The Well-Equipped Apache: Longbows, Arrowheads & Hellfire

AH-64D Longbow(click to view full) The AH-64 Apache is slated to remain the US Army’s attack helicopter for many years to come, and also serves with many other allied militaries around the world. While it is often thought of as a single entity, the helicopter is really an assembly of key systems, each of which needs ongoing purchases, maintenance, and upgrades in order to keep the attack helicopter fleet relevant and survivable. A recent trio of contracts that cover the helicopters’ targeting radars, targeting and viewing optics, and missiles amounting to $644.9 million drive this point home. The Lockheed Martin/ Northrop-Grumman joint venture Longbow L.L.C. in Orlando, FL received a $125.8 million firm-fixed-price contract for production of 37 fire control radars for the AH-64D Apache helicopter. The “Longbow” radar can be found on the mast that sits above the helicopter’s rotor blades. Work will be performed in Orlando, FL and is expected to be complete by Dec. 31, 2010. This was a sole source contract initiated on July 15, 2005 by the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command in Huntsville, AL (W58RGZ-06-C-0134). A subsequent August 8, 2006 release from Lockheed clarified the order: The USA is buying 7 radars as […]