DEFENDING FREEDOM AROUND THE WORLD

*DEFENDING FREEDOM AROUND THE WORLD*

Apache helicopters continue to defend freedom around the world. Whether theyre in the Middle East, Iraq, Afghanistan, Europe, Asia-Pacific region or the United States, the defense forces that fly Apaches are ready if called into action.

IN THIS ISSUE

BACK FROM IRAQ................................................................1

U.S. Army Apache pilots inflicted heavy damage during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Their stories are featured here.

QUIET PROFESSIONALS..................................................................................9
1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment Vipers log many firsts during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

SPEAKING OF SUCCESS....................................11
LTG Dick Cody highlights Apache victories in Iraq.

BLOCK III TECHNOLOGIES...............................................13

Upgrades ready Apache for the U.S. Armys future fighting force. Block III Apaches will be fully enabled for the Network Centric warfare of the 21st century.

JTRS.............................................................15
The Joint Tactical Radio System planned to fly first on Apache Longbow is the cornerstone of proposed Block III Apache upgrades.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE............................................................................17

U.S. Army National Guard and Reserve world presence grows.

AROUND THE WORLD..................................................................19

In the past year, the international Apache scene has been filled with important milestones that have enhanced the aircrafts image worldwide.

BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN.....................................................25

Former Apache Commander Mike Burke takes the reins of AH-64 Business Development at The Boeing Companys Mesa, Ariz., facility.

POINT WELL TAKEN....................................................27

The second Apache Longbow battalion, 3rd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Brigade, arrives in South Korea.

FRONT LINE EFFORTS............................................31

1st Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment Gunfighters continue to keep the peace on the Korean peninsula.

20 YEARS OF GLORY...........................................33 Apache marks two decades of production and service. PAVING THE WAY..................................................35 First Apache pilots pave the way for todays Apache Longbow. NEWS BRIEFS.............................................37

Apache News is published annually by The Boeing Company for the United States Army and the entire worldwide Apache team. Editors: Lisa Dunbar and Carole Thompson Sutton. Additional Contributors: Doug Kinneard, Hal Klopper, Marc Sklar Design: Cass Weaver Photographers: Bob Ferguson, Mike Goettings, Gary Parker, Chuck Clayton Manager of Communications: Hal Klopper ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE TO: Apache News, The Boeing Company, 5000 East McDowell Road, M510-A387, Mesa, AZ 85215 or carole.j.thompson-sutton@boeing.com or (480) 891-2119 VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT: www.boeing.com

BACK
U.S. Army Apache Pilots Inflicted Heavy Damage during Operation Iraqi Freedom, with Much of Their Success Still Unpublished

FROM IRAQ*

Most Apaches and their crews have returned. Some are still on duty in Iraq. All of them are heroes.

ot a single Apache pilot was killed or seriously injured in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Two pilots were captured, but later released. All have stories to tell their grandchildren. Today, as the battlefield statistics are being tallied, Apaches remain a part of the defense force that is securing the peace and preparing for the rebuilding of that nation. Before the main fighting was over, both AH-64A Apache and AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters had logged thousands of combat hours, engaged the enemy in a wide range of combat scenarios, learned new tactics to defeat the enemy, and completed their missions without seriously injuring a single pilot. Thousands of enemy vehicles, air defense systems, and other targets were destroyed.

In all, more than 400 Apache pilots who flew some 200 Apache helicopters were called into action during Operation Iraqi Freedom. On these pages are the thoughts of just a few of the men and women who answered the call. More will be speaking out in the future and Apache News will document their stories as they are made public. Featured here are soldiers from the 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Brigade in Illesheim, Germany; 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment in Fort Hood, Texas; and the 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment at Fort Stewart, Ga.

1
DEFENDING FREEDOM

Graham Ward

SFC Richard Mike Bonney

Production Control NCOIC 1-227 AVN

In Iraq my job was to supervise the acquisition of parts, allocate personnel to working on all of the Apache Longbows, make sure work orders to our supporting units were carried out and that parts got repaired and returned to us in a quick and expedient manner. From our base in Fort Hood, our unit deployed to a seaport in Kuwait City and 48 hours after the first aircraft was removed from the ship, all 18 aircraft were at Camp Udari. Twenty-four hours after that we conducted a gunnery with all 18 aircraft completing the mission. We went over to the Middle East in a very good posture. All 18 aircraft were fully mission capable. On the night of the battle with the Medina Division, our aircraft sustained severe damage. Maintenance crews immediately began working to fix the aircraft and within 24 hours we had four airframes back into battle and 72 hours later we had more aircraft back on line. It took a bit longer to get other aircraft fixed, but we ended up flying them out of country and we used them later on. The maintenance crews got the job done well.
continued page 3

2
APACHE NEWS 2004

continued from page 2

1LT Joseph G. Bruhl

Apache Longbow Pilot 1-227 AVN

As the scout platoon leader for Bravo Company I had the combat power of three AH-64 Deltas one Fire Control Radar (FCR) and two aircraft without FCR on my team. Our task was to find the enemy, confirm its location, and confirm our direct fire plan. We were the first element from 1227 to be in contact with the Medina Division on the night of March 23. Five minutes into the mission, once we reached our objective, the whole sky lit up from the west and toward our flight. If youve ever been in a Texas thunderstorm and youve watched the rain come across the airfield, thats what it looked like. You saw on the horizon streams of orange just getting closer and closer and by that time we were taking heavy fire.

CW2 Cynthia Rosel

Apache Longbow Pilot 1-227 AVN

Before becoming an Apache Longbow pilot, I was a maintainer for about six years and worked on all types of aircraft, including the Alpha model Apache. I know how demanding the job of a maintainer is. These guys are truly dedicated. They truly love what they do. Without them, we could not accomplish the mission. We owe a great deal of credit to the maintainer. Everything is dependent on maintenance and the maintainer. The work they do is mission essential to the unit and to the combat readiness of the Apache Longbow.

CW2 Graham Ward

Apache Pilot 2-6 CAV

Apache is the most lethal, survivable aircraft in the Army inventory. Apache is the only aircraft Ive flown since getting out of flight school. Its probably the only aircraft I would want to fly in combat. In the three months prior to the war, our unit got to fire a lot of ordnance more than normal actually firing for proficiency rather than for currency. The three days of intense combat at the Karbala Gap to the Euphrates meant using over-the shoulder, knife-fight tactics. Traditional standoff battles were rare.

3
DEFENDING FREEDOM

AK-47s were all around and underneath us and they were using flackproducing weapons to keep us down with a flack ceiling of about 300 feet. There were four more AH-64Ds coming up to take the fight from us after our primary mission was accomplished. As I gave them (Apache Longbow crews) the battle handover in that flight of four were CW2 Williams and CW2 Young and though we didnt know it at the time, they were in the area of thickest enemy fire. Our team egressed the battle, and headed

back south taking more fire and getting shot in the fuel cell. For the 40 minute flight back to the base we let sink in what wed just been through. As we shut down the aircraft, we heard the first reports that Williams and Young were down and that wed lost contact. After that night was all said and done, I counted 18 holes in my aircraft into the engine area, in the flight controls, and in the transmission area. It took a lickin but got us back home. As long as the blades were spinnin, they were

spinnin until we got back to the assembly area. And, this thing kicked. After all the hits we took, its obvious that the Apache Longbow is a Hoss. We didnt come home on a wing and a prayer, we came home in the Apache Longbow.

I engaged targets as close as 100 meters with the 30mm. I went to Iraq thinking it was going to be more like an NTC rotationset up traditional operationsbut it turned into more of a JRTC rotationlooking for guys running along the woodlinethings I thought wed never do, but its what we ended up doing. Apache was able to get in close, take a tremendous amount of hits and return. I can attest that this aircraft can sustain SA-60 fire, artillery fire and perform. I launched

for every mission. On some days, I flew up to 10 hours a day. Without the FLIR, we couldnt have landed safely in the dusty desert environment.
continued page 5

4
APACHE NEWS 2004

LTC Scott Thompson

Commander 2-6 CAV

The training we got before combat was the key ingredient for our success. Unlike any unit that fought in the war, we had the advantage because of that training. We spent four months in Kuwait preparing for potential combat operations in a desert environment. Each pilot had an average of 100 hours of desert flying before going into combat many more hours than pilots in other units deployed directly from their home bases. In the end, there were no aircraft losses and no personnel were seriously injured. We had the edge. Our unit is standing down and will re-form as an Apache Longbow battalion. The soldiers in the 2-6 CAV, with their combat experience in AH-64A Apaches, will make their new units even more capable. Commanders who receive these men and women are lucky. Theyre getting some of the best attack helicopter crews the Army can provide. Advice? The best endorsement I can give for the Apache helicopter comes from my wife who doesnt want me to fly anything else. She knows that as long as I fly an Apache, Im going to come home.

5
DEFENDING FREEDOM

continued from page 4

The greatest fear a pilot has in combat is the loss of your co-pilotnot being able to bring him home. We were screening south of the Euphrates River and we were asked to push a little farther north over the riverto observe some boats clearing the river of explosivesWe were now exposed from both sides of the riverMy front seat took a single shot from an AK47. The bullet missed, but ricocheted off the glass, breaking it and spraying my co-pilot with glass. For a minute, my world stood stillI could hear him breathing, but I couldnt communicate with him. I exited the battle area. Matt never responded and it was a situation I had never wanted to deal with. I kept my head clear and tried to not be overwhelmed by it. Finally, he got his breath back, and eventually came to his senses. The first words out of his mouth were, Im going to kick your ass when we land. Those were the greatest words I had ever heard in my life. He was covered with blood, but I reassured him. Bob was on my six and we started for the forward area refueling point (FARP) but decided to head closer to the bridge where I knew there would be medical support. They helped him out, then I asked Matt if he wanted to go home or go back and he said, Lets go back. Hes a hero in my book. I admire him. To see how he was injured but wanted to keep going was unbelievable. The first 10 hours of the first day were intense, but those 30 minutes when Matt got hit will forever be etched into my mind. Matt received a Purple Heart and an Air Medal of Valor. Ive been flying Apaches for close to nine years and I wouldnt trade it for anything in the world. Its a flying tank.

CW3 Dan Stoddard

Apache Pilot 2-6 CAV

Once we were established in Iraq near the Karbala Gap, the critical point in the fight because it could be the point where chemical weapons might be employed, they needed to set up a FARP. Our main mission was to set it up far in front of the unit and set up an area to refuel the aircraft. It gives the squadron greater flexibility because they dont have to go all the way back to base to refuel. We train for this. I knew wed have to do it sometime because Iraq is a vast place. A day before we learned that the 3rd Infantry Division was trying to cross the Euphrates River, we were told of the need. So we packed up our gear and headed out. We moved forward with the 3-7 Cavalry. It took us about a day and a half to get there due to traffic and fighting. Once there, it took us 20 minutes to ready to receive aircraft. We were isolated; we were secure because there was no one else around. Everyone performed flawlessly. About half an hour after we arrived, the first aircraft arrived and it continued nonstop for the next 18 hours. As a result, the men and women of the unit were honored with several awards. Everyone in my platoon received an award. Words cant explain how well everyone performed that day at the FARP. I never thought they could do things so quickly and operate so effectively. I was wrong, and pleasantly so. It was something to watch.

CPT Corey James

2-6 CAV 3-5 Platoon

We were in Kuwait for five months, which allowed extra training. It also gave us time to work on the aircraft. When the war came, we had no maintenance issues. It was very beneficial to have that much training. We flew so much that nine aircraft went through phase inspection, meaning they were inspected carefully and made ready for combat without further inspection. My role was to advise the soldiers on the systems, airframe and components on the aircraft. Since we were in the field without distractions, the soldiers had time and motivation to work on the aircraft. Having a field service rep available around the clock is always beneficial. Living with them helped us talk through problems and they could do their jobs better. We were on our own most of the time; in fact, it was three weeks into the war before we were able to make contact with the home office. The Apache never ceases to amaze me. Its a survivable aircraft. Time and time again the aircraft took all kinds of hits and the pilots survived. It was the bravest group of aviators and support teams Ive ever been attached to. They protected me and I really appreciated that.
continued page 7

Gary Wilker
Field Service Representative The Boeing Company Supporting all Apache units in Germany

6
APACHE NEWS 2004

continued from page 6

CPT Joel Magsig

Apache Pilot 2-6 CAV

Apaches have had many firsts in the U.S. militaryIm proud to have been a part of another first the first coalition aircraft landing at Baghdad International Airport (formerly Saddam International Airport) just after its liberation on April 4, 2003. While it was not a planned event, it just seems that our Apache was in the right place at the right time. We (CPT Magsig and co-pilot/gunner CW4 Greg Inman) had been hit by enemy fire while on a medevac support mission and set down on the runway to inspect the damage. We later learned that we were the first to land at the newly liberated airport. None of the damage was enough to keep us from returning home. We were hit in the main and tail rotor blades and in the fuselage. One round made it into the cockpit through the air conditioning system. Apache is a great aircraft for sustaining weapon damage. (Reports of applause and cheering were reported as the Apache made its historic landing.) The Apache was returned to duty within two days. Im a diehard Apache fan. I believe the A and D Models are keenly equipped to fight in the desert environment. They both have the power margin and are sustainable in a dirty combat environment. Its a great aircraft to fight in and a great aircraft for the Army. I would only go into combat in an Apache, if given the choice.

LTC Dan Ball

Commander 1-227 AVN

Ive been flying helicopters for over 18 years, and this helicopter can go to battle, get shot at, and return and continue to fight the mission another day. The equipment and the resources we had in Iraq were some of the best in the world. The Apache Longbow helicopter and the ground equipment that this unit owns and maintains are above any that any other army in the world has. We were able to maintain the Apaches in the harshest environments. The helicopters received many, many rounds small arms, anti-aircraft, and surface-to-air missiles. Yet these aircraft continued to fly and soldiers continued to maintain them. Whenever we were called upon for any type of mission, we were able to launch on time, with all of our aircraft, accomplish our mission, put steel on target, and destroy the enemy. This units history lives on. These soldiers will continue to perform and outshine any others in the world. The 1-227 is the best attack helicopter battalion that the United States Army or that the world has ever seen.

CW3 James Jimbo Synder

Apache Longbow Pilot 1-227 AVN

My job is to make sure pilots are trained and ready to conduct missions, to integrate new pilots, bringing them up to speed so we can deploy and conduct combat operations. Ive been flying Apaches, both A and D Models for 12 years. I was one of the 16 original pilots trained on the AH-64D. You cannot compare the Apache Longbow to any other aircraft on the battlefield. Having flown the AH-1, having flown the AH-64A, and now having spent so much time in an Apache Longbow, I can honestly tell you that the abilities that this aircraft brings made it easier. It made it safer. It made it more reliable. Were on the cutting edge with this aircraft. The Fire Control Radar is definitely an asset, giving the crew the ability to acquire targets. Theres nothing that comes close to what the radar gives the crew in both situational awareness and targeting ability. The communications piece the Improved Data Modem was an asset used to query present position and verify aircraft location before, during and after the fight. The Apache Longbow provides me, as an operator in a tactical environment, the ability to stay focused, to stay on target, to stay on time and it reduces my workload so that I dont get stressed. I can focus on what Im doing. It not only allows me to accomplish the mission, it allows me to stay safe when Im doing it. I dont believe that we would have been as successful as we were, or brought home all the crews that we brought home if it hadnt been for the Apache Longbow. Theres no other aircraft that Id rather do the job in.

7
DEFENDING FREEDOM

CW3 Tim McCray

Apache Pilot 2-6 CAV
The most dramatic, frightening experience in Iraq on Day 1 of the Baghdad attack was when I took an RPG round to the left rocket pod. The round immediately exploded. I broke contact with the enemyyou could see them on the ground. I was picking up ground fireat the same time one of the rockets in the rocket pod cooked off and you could feel the heat. The first thing I heard was an unusual boom noise more like a heavy drum and then the aircraft shuddered. Once the rockets started igniting in their tubes, the next thing I felt was the heatIt was so bright and hot, that I almost thought I had been engaged again. I had to look out the window to see what was wrong. I knew I had to get rid of the damaged rocket pod, so I selected the left jettison switch, but for some reason, the pod would not jettison. It was a bit frightening, but I hit the main jettison switch and my ordnance fell off the aircraft. But somehow, the number three Hellfire rack with four missiles remained on the aircraft. It was like someone was telling me to stay in the fight. We set up about 4000 meters from the enemy and then engaged three technicals (light-skinned military vehicles) with our remaining ordnance. After the hit, the rest of the unit continued the attack and destroyed the rest of the enemy force. You dont think about the danger; you have a heightened sense of urgency. Its not until youre out of the fight that you realize what danger you were in. At the time, youre just doing your job. If I had to go back again, I wouldnt want to go into combat in any aircraft but the Apache.

8
APACHE NEWS 2004

QUIET
1-3 AVN Vipers Log Firsts for Apache Longbows during Operation Iraqi Freedom

PROFESSIONALS*

Like they did in Operation Desert Storm, Apaches fired the first shots of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This time around, Apache Longbows took the lead.

or the men and women of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment known as the Vipers firing the first shots in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) was just the beginning; there would be more Apache firsts set by the Vipers during combat in Iraq.

Even LTC Dan Williams, commander of the 1-3 AVN, logged a notable first: The liftoff of an Apache Longbow at a 45-degree angle after a forced landing during combat. Firsts are no stranger to the 1-3 AVN, which in February 2002 became the first Apache Longbow unit to deploy overseas for an operational assignment, training in Kuwait as part of the annual Operation Desert Spring. That training was valuable in preparing his soldiers for combat in a rugged desert environment, LTC Williams noted. Were proud that Apache Longbows from the 1-3 AVN fired the first direct-fire shots of the ground combat in OIF working with ground artillery to destroy 13 enemy targets, said LTC Williams. The men and women under my command did everything they were asked to and more. And they did it quietly, as professionals, throughout the war.
continued page 10

9
DEFENDING FREEDOM

continued from page 9

During combat, the Vipers, who are based at Fort Stewart, Ga., fired more than 12,000 rounds of 30mm ammunition, 540 rockets and 150 missiles. The end result was more than 200 vehicles, artillery pieces, air defense systems and tanks destroyed. In all, 1-3 AVN logged more than 1,000 hours of combat operations following the opening day of the war on March 21. And they did it all while maintaining an operational readiness rate of 90 percent for the 21 days of the ground war. By the end of their stay in Iraq, Williams unit had destroyed what he described as about three battalions of Republican Guards.

We made a forced landing on the opening night of the war, he recalled. We were engaging an observation post when we started taking fire. One of our aircraft was being targeted, so we opened fire and eliminated the target. However, we lost some of our on-board systems during the fight and with less than five seconds warning, we hit the ground after falling about 80 feet, impacting in a sand dune at about a 45-degree angle. There was no damage to the airframe although most of our electronic systems were out. Within 15 minutes, we had cleared the sand away from the helicopter and prepared the aircraft for flight home. We flew

APACHE LONGBOW FIRSTS

First use of an Apache Longbow in combat First time an RF Hellfire missile was fired in combat First enemy tank destroyed in the war First time a female pilot flew an Apache Longbow in combat
Mike Madura

For a small battalion of 18 Apaches, that was success. Im proud of the way they performed, he said. LTC Williams added, We were involved in numerous types of attack and support missions, including a deep attack assignment going as far as 40 km ahead of the division for shaping operations and subsequently moved into the action. The Apache Longbow is an incredible platform. There were six Apache Longbow battalions and one AH-64A battalion at OIF and all seven battalion commanders had the option of fighting from Black Hawk or Apaches. We all chose to fight from Apaches. LTC Williams said he was proud that his unit avoided fratricide throughout the 21-day war, an achievement that he said reflected both the helicopters capabilities and the soldiers patience. The Apache Longbow is a wonderful aircraft for situational awareness, he said. It has an incredibly strong airframe and even when we lost systems the aircraft continued to perform, get fixed and go back into the fight. And LTC Williams should know.

home blind, led by our sister unit Black Hawk and the Brigade commander, but after inspection and repair once we got back, the aircraft was repaired and put back into combat. In fact, I flew that Apache Longbow an additional 70 hours during the conflict without incident. Hitting the ground at 2gs at 40 knots in a sideslip and then getting it back into action is a testament to what the Apache Longbow can do. I refused to fly any other kind of aircraft while I was in combat, he said. After Apaches led the way through the Karbala Gap, its clear to me that it was the Apache Longbow that won the day.

10
APACHE NEWS 2004

SPEAKING
LTG Cody Highlights Apache Victories in Iraq

OF SUCCESS*

LTG Dick Codys messages and the message from others about the overall Apache success during Operation Iraqi Freedom may have been slow in surfacing, but more and more of the Apaches successes are making their way into the public eye.

lthough word about overall rotorcraft performance in Operation Iraqi Freedom has been slow in coming, LTG Dick Cody, the Armys operations chief, has made it clear that Apaches from the 101st Airborne Assault Division left their mark in Iraq during the war. LTG Cody, who commanded the 101st Airborne Division during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, helped set the record straight about U.S. Army Apaches during testimony to Congress and a presentation in May 2003 to the annual American Helicopter Society meeting in Phoenix. LTG Cody, who also served as an Apache battalion commander in Operation Desert Storm, reported that three Apache battalions from the 101st two flying AH-64As and one equipped with Apache Longbows destroyed 866 targets, including hundreds of artillery pieces, air defense weapons, infantry fighting vehicles and surface-tosurface missiles. Thats just this one division, remember, Defence Helicopter reported the general emphasized to the assembled attendees. Although he did not speak for other units, LTG Codys message was clear: Other Apache battalions would ultimately report similar successes and documented damage to enemy targets. (The U.S. Army was expected to release its report about rotorcraft performance at press time.) The 101st Airborne Division is based in Fort Campbell, Ky., about 50 miles north of Nashville, Tenn. The 101st is a rapid deployment division trained to go anywhere in the world in 36 hours. Apache units from Fort Campbell have played key roles throughout the War on Terrorism during Operation Iraqi Freedom. LTG Cody also aired his concern that Apaches were being unfairly maligned following media coverage of a single battle March 24 where Apaches were heavily damaged by small arms fire that cut short the mission.

11
DEFENDING FREEDOM

The Washington Post turned to LTG Cody on April 20, 2003, quoting the general as stressing, We cant take these smallvignettes and lay blame on a weapon system. LTG Cody, and other Army leaders, noted quickly that the Army was resilient and quickly adjusted its tactics. Talking to the media is nothing new for LTG Cody. When CBS News reported about the dangers of combat in Afghanistan, LTG Cody responded that his troops were involved in what he called "a short knife fight. They got right in there and took it to them," he was quoted as telling reporters.

12
APACHE NEWS 2004

APACHE
Upgrades Ready Apache Longbow for U.S. Armys Future Fighting Force

BLOCK III TECHNOLOGIES*

With a wide range of enhancements, the Block III Apache will be fully enabled for network-centric warfare of the 21st century.

lanned Block III upgrades for the AH-64D Apache Longbow--which include new digital communication systems, greater situational awareness capabilities, cognitive decision aiding, connectivity with UAVs and hardware improvements are a key component in assuring that Apache fulfills its role within the U.S. Armys Future Force. The Block III Apache will be fully enabled for network-centric warfare of the 21st century. Future Force is the term used to describe how the Army will train, equip and fight in the future. The Future Force includes the Armys planned Future Combat Systems (FCS), a collection of aerial and ground, manned and unmanned combat vehicles linked via a command and control communications network that the Army plans to begin fielding in the near future. Block III aircraft would be in production at The Boeing Company facility in Mesa, Ariz. from 2007 to 2012, with the first Army unit equipped in 2008. Under the current plan, 284 Apaches would be remanufactured under the program. We believe the Block III aircraft is an enabling system for FCS, said Bill Wallace, project manager for Apache programs at Boeing. By the time the FCS unit is here, you have Block III Apaches that are ready to train with the FCS. Apaches will incorporate the Joint Tactical Radio System and Wideband Networking Waveform (WNW) so well have the correct digital protocols and formats to plug into the FCS architecture as a full-fledged participant. They would be a tactical risk reducer in that Apache would provide a day/night adverse weather mobile killer that can integrate easily with them and shape the battle while FCS are out of contact.

Editors Note: At press time, the Block III program was partially funded. Support for the effort continues to grow and planners anticipate that funding will be secured as broad-based support continues to build.

13
DEFENDING FREEDOM

By incorporating Block III technologies into the aircraft, Apache is uniquely positioned to be the first major weapon system to be fully network-centric compliant with the U.S. Armys Stryker Brigade Combat Teams and Future Combat Systems (FCS). The Block III enhancements for the AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter fully meet the U.S. Armys

Operational Requirements Document requirements for modernization of the helicopter platform to meet the heavy attack helicopter Future Force requirements. Not only do the Block III technologies add capability, but also they significantly reduce the Operations and Support (O&S) costs and substantially shrink the logistical footprint.

Investment in these advanced technologies approximately $300million to date has been funded by the U.S. Army and by industry partners. Many Block III technologies have completed development and are ready for implementation and integration providing a low-risk solution to enhancing the performance of the helicopter.

The Block III upgrades include:

Open Systems Architecture that provides the mission processor capability needed for network-centric operations; significantly reduces obsolescence and O&S costs; and enables incremental enhancements as FCS is fielded, to utilize information from the Global Information Grid (GIG). Rotor, engine and drive systems upgrades that increase the flight performance over the current D-model configuration while simultaneously improving reliability and significantly reducing O&S costs. Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) and Wideband Network Waveform (WNW) for full network-centric operations capability to receive and share large volumes of information access to the GIG. Increased Situational Awareness and Survivability provided by Level IV UAV connectivity and extended operational ranges for the Fire Control Radar and Radar Frequency Interferometer systems. Improved Target Detection and Acquisition provided by the Modernized Target Acquisition and Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS) combined with Crew Decision Aiding Systems that provide for new capabilities such as Automatic Target Recognition and Sensor Data Fusion. Significantly Reduced Maintenance Requirements from transition to two-level maintenance and by incorporation of new technologies such as embedded diagnostics, electronic parts marking and Level V Interactive Electronic Technical Manual capability. Improved Transportability/Deployability requirements due to a reduced logistics footprint combined with main rotor folding, FCR on-aircraft transport capability and rapid install horizontal stabilizer hardware facilitating two hours from C5 ramp down to the first Apache in the fight.

14
APACHE NEWS 2004

JTRS
Planned to Fly First on Apache Longbow

TO FLY HIGH*

Joint Tactical Radio System with Wideband Network Waveform provides the information pipe that makes Apache a node in the Global Information Grid a network mobile-enabled, day/night sensor and shooter.

pache Longbow is already a digital leader on the battlefield, with unmatched abilities to gather, process and share vital combat information, but when planned Block III Apache upgrades, such as the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) are added, it will ensure the aircrafts role in the U.S. Armys Future Force will be decisive. The Future Force represents a rapidly deployable and lethal network-centric force capable of rapidly responding to the full spectrum of conflict anywhere in the world. Under current plans, Apache would be the first aviation platform to fly with JTRS. Being developed by Boeing Army Systems, JTRS uses software that allows radios to communicate using four legacy (existing) and four new radio formats. That includes the new Wideband Network Waveform (WNW) that provides the increased digital communications capabilities vital to the Future Force. JTRS is a cornerstone of the proposed Block III Apache upgrades, said Jon Rogers, Apache JTRS program manager. To be interoperable, all the assets and the Armys Future Combat Systems (FCS) will use JTRS and WNW to enable the total information sharing that is key to the Future Force. Putting JTRS on Apache Longbow ties a vital sensor, information processor and shooter into that network. FCS is a system-of-systems, using advanced communications and technologies to link new and existing manned and unmanned ground and air vehicles, sensors and the soldier to help the Army reach the Future Force. Boeing recently won a $14 million contract for the first System Development and Demonstration phase for the JTRS on Apache. The multi-phase contract will eventually lead to production aircraft. Army leaders express the Future Forces goals as See first. Understand first. Act First. Finish decisively. That requires an unprecedented level of situational awareness. JTRS means we can share that information with others in the force so that we always act first. And, that lets Apache unleash its tremendous firepower quickly to finish decisively any engagement, Rogers said. Through the WNW, JTRS can also help ease crew workload by letting commanders and others pull information from the Apache without the

15
DEFENDING FREEDOM

crew ever getting involved, said Rogers. They can focus on doing their job while still supplying all needed data to others. They can also get vital situational awareness information digitally keeping their focus where it needs to be, on the battlefield. As Apache moves toward its role in the Future Force, JTRS will be vital to its ability to share the vast amounts of data that will help give Army forces the highest situational awareness any armed forces have ever known.

16
APACHE NEWS 2004

LOOKING
U.S. Army National Guard and Reserve World Presence Grows

TO THE FUTURE*

Whether its replacing active Apache units in Bosnia or the Middle East, training international Apache Longbow customers, or simply sending a powerful message about Homeland Security in the United States, Apaches in the U.S. Army National Guard and Reserve are leaving an indelible imprint.

ith more U.S. Army Reserve Component units either flying or expected to receive Apaches in coming months due to a U.S. Army decision to equip these units with additional Apaches the Apaches presence around the world is getting larger. Reserve Components include both the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve. With our continuing commitments in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq, it is imperative that the Army National Guard is equipped with modern attack helicopters so we can help shoulder the load with capable aviation forces, said COL George J. Gluski, chief of the Army National Guard Aviation and Safety Division. Many Reserve Component units have supported the combatant commanders on foreign soil, and more units will venture into the field in the future. Soldiers from the Army National Guard in Idaho recently returned from duty in Bosnia. They were replaced from the Army National Guard in Texas. The Army National Guard unit in North Carolina at press time was scheduled for duty in the Middle East. The number of units has grown from nine to 18 in the past year. (See chart at right for a complete list of states and their status.) And with the U.S. Army moving forward with its transition from AH-64A Apaches to the next-generation AH-64D Apache Longbow, the National Guard and Reserve are looking ahead to the day when they and the U.S. Army are flying the same Apache models. Three of the 16 National Guard units Arizona, South Carolina, and Idaho, and Reserve Units from Kentucky and Texas are already transitioning from AH-64A Apaches to the more advanced AH-64D Apache Longbow configuration. More could transition if additional Department of Defense funding is made available. Although National Guard units will be equipped with a total of 248 Apaches, only 63 will be configured as Apache Longbows. A program is needed to standardize all AH-64s in the inventory to a single configuration, the National Guard told Congress in 2003. Without it, AH-64As could become the equivalent of AH-1s retired from the force, (i.e., a legacy aircraft that cannot integrate with active units, and has limited wartime capability). Reinforcing that position, the Army National Guard in its 2004 posture statement, wrote, The Army National Guard is a stalwart entity that is ever ready to protect and defend the U.S. with zeal and determination. With proper and judicious funding over the coming years, its continued transformation will ensure brighter prospects for the Army itself and the American people.

17
DEFENDING FREEDOM

NATIONAL GUARD UNITS*

ARIZONA
Transitioning to Apache Longbow

CALIFORNIA
Scheduled to get AH-64As in 2004

FLORIDA
Designated for overseas deployment

IDAHO
Returned from Bosnia; will transition to Apache Longbow

IOWA
Scheduled to get AH-64As in 2004

MARYLAND
Scheduled to get AH-64As in 2004

MISSISSIPPI
Scheduled to get AH-64As in 2004

MISSOURI
Began receiving AH-64As in 2003

NEBRASKA
Scheduled to get AH-64As in 2004

NEW JERSEY
Scheduled to get AH-64As in 2004

NORTH CAROLINA
Flying AH-64As

PENNSYLVANIA
Scheduled to get AH-64As in 2004

SOUTH CAROLINA
Will transition to Apache Longbow

TENNESSEE
Began receiving AH-64As in 2003

TEXAS
Deployed to Bosnia; flying AH-64As

UTAH
Flying AH-64As
*Status of Reserve component units at press time

RESERVE UNITS*
TEXAS (7-6)
Transitioning to Apache Longbow

KENTUCKY (8-229)
Transitioning to Apache Longbow

18
APACHE NEWS 2004

AROUND
Apaches Shine on the International Scene

THE WORLD*

Apache is a player. On a global scale. In the past year, the international Apache scene has been filled with important milestones that have enhanced the potent aircrafts image worldwide. Memories of many of those events are captured on these pages.
Among the past years highlights:
Remanufacture of AH-64As for several nations got under way or were poised for production as this edition of Apache News went to press. Bottom line: Dozens more AH-64Ds will be in service worldwide by the end of this year.

Jan Stuve, RNLAF

Jan Stuve, RNLAF

Graham Ward

More than a dozen active campaigns are being supported by the Boeing Apache Business Development team, now led by Mike Burke, whose interview is featured on Page 25. The Republic of Singapore inaugurated its Apache training detachment, based in Marana, Ariz., in April 2003. Singapore is working on its training effort with the Arizona National Guard. The final Apache fuselage of the United Kingdom was delivered by Boeing to AgustaWestland in March 2003, signaling a shift in the momentum for the program. AgustaWestland is working at its Yeovil, U.K., facility to complete the remaining WAH-64 Apaches, designated the AH-Mk1 by the British Army, by mid-2005. And for more, just read on. These stories and many others in this edition of Apache News all add up to one successful year on the international scene for the Apache.
continued page 21

Jan Stuve, RNLAF

19
DEFENDING FREEDOM

Mike Madura

20
APACHE NEWS 2004

continued from page 19

KAI to Build Apache Fuselages

Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in June 2003, KAI workers in South Korea began the process of building their first fuselage for AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters under a manufacturing license agreement with The Boeing Company. The first Apache Longbow fuselage is slated for production in May 2004.

Future for Apache Demonstration Team

Jan Stuve, RNLAF

Another milestone for the Apache community is that this year a decision is expected about forming an official Apache Demonstration Team. A single AH64D from the Royal Netherlands Air Force already performed twice in public; first during the Gilze-Rijen Open Days in 2002 and again this year at the Open Days in Twenthe. Apparently, staff members were very impressed; theyre now discussing the formation of permanent display team.
Text submitted by Edwin de Greeuw

U.K. Apache Production Continues at AgustaWestland

Focus of production for the remaining United Kingdom Apaches has shifted to AgustaWestland in the U.K., now that production in the U.S. has been completed. The Boeing Company in Mesa, Ariz., delivered the last of its 67 Apache fuselages to AgustaWestlands Yeovil, U.K., facility in March 2003 where final assembly and flight test take place. The British Army fields the U.K. Apache aircraft under the designation AH Mk1. U.K. Apache production began in August 1996. The first U.K. Apache was delivered in 2000.

Singapore Apache Training Unit Milestone Held in Marana

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) recently inaugurated its training facility in Marana, Ariz., home of the Arizona National Guards AH-64D Apache Longbows. The 1-285th Attack Helicopter Battalion of the Arizona Army National Guard works with the RSAF to train Apache pilots at the Silverbell Army Heliport in Marana. Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Dr. Tony Tan Keng Yam commemorated the opening of the AH-64D Apache Longbow Training Detachment and the training program called Peace Vanguard. Singapore selected the Apache Longbow as its primary attack helicopter and took delivery of its first of eight Apache Longbows in May 2003. Singapore has 12 additional aircraft on order. At the inauguration event, pilots of the Republic of Singapore Air Force performed a fly-by and then landed for the deputy prime minister to inspect the aircraft.

UAE Deploys Apaches for Operation Peninsula Shield

AH-64A Apaches belonging to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and its crews and support troops deployed to Kuwait this year in support of the ongoing Operation Peninsula Shield. Peninsula Shield was created by the Gulf Cooperation Council in the 1980s as a rapid deployment force to serve members of the GCC and provide stability and security in the region.

21
DEFENDING FREEDOM

22
APACHE NEWS 2004

This photo rendering previews the look of the Greek Apache Longbows. Greek AH-64A Apaches, rear, fly past the Acropolis.

Greece to Add Apache Longbows to AH-64A Fleet

Greece has signed a commercial sale agreement with Boeing to buy 12 AH-64D Apache Longbows, with an option for four additional aircraft. These new build Apache Longbows will join Greeces existing fleet of 20 AH-64A Apaches.

23
DEFENDING FREEDOM

Netherlands Apaches Keeping Sharp

Moving into sustainment this year, Apaches belonging to the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) kept busy with exercises to maintain a high level of readiness. In April 2003, AH-64D Apaches belonging to the RNLAF took part in the Polish Falcon exercises in southwest Poland. The following month, the RNLAF held exercises at the De Peel Air Base and Volkel Air Base. Apaches practiced approach flights at De Peel and air defense and air support exercises will be held at Volkel.

24
APACHE NEWS 2004

Jan Stuve, RNLAF

BACK
Former Apache Commander Takes the Reins of AH-64 Business Development at Boeing

IN THE SADDLE AGAIN*

For Mike Burke, joining The Boeing Company and selling Apache Longbow helicopters was like climbing back into an Apache cockpit after a long vacation and finding out the fit was still perfect.

ike Burke had a comfortable feeling in 2003 when he signed on as the Director of Apache Business Development for Boeing at the company's Mesa, Ariz., facility, the home of the Apache Longbow multi-role combat helicopter. I felt at home my first day at Boeing, said Burke, who spent 33 years in the U.S. Army, retiring in 1999 as a brigadier general. As a former Apache pilot, I know the aircraft and what it can do. And I know our Business Development team has what it takes to communicate with our customers around the world. They already had an enviable track record before I came aboard. Burke added, Weve got nine Apache Longbow customers today; Im convinced well have many more before too long. And with Block III enhancements just around the corner, the Apache Longbow is going to remain the worlds premiere combat helicopter for years to come.
continued page 26

25
DEFENDING FREEDOM

continued from page 25

Burke has good justification for his point of view. His team includes former Apache pilots who know the aircraft inside and out, and Burke himself is a former combat brigade commander who logged combat hours in Apaches during Operation Desert Storm. Apaches are well suited for duty just about

anywhere, he said. Our customers have learned how to get the most from their great aircraft. Its gratifying as a former soldier to know that customers around the globe continue to find better ways to use their Apache helicopters in defense of freedom.

26
APACHE NEWS 2004

POINT
Second Apache Longbow battalion Arrives in South Korea

WELL TAKEN*

As Apache Longbows for the 3rd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Brigade rolled off the cargo ship Green Point in Pusan harbor in South Korea in early June 2003, the unspoken message was obvious: Strategic global placement of the U.S. Armys most capable combat helicopter was on track.

rrival of the 3rd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Brigade in South Korea in June 2003, carried a message punctuated clearly: Apache Longbows were back in the Republic of Korea. Point well taken. Literally.

The 3-6 CAV made its return after some three weeks at sea aboard the Green Point, the sister ship to the Green Wave that only 17 months before had delivered the first U.S. Army Apache Longbows to Korea. Both battalions are now in place and ready to take care of business. The 3-6 CAV known as Heavy Cav had been based in South Korea as an AH-64A Apache battalion before casing its colors in 2002 and re-forming at Fort Hood, Texas, to become the eighth modernized Apache battalion. The 3-6 CAV has a special place in Apache history, holding the distinction of being the first AH-64A Apache battalion fielded two decades ago. While at Fort Hood, members of the unit completed extensive training led by the 21st Cavalry Brigade before returning to Camp Humpheys, on the peninsulas western coast. Our battalion did a lot of impressive things, said LTC Jeff Brown, the commander of the 3-6 CAV. In fact we flew 3,400 hours in just eight months, setting a new record for 21st CAV. We also completed a 254-mile night live Hellfire shoot at Fort Bliss, Texas, including using night vision goggles by the pilots in the front seat. During their Fort Hood training assignment, the 350 men and women of the 3-6 CAV, plus some 30 additional soldiers who joined the training program, set records while flying and maintaining the 21 Apache Longbow aircraft assigned to the 3-6 CAV. To qualify as combat ready, the men and women of the 3-6 CAV completed a series of comprehensive classroom, flight and field exercises. Soldiers underwent a rigorous field examination, which included three live-fire exercises flying about 3,000 hours during the training program. Pilots received initial training at Fort Rucker, Ala., while the maintainers received training at Fort Eustis, Va.
continued page 30

27
DEFENDING FREEDOM

28
APACHE NEWS 2004

29
DEFENDING FREEDOM

continued from page 27

While in Korea, the soldiers under LTC Browns command will conduct missions on the west side of Korea while other Army Apaches operate in other parts of the country. Our missions are primarily over water, so we train differently than many other units, he said, noting that the unit conducts dunker training and tests to ensure that pilots are ready for any over-water situation. Were also training to use the radar in over-water situations so we can effectively use our capabilities in conjunction with Naval forces should we be called into action, he added. LTC Brown said he is especially proud of how his soldiers united as a single unit. We had a lot of new troops just learning

how to do their maintenance and support jobs, he said. The same goes for some of our pilots who came right out of flight school. They joined other experienced maintainers and pilots who rapidly came together as a unit while training in Texas. CPT Tim Vibbert, an Apache pilot since 1998, and a recently certified Apache Longbow pilot, noted, The Apache Longbow is a great aircraft and Im proud to be an Apache Longbow pilot. Im very excited to be doing my job here. I feel ready if called up to do what we have to do. These troopers are ready to go to war now, LTC Brown said. As the second Apache Longbow unit in Korea well fit in well. Its good to have another unit of Apache Longbows to train with. Theyve been through the obstacles well face so, well grow that much faster. And, he added, Our sister unit will soon transition to Apache Longbows so well be able to help them once they return to Korea.

30
APACHE NEWS 2004

FRONT
Gunfighters Continue to Keep the Peace on the Korean Peninsula

LINE EFFORTS*

Seventeen months after they arrived in South Korea, equipped with newly remanufactured AH-64D Apache Longbows, the 1st Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment still stands ready to fight tonight.

rom their home at Camp Page, South Korea, just south of the North Korean border, members of the 1st Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment known as the Gunfighters go about their business with a calm professionalism that is their trademark. That means training day and night, staying alert, and recognizing the important role they play. We have a real-world mission every day and every night, said LTC Chandler Sherrell, commander of 1-2 AVN. We work very closely with the 2nd Infantry Division and our ground maneuver partners. We train regularly with air and ground integration, whether through live fire exercises or exercises on the peninsula, including over-water Hellfire shoots. Since the arrival of Apache Longbows with their increased situational awareness capabilities, the battalion is providing a better view of what is across the border. We paint a better picture for the ground commander, LTC Sherrell said. The FCR target data enables us to see better. We dont have to guess at what we see and weve improved our ability to send that target array to the ground commander. Our confidence is high. One of the great things about our aviation attack community is that the new commander can step in and the unit not miss a beat, said LTC Sherrell after only one month in command. It doesnt really matter who is in charge; with good training you get good soldiers no matter who is responsible. I think all of us in the Apache and Apache Longbow community feel good about the way the units and the aircraft performed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, he said. We saw Apache Longbows take a lot of fire and continue to fly its missionafter a couple of days of combat, they adaptedand we learned to fight differently in that theater. He added, What they learned is something we do every day in Koreafocus on close combat attacks and integration with the ground commander. Iraq and Afghanistan are great success stories for Apaches. Looking to the future, LTC Sherrell noted, I think that future Apache Longbow enhancements like next-generation FLIR and Hellfire improvements will add to its lethality. An improved aircraft will further deter any aggressors in Korea. Asked what advice hed give the men and women of the 3rd Battalion, 6th Aviation Regiment, the newest members of the Apache Longbow family in Korea, LTC Sherrell said, Be ready to fight tonight. We never know when our enemy to the north is going to move south. Our presence, our ability, let them know were ready to fight tonight. It helps keep the peace here in Korea. It prevents the North Koreans from wanting to come acrossby being ready, the North Koreans will think twice before threatening the Republic of Korea.

31
DEFENDING FREEDOM

1-2 AVN Soldiers Offer Views from Korea

And what about the men and women who fly and support the Apache Longbow? At the 1-2 AVN, the feeling is one of unity. As one soldier put it, Away from home and family, this is your family. Its a good aircraft, said Specialist Sean Harris. All of us play an important role as part of this team. Its the reason for our success. CW4 Tony Vincent, an Apache Longbow pilot, said, I would fly the Apache Longbow into battle at any time. Its a survivable aircraft. It requires a team to keep it ready, but the team is up to the task; it adapts and makes it work well. PFC Kim Watts, an Apache maintainer, said, Its an incredible machine. I love it. I had never seen anything like it before, but I enjoy working on it every day. Specialist J.D. Nose, said, Apache Longbow is a technical aircraft, but thats what makes the job fun. We never do the same thing twice on the same day. And theres no half-ass work done here at the 1-2 AVN. CW3 Kevin Smith, a maintenance test pilot, said, We love the Apache Longbow and look forward to the regular upgrades that make it even better every time. And since our crew chiefs take maintenance of the aircraft personally, their sacrifice is reflected as TLC tender loving care.

32
APACHE NEWS 2004

20
Apache Marks Two Decades of Production, Service

YEARS OF GLORY*

When the first AH-64A Apache was rolled out in September 1983 and ultimately delivered in January 1984, the historic aircraft set in motion a remarkable program that continues to log important milestones two decades after production began in Mesa, Ariz.

he images on these pages evoke memories of production, fielding and program successes that have kept the battle-proven Apache the worlds most advanced multi-role combat helicopter. Delivery of PV01. The 1,000th Apache delivery. Apache leading the fight in Operation Desert Storm. Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan. Apache Longbow in the Future Force. Operation Iraqi Freedom. Homeland defense. Today, 11 nations fly, have ordered or selected Apaches for their defense needs. And the list continues to grow. These milestones are testimonials that enhance Apaches legacy and shine brightly on the men and women of the Apache Team.

The Collier Trophy

KEY APACHE MILESTONES 1983

83

1985
86 89

1990
90 93

1995

1st production Apache rolls out

84

1st AH-64A battalion certified combat ready

86

Operation Just Cause, Panama

89

1st Apache delivered to Israel

91

1st Apache delivered to UAE

94

1st AH-64A delivered to U.S. Army

84

100th AH-64A delivered to U.S. Army

87

Boeing delivers 500th Apache to U.S. Army

90

Apache fires 1st shots Operation Desert Storm

93

1st Apache delivered to Egypt

95

Apache wins 1983 Collier Trophy

AH-64A records 50K production flight hours

Operation Desert Shield, Middle East

1st Apache delivered to Saudi Arabia

1st Apache delivered to Greece

33
DEFENDING FREEDOM

September 2003 marks the 20th anniversary of the first Apache rollout. The first Apache was delivered in January 1984.

1996
96 98 99

2000
01 02

2004

Multi-year I begins
97

1st WAH-64 Apache delivered to U.K.

98

100th U.S. Army Apache Longbow delivered

00

Israel selects Apache Longbow

01

1st Apache Longbow delivered to Singapore

02

Boeing delivers 1st Apache Longbow U.S. Army 98 1st AH-64D Apache delivered to The Netherlands

1st AH-64D battalion certified combat ready

99

Egypt selects AH-64D

00

Japan selects Apache Longbow

02

Kuwait selects Apache Longbow

03

1,000th Apache delivered

Multi-year II begins

Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan

Operation Iraqi Freedom

34
APACHE NEWS 2004

PAVING
First Apache Pilots Pave Way for Todays Apache Longbow

THE WAY*

Apaches have come a long way in 20 years. Two members of the first Apache unit continue to play key roles in shaping the Apaches bright future.

n 1985, Mark Ferrell and Brad Rounding, two young soldiers in the first fielded AH-64A Apache unit, were making Apache and U.S. Army history. Ferrell, a 26year-old captain, was the Operations Officer for 3rd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Brigade. Rounding, 29, was the B-Troop commander. Today the unit is in Korea with next-generation Apache Longbow helicopters as part of the 3-6 CAV (see story on page 27). Ferrell is now a colonel, the director of Training and Doctrine Simulation for Army Aviation at Fort Rucker, Ala. Rounding now markets the Apache Longbow for The Boeing Company, in Mesa, Ariz. It was left to us to develop the tactics and techniques when we fielded that unit, Ferrell said. There was no 21st Cavalry Apache Training Brigade back then to train us at Fort Hood. The 21st Cavalry has trained all the Apache battalions after the fielding of the first one. The 263-soldier unit with 44 aviators received its 18 A-model Apaches in the beginning of 1986 and was fielded in the summer of that same year.

Ferrell, top, and Rounding continue to help shape Apache history.

It was a totally new technology, Rounding said. We had to develop new ways to use it. Just like today, the soldiers piloting the AH-64D Apache Longbows are finding new ways to deal with that state-of-the-art technology. The unit developed its very own How to Fight booka combination training manual, and volume of tactical and standard operating procedures, Ferrell said. We would rewrite it daily, he said. Wed try something, and if it didnt work, wed change the book again. Other than combat, being a member of the first Apache unit remains the most exciting period of my time in the Army. The soldiers were amazed at the new technology in their hands. And they had something completely different: Full control of the battlefield at night. With the transition to Apache, and its incredible night capabilities, we went from leasing the night to owning the night, Ferrell said. The squadron became so practiced at night operations that it impressed VIPs with Apaches stealthy war-fighting abilities. Ferrell remembers one exercise where the Apaches were so stealthy that the VIPs watching a training maneuver in central Texas didnt even realize Apaches had engaged, attacked and destroyed their targetsplywood cutouts of tanksall while the VIPs stood within the engagement area. Only after seeing themselves in the post mission video playback did the VIPs realize that they were in the Apaches sights. We were confident flying the aircraft. Not only did we have the most survivable and lethal attack helicopter in the world, but we were also on the leading edge of technology, Rounding said. We had that battlefield edge then, just like the Army does today with the Apache Longbow.

35
DEFENDING FREEDOM

36
APACHE NEWS 2004

NEWS BRIEFS*

Boeing Deploys Blade-Fold System for U.S. Army Apaches

The U.S. Army has a new AH-64 Apache helicopter blade-fold system created by Boeing to speed up and simplify deployment of Apaches. The project was transformed from idea to fielded system in barely four-months. The Army demonstrated that Apaches could be deployed from Fort Hood, Texas, to the Middle East in as few as 66 hours in April 2003. The new blade-fold system allows the main rotor blades to be folded along the aircrafts length without being removed. It also provides for storage on the aircraft, aft of the rotor hub of the Apache Longbows radar dome during transport. With the system, a single C-5 aircraft can now carry six Apache Longbow flight crews and reassembly technicians and their tools, in addition to the six aircraft.

American Helicopter Society Showcases Apache, UAV Team-up Potential

A Boeing Apache Longbow and a Canard Rotor/Wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) teamed up at the American Helicopter Society International 59th Annual Forum and Technology Display in Phoenix last May. Boeing in Mesa, Ariz., builds Apaches and the CRW. The CRW is in development by Boeing Phantom Works, which has been exploring teaming capabilities of manned and unmanned systems. The Apache Longbow has demonstrated its ability to work with UAVs.

Milestone Apache Longbows Delivered to U.S. Army

The U.S. Army accepted its 300th AH-64D Apache Longbow in May 2003, only weeks after another milestone delivery the first Block II Apache Longbow known as production vehicle PVD285. The U.S. Army has designated the Apache Longbow as a key member of its Future Force. The latest helicopters, including PVD300, are identified as part of the Block II configuration. They include a number of enhancements that are integral to the digital Army of the future. Apache Longbows offer improved situational awareness and communications capabilities.

Lot 7 Apache Longbow Train the Trainers Class Teaches Ground School
More than 100 Apache pilots are expected to complete Lot 7 Apache ground school by the end of 2004. The U.S. Army and civilian ground school instructors completed Block II, Lot 7 Apache Longbow New Equipment Training in June 2003 at The Boeing Companys Mesa, Ariz., Apache plant. They returned to Fort Rucker, Ala., and Fort Hood, Texas, to share knowledge with the first two battalions of Apache Longbow pilots to fly with the latest upgrades. The 26 instructors form a core cadre that will teach Apache Lot 7 academics to pilots and maintenance technicians.

37
DEFENDING FREEDOM

SEE FIRST, UNDERSTAND FIRST, ACT FIRST FINISH DECISIVELY