UK Apache put through its paces at DERA Boscombe Down

The first of the new army Apache AH Mk1 helicopters is now at DERA's Boscombe Down site undergoing a comprehensive trials programme which will lead to its Military Aircraft Release.

The DERA trials Apache is equipped with a comprehensive instrumentation package that will record a vast amount of data associated with aircraft and weapon system performance. A great deal of this will be relayed in real time to telemetry stations at Boscombe Down, enabling scientists on the ground to assess its performance.

Military Aircraft Release trials initially will be aimed at establishing the handling characteristics of the new engines and to determine what to do in the event of a single engine failure and how to cope with the aircraft.

They will then continue to explore the full operating envelope of the aircraft, exploiting its maximum speed, weight and height combination by day and night, particularly the use of the integrated night vision systems which relays information onto the pilot's Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) for low level tactical operations. All work will be directed towards the combat capability of the helicopter. Weapon system assessment will include the performance of all the sights and sensors in addition to weapon firing accuracy.

Apache is predicted to be at DERA Boscombe Down for at least the next 5 years. During that time, further evaluation of the aircraft maritime capability, that is operation from the decks of Royal Naval ships, will be carried out.

This will be followed by extensive snow and icing trials at DERA Boscombe Down's environmental hangar to ensure it can cope with the rigours of operating the aircraft in the demanding environment of North West Europe.

Neither ship nor icing clearances are available for the US AH-64D and DERA anticipates that significant US interest will be generated in this activity.

The Apache is equipped with a wealth of cutting-edge technology which includes a millimetric Fire Control Radar which identifies targets and allows the pilot to lock the missiles onto that target and a fully integrated avionics system combining target acquisition, weapon selection and engagement. A fly-by-wire back up control system ensures that the aircraft continues to operate even when mechanical controls are severed or jammed and a HMD feeds flight and weapons information straight to the right eye. It can carry a formidable range of weapons, can fly at speeds in excess of 200 mph and be airborne without refuelling for more than 700 miles.

REF XQQAS XQQEE XQQAR XQQLD