licence built version attack helicopter british_army helicopters built boeing remaining assembled somerset england boeing supplied kits changes include rolls engines new electronic defensive aids suite folding blade mechanism allowing british version operate ships helicopter initially designated later designated shortened valued form close air support conflict afghanistan deployed region object controversy fitting munitions cluster bombs weapons naval trials temporary deployments sea proven aircraft able platform operate decks ships unique application operators british served nato military intervention libya operating royal_navy ships development requirement new attack helicopter identified british government early 1990s bid issued bids received included tiger boeing tiger cobra variant derided requiring development risk combat proven performance gulf war criticised competitors selected july contract helicopters signed september produced prototype licence boeing authorised service director january final handed british_army july helicopter fleet cost billion total acquisition cost billion reliability questioned operations entire fleet balkans grounded tail failures radar development ran problems weight impact overall agility data transfer abilities problems key aircraft components fleet high cost led calls cancellation requirement early 1990s military doctrine assumed large conventional armoured assault britain main threat following collapse break soviet_union concepts flexibility rapid response took precedence called undertake amphibious attack missions operating helicopter carrier invincible class aircraft carriers successors queen elizabeth class aircraft carriers possibly amphibious assault vessels squadron equipped operational aircraft experienced delays entering service complications modifications british service prior entering service development problems noted including lack ability communicate helicopters risk damage tail airframe firing missiles problem debris generated firing missiles rockets strike body aircraft cause damage resolving issue created delay training programmes problems corrected prior entering service secure communications suite installed missiles routinely fired government sources stated operational capability set achieved service date forecast army looking capability programme extend life thought updates necessary army withdraw support block british based budget problems pushed decision taken extent britain adopt upgrades options range abandoning capability altogether buying brand new helicopters boeing believe likely britain putting existing engines new august requested upgrade standard july placed order programme instead upgrading built continue lead support existing retired service design standard design exported countries major difference use pair rolls engines replacing original general_electric engines engine produces engine compared helicopters coalition forces afghanistan required modification serve region special filters incorporated design change folding blade mechanism helicopters confined spaces blades anti ice protection allow operations arctic environments changes craft secure communications system interact british military units significant fitted system aircraft prior entering service redesigned composite components eye safe training laser allow function target installed instead american rocket pods carry rockets uses high explosive semi armour piercing attacks targets energy contains explosive attacks armoured targets type controversial weapon classified cluster bomb rocket contained senior officers general spoke british plans weapon month britain participating nations agreed ban cluster bombs humanitarian grounds britain destroyed july like carries fire control radar radar frequency providing integrated surveillance attack system radar unit hub assembly radar placement allows cover scanning targets radar unit exposed additionally radar monitor traffic radar surveillance terrain radar systems relay information aircraft allows fire targets identified single helicopter upgrades britain fleet million contract awarded equip helicopters system upgrade completed announced integrating new external fuel tanks protection internal fuel tanks removed afghanistan removed allow extra ammunition cannon fitted suggested advanced blades additional controls improve agility aircraft fitted mid life update fleet proposal upgrade guardian standard operational history overview equipped regiment achieved operational status replaced british_army tactical attack helicopter currently operated regiments brigade intended operate armed reconnaissance attack roles similar usage gulf war unlike versions partially serves aboard royal_navy ships addition land based role achieved maritime certification december aboard november aircraft carrier land appeared combat afghanistan august intense usage afghanistan led british commanders admitting weapons spare parts far greater rate subsequently greater cost anticipated november reported half british service grounded fallen level considered fit purpose november situation declined aircraft available combat operations awarded contract support services components radar following months senior officers noted support change resulted higher availability june civilian airfield threatened industrial action pay dispute october announced prince harry begun process qualifying pilot terrorist organisation threatened prince piloted afghanistan april promoted captain following completion conversion training june sections media reported prince harry deploy afghanistan pilot subsequently deployed afghanistan squadron september afghanistan operational tour afghanistan deployed afghanistan february drawn squadron squadron based unlike american counterparts afghanistan deployed enable pilot better manage traffic initially pilots fly hours time low number theatre typically stationed afghanistan weeks returning britain roughly weeks maintenance operating afghanistan province missile destroy abandoned french vehicle protect sensitive equipment quickly highly valued tool insurgents able escort ground air forces rapidly respond forces ground major second command stated impressed effective beast noted forces refer aircraft january strong british force led launched operation attack major base southern hours intense fighting marines discovered commando royal marines missing rescue mission launched volunteers royal engineer wings helicopters travel mph ensure safety extra passengers landed fire inside compound recovered body ford body flown manner soldiers arrived providing fire injured recovery mission later hailed bravery june british forces conducted aimed disrupting activities south key portion major night time helicopter raid rapidly deploying members parachute regiment town june fired missile controversial usage weapons approved extensive legal ethical june leader cell members killed missile launched friendly fire incident july fired position thought held enemy forces instead hit members british patrol time british aircraft involved blue blue incident afghanistan targets insurgents november british lost enemy fire september seriously damaged crash shortly takeoff province loss life occurred airframe written early bomb making facilities raided british forces supported april reported intercept suicide bombing attack province summer integral component aimed pushing insurgents civilian areas elections major offensive routinely flew alongside cobra helicopters provide air support soldiers 3rd battalion black watch conducting ground operations summer operations senior leader killed precision strike launched october newspapers reported maintenance workers accidentally sent live missile regular mail camp mistake missed times missile discovered sparked evacuation later changed procedure regards incident july announced combat operation district province children injured flown camp medical treatment april helicopters flew hours afghanistan representing flying naval operations libya announced fleet reached hours flying time describing vital battlefield tool afghanistan recognised having established limited maritime strike capability deploying vessels tested missiles sea targets time missiles fired success rate media speculation suggested speed establishing maritime presence withdrawal replacement military officials announced deployed ongoing military intervention libya helicopters operated flight deck conjunction french tiger helicopters assist operation unified protector enforcement fly zone libya june reports british preparation evacuate emerged involving helicopters operating vessels coast june struck targets libya time destroying radar site armed near town precision strikes launched typical targets mobile air defenses occasionally engaged fire ground troops early june conducted attacks loyalists assaulting town june destroyed boats cannon fire believed engaging destroying multiple vehicles coastline including anti aircraft system june coordination strikes attacked loyalist infantry vehicles airfield july reportedly involved fierce battle town july destroyed tanks bunker military camp near august participated rebel push town reported june government claimed successfully shot dozens aircraft including nato denied claims losses acknowledged date july released information month combat operations libya noting engaged targets libya occasions operations libya heavily influenced supported nato reconnaissance flights intelligence missions information continually relayed update target information assess threat surface air missiles sam presence civilians enabling real time changes mission profiles august struck military communications facility troops typhoon withdrawn operations september operational demands decreased operators united_kingdom squadron squadron squadron operational squadron operator squadron squadron squadron training squadron squadron training squadron data page jane characteristics crew length turning diameter height disc area weight loaded weight max takeoff weight powerplant rolls performance exceed speed knots mph maximum speed knots mph cruise speed knots mph range nmi ferry range nmi service ceiling rate climb min armament guns chain gun rounds proposed rockets
AgustaWestland Apache