Apache AH-64 acquired by Pakistan

 

Pakistan Armed forces are all set to receieve batch of six Apache attack helicopters. All this is part of the $73Million American assistance for the help in War on Terror. The version most likely to be inducted into Pak forces would be AH-64, though its not yet confirmed and can be AH-64D.

The negotiation started back in 2007 when US offered Pakistan immediate assistance in the form of Gunship Helicopters, Spare-parts for F-16s and other military Hardware.

The further induction of 6 Apaches are in future plans. So all this along with the availabilty of Cobra Attack helicopter and further plans to induct similar gunships would give Pak forces some teeth and muscle to counter any aggression against its soil. It is not yet confirmed when will these Gunships be operational.

Specification and Design:

 

The AH-64 is powered by two General Electric T700 turboshaft engines with high-mounted exhausts on either side of the rotor shaft. The Apache has a four-blade main rotor and four-blade tail rotor. The crew sits in tandem, with the pilot sitting behind and above the copilot-gunner in an armored crew compartment. The crew compartment and fuel tanks are armored such that the aircraft will remain flyable even after sustaining hits from 23 mm gunfire.

The helicopter is armed with a 30 mm M230 Chain Gun that can be slaved to the gunner’s Helmet mounted display, fixed to a locked forward firing position, or controlled via the Target Acquisition and Designation System (TADS). The AH-64 carries a  range of external stores on its stub-wing pylons, typically a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missiles, Hydra 70 general-purpose unguided 70 mm (2.75 in) rockets, and AIM-92 Stinger air-to-air missiles for defense. In case of emergency the pylons also have mounting points for personnel transfer (mounting points are handles normally used by maintenance personnel).

The AH-64 is designed to endure front-line environments and to operate during the day or night and in adverse weather using avionics and electronics, such as the Target Acquisition and Designation System, Pilot Night Vision System (TADS/PNVS), passive infrared countermeasures, Global Positioning System (GPS), and the Integrated Helmet And Display Sight System (IHADSS).

Currently its operation in US, UK, Greece, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, UAE, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. 

 

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This entry was posted on Sunday, January 4th, 2009 at 3:14 pm and is filed under Technology, current affairs . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

6 Responses to “Apache AH-64 acquired by Pakistan”

  1. I thought the US has decided NOT to give those Apaches to Pakistan and settled for providing night vision goggles and other equipment. The whole thing was just a rumor apparently. Thats the latest I know of.

  2. So when we will get these AH-64? 73 million seems too low for six AH-64 also can you explain?

  3. Lowered price due to credits as part of the aid?
    Still I would have recomended the South African model as it means Pakistan is less dependant ont he US in the future.

  4. South African Air Force (SAAF) had ordered 12 AH-2 Rooivalk first of which entered service in July 1999 and this gunship is not production.

  5. I don’t see a Point in going for the helicopter which is only purchased by its producer and even they purchase only one dozen of these. South African Air Force (SAAF) had ordered 12 AH-2 Rooivalk first of which entered service in July 1999 and this gunship is not production.

    Secondly credit would mean that interest on the amount thus higher amount not the small one like this. Usually AH-64 deals are in hundreds of millions of dollars if not in billions

  6. Saudi Arabia requestedin August 2006 to upgrade of 12 Apaches to standard AH-64D (33+ $ million per AH-64D APACHE )for $400 million and, in September 2008, the sale of 12 AH-64D APACHE Longbow Helicopters far$598 million (49+ $ million).

    In September 2003, Greece ordered 12 AH-64D for a total cost of $675 million (presumably including weapons and support), indicating a gross unit cost for the AH-64D of $56.25 million

    So just 12+ $ million even for AH-64A APACHE Helicopters to Paksitan dont make any sense at all to me

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