georgem@uunet.UU.NET (George Moore) (01/23/89)
sheppard@caen.engin.umich.edu (Ken Sheppardson) writes: >In article <3204@cbnews.ATT.COM>, nak@cbnews.ATT.COM (Neil A. Kirby) writes: >> >> The standard load for years on the outermost pylons of the Apache is a >> pair of Sidewinders. > > No it's not. Since none of us should be posting secret material to this group, we all have to make do with public sources. The following information for the AH-64A Apache comes from the documentation for the game "Gunship" (an excellent simulation, BTW). The authors claim that all of this material is factual and comes from public sources. Begin quote: Currently no U.S. Army AH-64A Apache carry the AIM-9L Sidewinder. According to "the book" Apaches are intended for ground attacks, not air-to-air combat. Reluctantly the Army is recognizing the threat of opposing helicopters. However, due to a bad case of interservice myopia, it is considering arming the AH-64A with the designed-for-the-Army FIM-92A Stinger, a much smaller and less destructive missile intended for use by infantrymen. Fortunately American servicemen in combat conditions often ignore "the book" and acquire whatever weapon does the job best. In this case, the plentiful and effective AIM-9L Sidewinder, despite being an Air Force weapon, is likely to find its way into the arsenals of Apache attack helicopter squadrons. Wiring up Apache weapons wings for Sidewinders is easily done "in the field." For all of these reasons, the AH-64A portrayed in this simulation is armed with Sidewinders, not Stingers. It goes on to describe the history of the Sidewinder, the 2.75" Folding Fin Aerial Rockets (FFAR), the AGM-114A Hellfire Anti-Tank laser guided missile, the 30mm chain cannon, and the Target Acquisition & Designation System (TADS) on the Apache. It also includes a specification sheet for the Apache: Overall Length: 58'2" Overall Width: 48'0" Overall Height: 15'3" Weigth Empty: 10,268 lbs. Engines: two T700-GE-701 turboshaft jets Nominal Engine SHP: 1,649 per engine Maximum Engine SHP: 1,896 (running on one engine) Rotor Speed: 280 RPM Fuel Capacity: 376 gallons Maximum Horizontal Airspeed: 162 knots (184 mph) VDL "never exceed" Maximum Airspeed: 197 knots (224 mph) Rated Maximum Climb: 2,880 feet per minute Service Ceiling: 20,500 feet Avionics: VHF, UHF, IFF, PNVS, TADS, DASE, Doppler Nav. Maximum AGM-114A Hellfires: 16 missiles Maximum 2.75" FFAR Rockets: four 19-rocket pods (76 total) Maximum 30mm Rounds: 1200 rounds Maximum AIM-9L Sidewinders: 6 missiles Maximum FIM-92A Stingers: 6 missiles Production Cost in 1986 dollars: $7.3 million each Amortized R&D Cost in 1986 dollars: $1.1 million each -George Moore (georgem@microsoft)
brazil@pawl.rpi.edu (Timothy E. Onders) (01/24/89)
Since we had one of these at work last summer, and I gave it a very good twice over, I can probably best answer this argument(discussion). The AH-64 Apache attack helicopter has absolutly no provision for mounting missiles on the end of the stub wings. The stingers, when mounted, are mounted in a four-tube package on the standard weapons mounts, under the wings. Therefore, without great modification, a stock Apache could not hold the load exemplified in Gunship of 16 Hellfires(or rocket pods or some mix thereof) AND 2 sidewinders, since, if sidewinders were to be mounted, they would have to be mounted under the wing, probably limiting the maximum to 4, or maybe 8 if various spare parts are available from the Air Force. In general, it would be a messy modification, and is definitely NOT recommended. Timothy Onders | 'Leave the Air to Air to the Fixed Wings.' brazil@pawl.rpi.edu | Unnamed General