The Release to Service for the British Army Apache helicopters was signed on January 16th 2001 by Brigadier Richard Folkes OBE ADC, Director Army Aviation, at Middle Wallop in the UK. This marks the moment the Army assumes ownership of the first nine AH Mk1 Apache aircraft and commences the training of its pilots.
The Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) specified the In Service Date (ISD) in the prime contract as the delivery of nine production standard aircraft by December 2000. The manufacture programme has remained on schedule since contract award in March 1996 and the ninth aircraft was delivered on 14 December 2000. The DPA formally declared achievement of ISD on 16 January 2001 to coincide with the Release to Service. This important milestone has been achieved within days of the original date set nearly five years ago when the £2bn prime contract for 67 AH Mk1 Apaches was placed with GKN Westland Helicopters Ltd.
Brigadier Folkes confirmed the importance of the signing: "This is a milestone event in the United Kingdom Attack Helicopter programme. Whilst there is still much to do until the Apache enters operational service, it represents the start of the real development for both the Attack Helicopter and the Air Manoeuvre capabilities within the British Army."
The DPA approved the Initial Military Aircraft Release (IMAR) for AH Mk1 Apache on 22 December 2000. The IMAR, which was substantially based on Westland Helicopters' certification and qualification work, provided the DPA's recommended flight clearances for the aircraft. Further testing continues on additional enhancements to the AH Mk1 Apache, the latest of which being a series of successful Helicopter Integrated Defensive Aids Suite (HIDAS) trials at the US Army Yuma Proving Ground in December 2000 which demonstrated firing of flares and chaff and assessed interoperability with aircraft systems.
The first AH Mk1Apache was handed over to the Ministry of Defence in April 2000 and was one of eight UK Apaches built by Boeing at their Mesa, Arizona facility and shipped to the UK for final assembly and test. The first production Apache built by Westland Helicopters was delivered on time to the Ministry of Defence on July 31 2000, two weeks after its maiden flight. The Ministry accepted the aircraft in accordance with the contracted delivery date established in April 1996.
Westland's Apache Programme Director, Martin Fausset, said: " This is a tremendous team effort from all involved with this complex programme to have achieved this important signing. This Release to Service further enhances the reputation of Westland Helicopters to manage a successful prime contract that consistently meets all milestones on time and within budget. Apache will represent a leap forward in the British Army's capability in all types of operation."
The Apache project was one of the first to form into an Integrated Project Team, a key element of the MoD's Smart Procurement initiative, in November 1998. The 80-strong team is based in the UK's Defence Procurement Agency at Abbey Wood, Bristol. It also includes representatives from the Defence Logistics Organisation based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, Middle Wallop and GKN Westland in Yeovil.
Background Notes:
The Certificate of Design, awarded in mid 2000, represented the culmination of 4 years of work by Westland Helicopters in assessing the airworthiness and performance of the Apache. Further revisions to the Certificate of Design and Military Aircraft Release will be produced throughout the remainder of the Apache programme leading to the full operational clearance of the aircraft including each of the system enhancements awarded since the original contract start date.
The prime contract for 67 AH Mk1 Apache helicopters was awarded on 25 March 1996. Whilst Westland Helicopters has prime contractor responsibility, Boeing holds the design rights to Apache and are the key sub-contractor. Eight AH Mk1 aircraft have been manufactured by Boeing in the US with the other 59 being assembled by Westland in the UK.
The AH Mk1 Apache will be the cornerstone of the Armed Forces' new Joint Helicopter Command. Created as part of the Strategic Defence Review, the Joint Helicopter Command will focus the joint capabilities of the three Services and enhance the operational effectiveness of the battlefield helicopter. Apache will provide a massive increase in capability both in terms of firepower, communications and supportability.
The AH Mk1 Apache is a version of the US Army Apache AH-64D and will replace the Lynx Mk7 TOW system in the anti-armour role. The AH Mk1 Apache is powered by Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 engines whereas AH-64D is fitted with GE T701 engines. The aircraft will be equipped with the latest technology Longbow fire control radar, Hellfire missiles, both semi-active laser and radio frequency versions, CRV7 ground suppression rocket system and the 30mm cannon.
All aircraft will have the improved Helicopter Integrated Defensive Aids Suite (HIDAS) which will provide much increased situational awareness, early identification of potential threats, and increased survivability. A series of qualification trials were held at the US Army's Yuma Proving Ground in December 2000. This flight testing, in both day and night, achieved flare safe separation throughout the flight envelope, successful dispensing of chaff in flight and HIDAS interoperability with aircraft systems, TADS/PNVS, 30mm cannon and CRV7 rockets. Flight trial statistics were as follows: Total flights (including transit flights) -13; total flight hours - 20.6; stores expended: 30mm TP - 110 rounds; 30mm HEDP -102 rounds; chaff - 343 cells; 576 flares and 36 CRV7 rockets.
AH Mk1 Apache is seen as a quantum leap forward in capability, mainly due to the surveillance and target acquisition capability of the sensor suite together with other improvements in the weapon systems and avionics. Whilst attacking massed armoured forces remains the key role for which the Apache was designed it will, as part of the new 16 Air Assault Brigade structure, have the widest utility in almost all types of operation in which the British Army is likely to be engaged. Furthermore, it will be part of the UK's high readiness Joint Rapid Reaction Force and therefore likely to be one of the first deployed capabilities.
Aviation Training International Limited (ATIL), a joint venture company of GKN Westland Helicopters and Boeing, based at its UK Headquarters in Sherborne, was contracted in 1998 to provide the training service for the UK Apaches under the UK Government's public/private partnership arrangement. The customer pays by the hour for training received at the Middle Wallop, Wattisham and Dishforth flight training facilities and at the Arborfield and Middle Wallop technical training centres. All equipment, buildings, courseware and staff are owned and financed by ATIL with no customer capital investment involved.
