Boeing Completes
Apache Longbow Training
Upgrade Contract
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Boeing Apach News:http://www.boeing.com/rotorcraft/military/ah64d/pub/pub.htm
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ST. LOUIS, Jan. 09, 2009 -- ST. LOUIS, Jan. 09, 2009 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] announced today that its Integrated Defense Systems Training Systems and Services organization has completed a six-year U.S. Army contract to retrofit and upgrade 22 Apache Longbow Crew Trainers, 22 Maintenance Training Devices and a Longbow Collective Training System. The suite of Boeing-produced training devices provides comprehensive, high-fidelity training for Longbow aircrews and maintenance personnel. "The Boeing team developed significant simulation solutions for the Longbow attack helicopter," said Randy Nielson, contractor for the Army's Apache Project Management Office. "There's a lot of satisfaction in watching a needed capability evolve into a functional, relevant product. It's a privilege to work with the kind of people who make it happen." Under the contract, hundreds of individual upgrades were performed on the trainers to ensure concurrency with the Apache Longbow helicopter. Boeing delivered and supported Longbow training devices around the world, including Army posts throughout the United States and in South Korea, Germany, Iraq and Afghanistan. . Boeing's work included several major retrofits and upgrades to match the evolution of the Apache Longbow, allowing for improved individual and collective crew training and mission rehearsal. Database improvements included adding virtual visual systems for South Korea, Iraq and Kosovo. These upgraded tactical environments also include new modeling options: Light trucks, civilian vehicles and improvised explosive devices have been added to the possible scenarios. . "This is a very successful contract for Boeing and the customer. We were able to keep up with a very dynamic configuration of helicopters in the trainers and stayed as current as possible to the configurations of the aircraft in the field," said Kathy Bailey, Multi-Year II Apache Training Program project manager for Boeing. "The Army had never done a training device retrofit program of this magnitude, and we were able to work together to meet the warfighters' needs." The Army's Apache Project Management Office earlier this year presented Bailey with its Cheyenne Award for her contributions to the Unit Fielding and Training Program as well as to the Apache Longbow community. Next on the Apache training device schedule is the Extended Block 2 bridge contract, which will resume the cycle of retrofitting the existing trainers to match future Longbow helicopter upgrades. The Block 3 redesign of the Apache Longbow is expected to be fielded starting in 2011 and will bring significant modifications to the aircraft as well as to the training devices. ------------------ The
multi-mission AH-64D Apache Longbow is the next-generation version
of original AH-64A Apache. With its fire-control radar, the aircraft
is known as the AH-64D Apache Longbow. Without the radar, the
combat-proven aircraft is called the AH-64D Apache. In addition to the LCTs, a deployable Longbow Collective Training System (LCTS) will enable six AH-64D crews to train as a fighting company. Ultimately, Longbow crew trainers and the collective trainers will be networked with other forces over the Defense Simulation Internet. “We’ve never had a training capability like that in the Army,” explains Jim Reynolds, Boeing program manager for Apache aircrew training devices. About 11 month ago, The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has been awarded a $20 million contract to provide an AH-64D Apache Longbow Crew Trainer (LCT) and Life Cycle Support to the Egyptian air force. The LCT, a full-mission, high fidelity flight simulator, provides training for Apache Longbow helicopter crews. "We are committed to guaranteeing the readiness and safety of our customers," said Tony Jones, Boeing vice president, Training Systems and Services. "The LCT is extremely successful in preparing our U.S. Apache Longbow crews, and we are excited to see that our international customers have recognized the value and capabilities of this proven device." Boeing is scheduled to deliver the LCT in July 2009. Designed to reduce recurring maintenance costs, the newly-improved LCT incorporates the latest architecture technologies and replaces aircraft components with simpler, PC-friendly software. The contract also includes two years of spares, operator and maintainer training, one year of contractor-logistics support and an option for an additional year of contractor-logistics support to be exercised at a later date. Apache Longbow Enhancements The radar-equipped AH-64D Apache Longbow features numerous enhanced capabilities, including:
The AH-64 Apache has been developed since its inception using incremental technology insertions at regular intervals to ensure that the world's most capable multi-role combat helicopter meets the needs of the warfighter today and in the future. The
AH-64 Apache is a twin-engined army attack helicopter developed
by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing). It entered service with the
US Army in 1984 and has been exported to Egypt, Greece, Israel,
the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and the United
Kingdom. Here
are the Key Facts:
The US Army has more than 800 Apaches in service, and more than 1,000 have been exported. The AH-64 Apache was first used in combat in 1989 in the US military action in Panama. It was used in Operation Desert Storm and has supported low intensity and peacekeeping operations worldwide including Turkey, Bosnia and Kosovo. Reported by catch4all.com, Sandra Englund, January 11th, 2008 Sources: The Boeing Company Boeing News dated January 9th, 2009 Longbow Apache Trainer: First Deployable Simulator for Army Dated: November 2001 |
Longer-range
weapons accuracy and all-weather/night fighting