The Apache was procured as an off the shelf system. It is a modification of the AH-64D manufactured by Boeing. The Apache is manufactured in the United Kingdom and the United States of America by Westland Helicopters Ltd as the co-ordinating design authority.
The major differences between the AH-64D and the Apache are the selection of the Rolls Royce RTM 322 engine and the HIDAS (Helicopter Integrated Defensive Aid Suite) protection system.
The Apache is a twin engine, four bladed, tandem seat, aerial weapons platform. It is designed to accomplish a variety of missions in day, night and adverse weather in climatic conditions ranging from desert heat to arctic cold.
The weapon systems are 30mm Automatic Cannon, wing mounted 70mm Aerial Rocket and Hellfire Modular Missile Systems. The Apache is capable of carrying any combination of pylon mounted rockets and/or missiles.
The aircraft is operated with two crew members a pilot and co-pilot/gunner, the helicopter can the flown from either station although generally the co-pilot/gunner will operate the weapon systems.
The Apache is operated in the following roles:
Anti-Armour
Ground Suppression
ISTAR
Attack (Strike)
- Deliberate Attack
- Raid
- Hasty Attack
- Counter Attack
Armoured Reconnaissance
- Exploit/Pursue
- Reconnaissance in Force
- Meeting Engagement
- Relief of Troops
Specific
- Screen
- Guard/Block
- Escort/Picket
The Apache fuselage is a semi-moncoque design manufactured from aluminium alloy with some use of composite materials for fairings and ballistic tolerant metals for some critical components and crew protection. The aircraft has a wire strike protection system, designed to cut and/or deflect power and/or communication wires/lines that may be encountered during low speed, low altitude operations.
The avionics suite employs dual redundancy in critical areas and these components are as far as possible, physically separated to help prevent damage to both by a single hit.
It is powered by two Rolls Royce RTM 322 Mk 120 engines located in nacelles aft of the main rotor. The engines have built in particle separators for desert operations.