By Ann Roosevelt
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla.–When the Army is ready to issue a request for proposals for an Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH), Boeing [BA] is prepared to offer a version of its successful AH-64 Apache helicopter and an AH-6 helicopter.
“We are prepared to deliver to the Army a capability at low cost, low risk, and high technology and we can do this inside the timeframe of the expected program of record schedule and cost,” Mike Burke, Boeing Business Development director Army Rotorcraft, said at the Association of the United States Army Institute for Land Warfare Winter Symposium here Wednesday.
“The technology and expertise that we have on building the Apache are the same folks, [in the same] location and virtually similar technology we’re offering on the AH-6,” Burke said.
Boeing has a capability that “exceeds all the objective requirements of the current ARH capability document…to include hover out of ground effect at 6,000 feet at 95 degrees with the mission weight,” he said. It can spend about three hours mission time in those same conditions.
Additionally, Boeing has the support programs, performance-based logistics, and condition-based maintenance also available as they are for the current Apache program.
Al Winn, Boeing vice president Apache Programs, said the company came up with the Apache-Light idea in response to the Army’s request for information for industry (Defense Daily, Nov. 12).
An internal analysis of alternatives showed the company could take things off to meet the ARH requirements.
“It’s relatively easy to do,” Winn said, and winds up about 1,000 pounds lighter than the Apache heavy.
For example, going light means taking off the Longbow fire control radar and some avionics boxes, Burke said. The maneuverability remains, as does electronic interoperability with other aircraft, and survivability of the Apache. Process, operating and training costs are reduced. No extra training is needed for pilots to fly either the heavy or light Apache. And they have somewhat similar roles, which is an advantage to the Army.
Additionally, basing Apache-Light on the Apache Block III open architecture allows the Army to make design and software changes relatively easy, Winn said.
Burke said if the Apache Block III level 4 connectivity with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) was used in Apache-Light, it could then incorporate UAVs into the reconnaissance mission.
In October, the Pentagon canceled the potential $6 billion plus ARH contract with Bell Helicopter Textron [TXT] for cost and schedule concerns. Bell had nosed out Boeing for the contract in 2005.
However, the Army’s requirement for a light attack/reconnaissance aircraft, about 512 of them, remains. The helicopter also was envisioned as a replacement for the aging Bell OH-58 Kiowa Warrior.
Boeing also offers the Army the light attack/reconnaissance AH-6 helicopter.
The AH-6 has a cockpit and a high degree of equipment similar to the Apache, so from a cost of ownership standpoint, support costs would be reduced, Burke said.
The original program of record allowed four years for the first unit equipped, he said. Boeing is proposing to build and deliver 30 aircraft meeting the capability of flying at 6,000 feet in 95 degrees, 30 months after the contract award. A second unit would come six months later. Then, 48 months from the contract award, the full up aircraft with Block III architecture would be delivered.
“The Army would get a two-fer,” Burke said. Two aircraft will have the same architecture, of which 70 percent of the cost has already been paid for in Apache development.
Winn said that the initially fielded AH-6 would not have the full capability, though it could meet mission requirements. The full capability aircraft would be delivered in 48 months and the earlier ones retrofitted with whatever is needed.
The Army is short about a battalion’s worth of Kiowa Warriors, Winn said, and upgrading the aircraft means pulling the aircraft from units that use them now, reducing combat power. There’s also the time needed to set the production line, do any development work and then upgrade the helicopters
“The [AH-6] would add immediately to combat power, then continued fielding would allow standing down Kiowas,” he said.
Officials say they’re offering the Army a viable solution available more quickly than the time it would take to develop someone else’s airframe or upgrade Kiowas.
Since the 2005 ARH competition, the AH-6 is a much better and more advanced aircraft than the one offered in 2005, Winn said. For one thing, the company incorporated Army criticisms from the competition.
About a year ago, Winn said, Boeing gave the green light to sell the helicopter internationally. While there are no sales yet, the company is talking to several countries.
Also Boeing is under contract to demonstrate an unmanned version of the craft.
Additional input came from aviators in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
Boeing is developing a new rotor blade for the AH-6 that allows increased lift and speed and with the 6,000-foot/95 degree hover out of ground effect and dash speed at altitude. The dash speed will approach that of the Apache, he said.
This summer, the company will demonstrate the new blade.
Burke said, “we can deliver higher technology at low cost and risk that can get warfighting capability to the soldier today.”