The Boeing AH-64 Apache is a four-blade, twin-engine attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear arrangement, and a tandem cockpit for a two-man crew.
AH-64 is one of the most modern helicopters today. With designed to operate in any terrain, it is capable of operating in both day or night. In adverse weather conditions, pilots would use systematic observation caps for facilitating the fight.
Apache is also equipped with the newest sort of electronic devices such as the target acquisition system, pilot's night vision (TADS / PNVS) system, global positioning satellite (GPS).
Apache is used in combat for the first time was in 1989 during the Panama War. AH-64A and AH-64D Apache has played an important role in several wars in the Middle East, including the Gulf War, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and the Iraq war in 2003.
The Apache helicopter has proven to be of great tank hunter and also destroyed hundreds of armored vehicles in Iraq.
It is armed with a 30-millimeter (1.2 in) M230 Chain Gun carried between the main landing gear, under the aircraft's forward fuselage. It has four hardpoints mounted on stub-wing pylons, typically carrying a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and Hydra 70 rocket pods. The AH-64 has a large amount of systems redundancy to improve combat survivability.
One of the revolutionary features at the introduction of the Apache was its helmet mounted display, the Integrated Helmet and Display Sighting System (IHADSS); among other abilities the pilot or gunner can slave the helicopter's 30 mm automatic M230 Chain Gun to his helmet, making the gun track head movements to point at where he looks. The M230E1 can be alternatively fixed to a locked forward firing position, or controlled via the Target Acquisition and Designation System (TADS). The AH-64's standard of performance for aerial gunnery is to achieve at least one hit out of 30 shots fired at a wheeled vehicle 800–1200 m away.
The AH-64 is designed to endure front-line environments and to operate during the day or night and in adverse weather via its avionics and onboard sensor suites. These systems include the Target Acquisition and Designation System, Pilot Night Vision System (TADS/PNVS), passive infrared countermeasures, GPS, and the IHADSS. A newer system that is replacing TADS/PNVS is Arrowhead (MTADS); it is manufactured by Lockheed Martin, a contract was issued in February 2005 to begin equipping all U.S. Apaches.
AH-64D were equipped with the Ground Fire Acquisition System (GFAS); intended to detect and target ground-based weapons fire sources. The GFAS consists of two small sensor pods which home in on muzzle flashes; working with the AH-64D's own sensors, an infrared camera precisely locates present ground-based threats and relevant distance. The GFAS has a 120 degree field of view and is effective in all-light conditions.
In addition, the AH-64D is equipped with electronic warfare systems integration AN/APR-39A (V), AN/APR-48A radar warning sensors, laser warning sensors (AN/AVR-2), AN/ALQ-136 radar jammer system, bait system to deal with air-to-air missiles with infrared guidance.
The AN/APR-48A Radar Frequency Interferometer (RFI) is designed to provide 360-degree coverage for identification and direction (by azimuth) of threat radar for theCH-58D, OH-58D KIOWA WARRIOR and AH-64H LONGBOW APACHE aircraft. The threat radar includes both ground and airborne systems, which control fires (gun and missile), and those that provide early warning or targeting information.
Source: Baodatviet
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