In the beginning there was a war. The war raged hard and the Americans had to do something to support the troops it was dropping into the theater by helicopter especially the punda UH-1 Huey as they were susceptible to ground fire and were not armoured at all. Tanks were ineffective in the jungle where rapid deployment and support were required and the air force couldnt provide support every time. They had to find a way to provide support the Hueys and the only way to do it was by using an armed helicopter to do it. So they started by arming the Hueys themselves by throwing anything and everything on them. Yes they rose to the challenge but didn’t really cut it
http://www.richard-seaman.com/Aircraft/AirShows/Nellis2007/Highlights/Uh1Gunship07.jpg
They even put weapons on a Chinook!!!
http://gunsagogo.org/armament.jpg
A flying elephant that can float, what a sight!!
Back to the topic. So they built the AH-1 which was still a huey with changed cockpit and this one was the first attack helicopter that hata ukionyeshwa silhouette unasema ni attach chopper. This one was armed to the teeth and did its job but those defense guys still felt more can be done. USMC still have theirs and so do others
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_AH-1_Cobra#/media/File:AH-1S_Cobra.jpg
http://army-uk.com/stock/photoarticles/311_AH-1ZViperd.jpg
Apparently, they are also used to fight fire. I’ll find out more
Now the A-10 and the Harrier proved to be superb attack planes and the defense guys felt so too but the army wanted a plane that was still under their control. They couldnt get fixed wing planes as some agreement signed after world war two forbade them from fixed wing planes so they resorted to a smart helicopter that could think like a fixed wing plane. They floated a tender and the tenderpreneurs responded but there’s only one winner. The army wanted a helicopter that could fire and forget (hel+fire = hellfire missile), they wanted it to be maneuverable enough to hug the earth when it is flying and also wanted it to be able to operate in any weather conditions (well, most), they wanted more powerful engines and more lifting capacity for weapons, the pilots should be sitting in a bathtub made of armour and be able to survive a crash landing, or eject when they were at a height where sitting there would be a death trap. They got it.
That hellfire missile made this plane a nightmare to opposing armour as it could hit from considerable distance and had the warhead on that missile was one of a kind then. Able to penetrate tanks (hehe) with the best armour, and it can carry 16 of them. Early hellfires used laser to guide the missile to its target. Even if the target moved, as long as the laser beam is still on it a hit was guaranteed. Best part was the helicopter didnt have to designate the target itself, a ground team could point the beam and all the helicopter had to do was release the weapon. Hit guaranteed. It’s also able to defeat anti aircraft systems of any kind as long as the pilot is superbly trained. Mission time and configuration are as follows
Mission Hellfire 30 mm Hydra 70 Maximum speed Rate of climb Endurance
Anti-Armor 16 1,200 0 148 990 2.5
Guardian 8 1,200 38 150 860 2.5
Escort 0 1,200 76 153 800 2.5
Hellfire- Missile
300mm - Chain gun
Hydra- Rockets
Speed- Knots
RoC- feet/min
Endurance- hours
It can however be armed with anti radiation (used to shoot radar stations) and air to air missiles (for self defense)
However this plane aint that special, as you can see
Helicopter Empty Weight Power (no of engines by power)
AH-64 Apache 5,200 kg (11,500 lb) 2×1,490 kW (2,000 shp)
AH-1 Z Viper 5,600 kg (12,300 lb) 2×1,340 kW (1,800 shp)
AH-1 G Cobra 2,600 kg (5,700 lb) 1×820 kW (1,100 shp)
Mil Mi-28 8,600 kg (19,000 lb) 2×1,636 kW (2,190 shp)
Denel Rooivalk 5,700 kg (12,600 lb) 2×1,420 kW (1,900 shp)
And the Russians Chinese and Israeilis have made sure Americans don’t have all the technology to themselves by developing fire control systems for use in other helos
[ATTACH=full]37466[/ATTACH]
It’s strength does not lie in its physical capabilities. It’s in the technology.
The models I have been describing are the common models. The AH-64 D apache longbow is equipped with a glass cockpit and advanced sensors, the most noticeable of which being the Longbow fire control radar target acquisition system and the Radar Frequency Interferometer ( housed in a dome located above the main rotor. The dome’s raised position enables target detection while the helicopter is behind obstacles (e.g. terrain, trees or buildings). The radar is capable of simultaneously tracking up to 128 targets and engaging up to 16 at once, an attack can be initiated within 30 seconds. A radio integrated with the sensor suite allows data to be shared with ground units and other Apaches; allowing them to fire on targets detected by a single helicopter. The forward fuselage was expanded to accommodate new systems to improve survivability, navigation and ‘tactical internet’ communications capabilities.
The AH-64E Apache has the ability to control UAVs used by the U.S. Army to perform aerial scouting missions previously performed by the OH-58 Kiowa (beautiful bird). Apaches can request to take control of an RQ-7 Shadow or MQ-1C grey eagle from ground control stations to safely scout via datalink communications. There are four levels of UAV interoperability: indirectly receives payload data, 2 receives payload data through direct communication, 3 deploys the UAV’s armaments and 4 takes over flight control. UAVs can search for enemies and, if equipped with a laser designator, target them for the Apache or other friendly aircraft and is fully Instrument Flight Rate capable.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_AH-64_Apache#/media/File:AH-64E_Apache-Guardian-0006.jpg
http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/pi5l67ftfsvfnigseoja.jpg
Wacha nile supper ndio nirudi kuexplain why it is unnecessary for Kenya to own one now.
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