Supporting Britain’s Apaches: IOS and Beyond

AH Mk.1

Britain flies a unique version of the AH-64D Apache Longbow, built under license from Boeing by AgustaWestland. Their AH Mk.1s have put their more powerful Rolls Royce/ Turbomeca RTM322 engines to good use in Afghanistan’s lift-killing “hot and high” flying conditions, allowing them to retain key equipment that other countries had to strip out as a weight-saving measure.

In October 2009, AgustaWestland signed the Apache Integrated Operational Support (IOS) through-life contract with the UK Ministry of Defence. The contract fits within their March 2005 Partnering and Business Transformation Agreement, and will result in a shift of British military personnel toward the front lines…

Asian Rebalance, With or Without the US

• India seems closer to ordering 15 US-2 amphibious aircraft from Japan for a total of up to $1.65B, probably with local assembly to satisfy Indian requests for indigenous production. This will provide India longer reach for naval patrolling as well as search & rescue.

• The US House Armed Services Committee held a hearing about the implementation of the Obama administration’s rebalancing to Asia-Pacific. Defense acquisition chief Frank Kendall renewed his call for sustained research funding, pointing out how China is testing hypersonic technology that air defenses might not be able to counter. Video.

• The CSIS think tank was hosting this morning its annual Asiapalooza, to forecast what might happen in the Asia/Pacific region in 2014. They observed that Xi Jinping has consolidated power very rapidly, though it was apparent right from the start that Xi was playing a strong hand. The audience got to vote during the panel, and is expecting assertiveness “with or without charm” from China, as one of the moderators quipped.