack helicopters normally restricted discovered coincidentally fitted quick radio system allowing inter service coordination joint operations joint air attack teams operated extensively close air support aircraft acting target conserve munitions combat invasion panama participated hours combat attacking targets night general commander operation commented fire missile window miles away night gulf war balkans nearly half deployed saudi_arabia following iraq invasion kuwait operation january guided low destroyed iraq radar network operation attack allowing aircraft evade detection carried load rockets auxiliary fuel tank hour ground war total took destroying tanks numerous armored personnel carriers iraqi vehicles lost war rocket propelled grenade rpg hit close range crashed crew survived effective combat presented logistical complications findings reported stated maintenance units unexpectedly high work load provide spare parts combat operations unofficially grounded worldwide theater flew fifth planned flight hours problems evident gulf war played roles balkans separate conflicts bosnia 1990s task force hawk deployed land base albania combat required tons equipment transported flights cost million deployments encountered problems deficiencies training night vision equipment fuel tanks april crashed training albania failure tail causing fleet balkans grounded december major general commanding officer wrote strongly memo chief staff training equipment failures pilots qualified fly night vision preventing nighttime operations washington_post printed page article failures commenting helicopters came wrong army enters 21st century inability quickly resistance change obsession casualties post cold war identity crisis combat missions took place fears casualties afghanistan iraq served operation enduring freedom afghanistan army platform capable providing accurate duties regularly taking fire intense early fighting typically repaired quickly typically flew afghanistan iraq absence armored threats december pair attacked british held base friendly fire incident killing british soldier noted fought small teams little autonomy react threats opportunities requiring lengthy dialogue command structures effort centrally unit participated invasion iraq operation iraqi freedom march damaged shot captured unsuccessful attack armored brigade near iraqi tank crews set trap terrain effectively employed guns iraqi officials claimed farmer rifle shot farmer denied involvement helicopter came intact pilot pilot captured destroyed air strike following day end military operations iraq december helicopters shot enemy fire lost accidents downed soviet iraq despite typically able avoid missiles helicopters destroyed ground mortar fire web published photographs taken soldiers lost accidents afghanistan took heavy damage able continue missions return safely recent service fleet accumulated million flight hours prototype flew released found boeing significantly multiple occasions ranging percent percent routine spare parts helicopters like february joint base lewis unit field guardian total received november achieved initial operating capability march deployed afghanistan type combat deployment april september combat maintained percent readiness rate unit deployment ended november accumulating flight hours helicopter averaging hours month flies mph faster cutting response time percent better fuel efficiency increasing time station hours hours forces familiar based tactics accordingly surprised arriving attacking sooner longer periods worked medium large aerial vehicles find targets maintain positive conducting percent unit direct fire engagements conjunction guardian pilots controlled accessed video feeds use greater operating altitudes endurance ranges army implementing plan national_guard active army serve scout helicopters replace scout expensive upgrades purchasing new scout helicopter control like grey eagle perform aerial scouting missions study found teaming cost effective alternative new helicopter meet percent reconnaissance requirements compared percent existing percent upgraded national_guard units lose attack helicopters criticized proposal march heavy attack reconnaissance unit formed comprising attack reconnaissance shadow july pentagon announced dispatched baghdad protect embassy personnel islamic state militant attacks october began performing missions operation inherent resolve islamic state ground forces october air_force fighters participated air strikes units northeast june support offensive israel received total fleet controversy air_force choice purchase upgrading existing cobra attack helicopters israel interested acquiring reluctance share software source code complicated prospect april boeing delivered government allegedly investigating supplied military equipment palestinian leaders facilities arranged sale reportedly blocked pending review concerns helicopters pose threat civilian service named hebrew cobra named hebrew fiery winged 1990s israeli frequently attacked outposts lebanon april operation wrath fired missiles ambulance lebanon killing civilians kill senior figures privately owned registered flew israeli intercepted shot missile killing pilot march israeli missile kill leader killing played prominent role lebanon war launching strikes lebanon targeting forces accidents involving helicopter israeli service lebanon war helicopters collided killing pilot critically wounding incident conflict crashed malfunction main killing crew late purchases deliveries hold investigation aircraft performance envelope israeli officials praised role recent years israeli patrol skies strike operations insurgents helicopters frequent occurrence recent orders new blocked israel pursued upgrades fleet june israel decided upgrade configuration funding constraints lack cooperation december examining adoption new missile system cheaper lightweight complement missile american canadian israeli receiving comprehensive upgrade electrical systems upgraded configuration near standard united_kingdom currently operates modified version initially called designated british_army built license boeing following competition tiger british_army new attack helicopter important variants include changing powerful rolls engines addition folding blade assembly use naval ships july confirmed billion order built arizona purchase foreign military sales agreement government maintain current fleet long term plan companies work new fleet deal includes initial support contract maintenance new helicopters spare parts training pilots helicopters production line early begin entering service british_army guarantee value money systems current fleet reused incorporated new helicopters possible approval manufacture fleet standard given august aircraft engine current fleet shelf purchase engine netherlands dutch government initially showed interest acquiring helicopters late 1980s stated purchase competition held tiger bell led ordering deliveries began ended equipped self protection system counter infrared missile threats deployment africa deployed alongside support nato forces dutch deployed netherlands contribution multinational force iraq support dutch ground forces performed close combat support display force missions providing reconnaissance information ground forces february netherlands contribution nato forces afghanistan increased troops sent support shortly deployed netherlands contribution april pair dutch came light gunfire close capital december flew night flying exercise netherlands forcing emergency landing causing lengthy region march crashed training mission pilots died ministry defence opened investigation cause crash saudi_arabia following gulf war operated bases territory saudi_arabia purchased speculated purchase motivated israel august arabian government began negotiations upgrades worth possibly configuration september approved purchase requested saudi_arabia october saudi_arabia requested possible massive arms deal november military effort kingdom border started operation earth involved launching air strikes rebels operating inside neighboring january rebels claimed shot denied military late january leader rebels announced withdrawal territory announcement followed key battle january forces reportedly took control border village egypt placed order helicopters delivered advanced fleet time exception localized radio equipment boeing announced order egypt existing fleet configuration notably upgrade include radar supply refused government egypt requested block foreign military sale august undertook large scale military operation regain control armed air cover operation provided helicopters reportedly destroyed vehicles killed egyptian temporarily stationed following agreement egypt israel september egyptian attacked group foreign tourists egyptian killing people injuring mistaken stated group restricted area users purchased helicopters upgrading specification kuwait purchased helicopters greece received ordered september singapore purchased aircraft october training suspended following forced crash landing japan ordered built license designated helicopter delivered early taiwan republic china reached agreement purchase weapons associated equipment june november taiwan received april crashed story building training flight bad weather conditions airframe loss investigation ruled mechanical failure concluded human error responsible pilots descended fast clouds low altitude checking flight panels maintain adequate height army responded stepping training pilots october fifth final batch delivered taiwan completing order south_korea showed interest acquiring related plans withdraw south_korea september notified possible purchase associated equipment armament competed april south_korea announced purchase delivered delivered early future possible users released tender attack helicopters submissions bell tiger october boeing bell withdrew competition restarted december india requested possible sale associated equipment october chief confirmed selection sought control proposed air combat missions argued better army operations april decided receive requested requirement approved august india september september contract formally signed helicopter expected delivered india years august indonesia million deal iraq requested sale april january sale including helicopters associated parts maintenance training cleared congress proposal accepted iraqi government expired august july requested sale block iii helicopters associated equipment training support sale approved march july placed order programme instead upgrading built variants original production attack helicopter crew sit tandem armored compartment powered engines model equipped engine version engines switched powerful version converted service taken service july conversion boeing facility arizona september boeing received contract version forecast completed december operation proposed upgrade upgrade included new blades gps improved navigation systems new radios congress approved begin upgrade program canceled radio navigation gps modifications later installed model upgrades additional funding congress late resulted program upgrade version funding changed plan upgrade upgrade include changes included mast mounted radar newer engine versions designation dropped receiving newer engine difference model radar equipped model radar moved aircraft decision simply designate versions equipped glass cockpit advanced sensors noticeable millimeter wave fire control radar target acquisition system radar frequency housed dome located main raised position enables target detection helicopter obstacles terrain trees buildings capable simultaneously tracking targets engaging attack initiated seconds radio integrated suite allows data shared ground units allowing fire targets detected single helicopter aircraft powered pair engines forward fuselage expanded accommodate new systems improve navigation tactical internet communications capabilities february block delivered featuring digital communications upgrades japanese variant based equipped air air missiles self defense known redesignated guardian represent increased capabilities features improved digital powerful engines upgraded face gear transmission accommodate power capability control aerial vehicle capability improved landing gear new composite blades successfully completed testing increase cruise speed climb rate capacity deliveries began november rate production approved october upgraded standard production new build start changes production lots shall include decision aiding system new self abilities updated radar capacity potentially enabling naval strikes radar consideration model fit maritime operations army expressed desire add extended range fuel tanks increase range endurance installed place previous counterparts communicating frequency bands transmit receive data video army lots equipped link data links boeing upgrade prior introduction anticipated attack version future vertical lift aircraft forecast replace conceptual greater speed new shp engine improved turbine engine program retractable landing gear wings lift main cruise tail articulate degrees provide forward thrust sea 1980s naval versions navy examined multiple concepts studied altered landing gear arrangements improved weapons interested conducted week evaluation september including operation tests funding naval version provided marine_corps continued use examined naval deployed royal_navy landing platform helicopter testing interest trials military intervention libya british_army extensively 36th tested variety ships export models derived export british built assembled kits purchased boeing based block different systems including powerful engines folding blades modifications operation royal_navy vessels block modification major change design role cause type change example helicopters subject block modification block modification combining equipment changes blocks modification work orders modifications block called block package helicopter time operators egypt egyptian air force india indian air force order order japan japan ground self defense force kuwait kuwait air force netherlands saudi_arabia singapore air force republic order taiwan republic china united kingdom specifications data characteristics crew pilot pilot gunner length turning diameter height disc area weight loaded weight max takeoff weight powerplant shp upgraded shp fuselage length systems blade main blade tail non alignment performance exceed speed knots mph maximum speed knots mph cruise speed knots mph range nmi radar mast combat radius nmi ferry range nmi service ceiling minimum loaded rate climb min disc loading power mass armament guns chain gun rounds stations wings station twin missile pack rockets air ground rockets missiles typically variants carried lockheed fire control radar note mounted notable appearances media
Boeing AH-64 Apache