By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization
Delivery lethal suppressive fire with a 30mm chain gun, controlling drones from the cockpit or tracking and destroying tanks from an airborne “hover” position are simply a few things the combat-tested Apache helicopter is known for.
Now, more upgraded AH-64E Apache attack helicopters are headed to Poland, after the US State Department told Congress it approved the sale. Apaches have certainly been exported before as they are flown by many US allies and known as a superior platform capable of proving critical close-air support to advancing infantry, saving soldiers pinned down by enemy fire or simply destroying enemy tanks with HELLFIRE missiles. Congress has approved a $12billion deal to export a large number of Apaches to Poland in coming months.
There are, however, several critical reasons why this next large-scale sale to Poland is quite significant, given the current threat equation in Eastern Europe. Poland is already receiving Abrams tanks and other weapons platforms through US Foreign Military Sales, and these Apaches are the highly modernized “E” models which incorporate an entire new suite of next-generation technologies.
Advanced Apaches in Poland provide a much intensified layered of defense against a potential Russian invasion from Belarus or the East as they could support mechanized and dismounted ground soldiers defending Polish territory. Of equal significance, the Apaches could provide critical air cover for maneuvering ground forces moving to contact with an enemy in any kind of ground engagement in Russia or Eastern Europe. Of equal significance, Apache AH-64E models are capable of manned-unmanned teaming, meaning helicopter crews can control drones from the cockpit of the aircraft, something which massively extends targeting reach, expands the surveillance envelope and offers additional stand-off range for improved survivability.
The Army and Boeing have woven a number of innovations into the “E” model in recent years to include the ability to capture and integrate the advantages of the “D” model Apache but at a much lighter weight. The “E” model is also 20-knots faster than previous Apaches and able to reach speeds of 164knots.
The current “D” model Longbow Apache is heavier than the original “A” model helicopter; it carries the Longbow radar and significantly improved targeting and sensing technologies, however, it lacks the transmission-to-power ratio and hard-landing ability of the initial “A” model.
The AH-64E is engineered such that an advanced, high-tech aircraft the weight of the previous “D” model can have the power, performance, and landing abilities of an original “A” model with a much lighter weight.
The AH-64E can destroy armor, personnel, and material targets in obscured battlefield conditions at ranges out to 8 kilometers, an Army statement said.
The “E” model also keeps the millimeter wave fire control, radar frequency interferometer, and targeting sensors engineered into the previous Apache version, an Army statement from several years ago said.
Kris Osborn is the President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a Highly Qualified Expert with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University
