Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian: Most Advanced Combat Helicopter

The Boeing AH-64E apache guardian is an American multi-role combat helicopter and plays the backbone role in the U.S. Army attack helicopter fleet and remain in service since 1984. Its salient features make it the world's most advanced combat helicopter. The fascinating design of this helicopter attract the viewer.  

It has been exported to different countries including, Egypt, Israel, India, Netherlands, Japan, Saudi Arabia, UAE and UK-while the primary users are United States Army, Israeli Air Force, Egyptian Air Force, or Royal Netherland Air Force.

More than 800 apaches in service of the US Army and participates several combat mission namely, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Anaconda, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Inherent Resolve or more.   

Overview:

Lets overview the Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian, Boeing AH-64E has a four-blade main rotor and a four-blade tail rotor. It is designed to meet the crashworthiness requirements, which specifies minimum chances for crash impact energy attenuation to reduce crew injuries and fatalities, which was achieved through incorporation of increased structural strength, crashworthy landing gear or more.
As it  flies with two crew member, both crew members are able to flying the aircraft and performing methods of weapon engagements independently, the crew compartment has shielding between the cockpits, which increase the survivability of the crew members from hits, compartment and the rotor blades are designed to sustain a hit from 23mm rounds. Per unit cost is approximately 15 million per chopper (but not fixed).  
Salient aspect comprises helmet mounted display, Target Acquisition and Designation System (TADS) or MTADS targeting system, the installed helmet is a device which is usually used in aircraft to project the information to the pilot's eyes, integrated MTADS  is a night vision system develop by Lockheed Martin uses for second-generation long-wave FLIR sensors with three fields of view, a charge-coupled device TV camera, dual field of view pilotage Forward looking infrared, electronic zoom, target tracker and auto-boresight. 

 

TAD system

In 2014, the surveillance sensors and targeting equipment were announced to upgraded, which further provide high-resolution colour imagery to pilots, replacing low definition black & white imaging systems. The upgrading contract received by Lockheed in Jan 2016, the outcome provide higher-resolution colour imaging with longer ranges and a wider field of view.  

Its climbing rate increase upto 1,775 feet per minute (541 m/min) below temperature 18 degree with a service ceiling of 21,000 feet (6,400m), while on a hot day, its vertical rate of climb reduced to 1,595fpm (486m/min), and service ceiling reduced to 19,400 feet (5,900m) due to less dense air.      

Specification:

• Country of origin           United States
• Length                           17.7m
• Main rotor diameter      14.6m
• Height                            5m
• Empty weight                5.17t
• Max takeoff weight       10.43t
• Engine                           2x General Electric T700-GE-701D turboshafts  
• Maximum Speed           295 km/h
• Service ceiling              6.4km
• Range                            476km
• Gun                               1x 30mm M230 Chain Gun with 1,200 rounds

M230 Chain Gun

• Rocket                        Hydra 70 & CRV7 70 

Missiles:

AGM-114 Hellfire V:

AGM stands for air-to-ground missile and have been used to destroy high value targets. It was originally developed under name Heliborne laser, the fire-forget missile, which led to casual name Hellfire. It can be launched from multiple air, sea and ground platforms.

AIM-92 Stinger:

AIM-92 stinger is an air-to-air system, it also use on Eurocopter tiger and MQ-1 Predator UAV. Speed of this system is 2.2 Mach with range of 8km.

Spike missiles:

Spike is an Israeli missile which was designed and developed by Rafael Advanced Defense System, it is a fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile and anti-personnel missile, a fourth generation status. It has different variants like man-portable, vehicle-launched and helicopter launched.