I'm looking for new weapons systems. For ex-super-athletes. So that they can fly past the air defense systems of Russia and China. The customer is the Pentagon. The agency decided to equip its AH-64 Apache with combat-ready systems. Better late than never?
The US Defense Ministry has announced a competition for the creation of a high-precision long-range helicopter munition. Comparative shooting is planned to be carried out in 2022. All this is for upgrading the arsenal of the legendary AH-64 Apache attack helicopter: after all, with the current melee missiles, rotorcraft from the United States are becoming easy prey for anti-aircraft systems of Russia and China, Popular Mechanics magazine reports.
The new missile system will allow Apache to hit targets at long distances and use drones to detect enemy targets, allowing helicopters to stay away from enemy air defenses. The US military is asking for money to hold a competition among missiles. Then the army will choose one or more, the process of adopting weapons for the helicopter will be completed by 2028, Defense News notes.
The main weapon of Apache is the AGM-114 Hellfire missiles created in the 80s, whose 7-kilometer range has not increased much in the 40 years since the adoption of this helicopter. To launch missiles, the crew has to approach the target closely, getting hit by the air defense systems "Tor" and "Pantsir-SM", which have a range of up to 40 kilometers.
The need for visual contact with the target has always been the main weak point of the Apaches. In 1999, the Americans were afraid to use the AH-64 in close combat-for fear of losing them. Or in 2003, in Iraq, the Apache group tried to break through the air defense. As a result, out of three dozen helicopters, one was shot down, the rest were damaged.
The American AH-64 Apache attack helicopter is inferior in combat capabilities to the Russian Mi-28NM "Night Hunter" helicopter, The National Interest recognizes. The publication points out that in an air battle, the US machine has no chance to get away from the latest Russian thermal imaging missile R-74M. It hits air targets at a distance of 38 kilometers. This is, sorry, another level!
In fairness, now the Apaches are limited to using Israeli Spike N-LOS missiles with a flight range of up to 30 kilometers. But this is imported, not its own, made in USA, so, probably, military-industrial patriotism also plays a role here. But rather the need to knock out money for the production of a new rocket. The Pentagon has no plans to change the Apache to the latest machines. It is easier and cheaper (?) to try to come up with something to replace weapons. And after getting a contract, at the same time, you can learn a little about your corporations.
By Kirill Grishin, Sputnik Radio
