The traditional home of Army Aviation, Middle Wallop in Hampshire has welcomed the arrival of the latest variant of the AH-64 Apache in preparation for becoming the training school for the new E variant.
The AH-64D Apache has been in service with the British Army since 2005 and proved itself in both land and maritime environments supporting ground forces in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya. The Apache D variant, designated by the British as the Apache Mk.1, was made under licence in the UK by then Agusta Westland company now Leonardo’s. The latest model, the AH-64E Apache, mark’s a significant step change in the aircraft’s performance.
“Although it looks exactly the same, all of the changes are predominately on the inside, all software changes with a few extra externals, so it’s got different rotor blades, different engines. We have taken the American General Electric 701D engines rather than putting British Rolls-Royce ones in.
“The aircraft now also have a moving map for the first time which replaces the previous black screen with a ‘green string’ which we used to have on the Mk.1. The aircraft is far smoother to fly it’s nicer to fly although the handling is pretty similar. It’s all about the software and the changes to the inside” said Major Olly Snell, Officer Commanding 653 Squadron.
The UK has committed nearly £300 million for the first delivery AH-64Es so far.
Major Paul Whatnell, Officer Commanding 673 Squadron said of the new model:
“When you combine the new engines, and rotor blades along with the new transmission system we can use all of this power. In the past this was a limiting factor on the Mk.1. The Rolls-Royce engines were more powerful than the transmission could handle, so now with more power than we can utilise to the full.”
Fifty are on order and due to enter service with the army by 2025.
The new model Apache will be equipped with the Hellfire Romeo variant and the new AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) that is being developed.
The bulk of the new Apache fleet will remain at Wattisham in Suffolk, with training taking place at Middle Wallop. The former Battle of Britain airfield has been home to British Army aviation since 1957 and officially became the Army Aviation Centre in August 2009.
