The Longbow is a modification of the Apache helicopter that consists of an upgraded airframe, a newly developed radar, and the Longbow Hellfire missile. The Apache Longbow is designed to conduct precision attacks in adverse weather conditions, automatically engage multiple targets, provide fire and forget missile capability, and operate on the digital battlefield of the future. The radar, the key component of the Longbow, is designed to provide the helicopter with the capability to automatically detect, classify, and prioritize targets. In 1991, the Army planned to develop and procure 227 Longbow Apache helicopters. In May 1993, the program was restructured to upgrade the entire fleet of 758 helicopters to the Apache Longbow configuration but outfit only 227 with the fire control radar and a more powerful 701C engine. Full rate production of both the Apache Longbow airframe and fire control radar was authorized in October 1995. The first contract for 10 fire control radars was awarded in March 1993, and the second contract was finalized in January 1997 for an additional 11 radars. The Army plans to award a multiyear contract for the fire control radar in December 1997.
Apache Longbow Helicopter: Fire Control Radar Not Ready for Multiyear Procurement
1997
10 pages
Report
Keine Angabe
Englisch
Aircraft , Radiofrequency Detection , Fire Control & Bombing Systems , Attack helicopters , Fire control radar , Aircraft fire control systems , Guided missiles , Department of defense , Aircraft maintenance , Target detection , Radar transmitters , Army procurement , Fire and forget weapons , Apache helicopters , GAO reports
Online Contents | 1994
DOSSIER: APACHE LONGBOW - L'Apache Longbow entre en production.
Online Contents | 1995
Online Contents | 1993
Online Contents | 1996