UK Defence Forum

Posted: **06 Nov 2020, 12:24**

Apache Attack Helicopter Mistakenly Opens Fire at Suffolk Army Base

The army is investigating after an Apache attack helicopter mistakenly opened fire at a military base in Suffolk.

The helicopter fired a round as it was being wheeled out of a hangar at Wattisham Flying Station on Wednesday.

The incident happened after the helicopter suffered a malfunction during a live firing training exercise and was forced to land at Sculthorpe training range in Norfolk, according to The Sun.

The pilots flew back to their base at Wattisham, Suffolk, where the helicopter was set to be repaired and the "negligent discharge" occurred, the newspaper said.

The helicopter was being wheeled out of a hangar - where it had been kept overnight - when it let off a stray practice round, which is yet to be found.

An army spokeswoman told Sky News there were no reports of any injuries or damage.

"We are aware of an incident at Wattisham Flying Station which is being investigated," the spokeswoman said.

Read More: https://news.sky.com/story/apache-attac ... e-12125224

Good that nobody was injured.

Posted: **06 Nov 2020, 20:29**

30mm round ND!!!!! . The Rasman is going to have a field day with that one! You will hear him in the next county!!!!

Posted: **07 Nov 2020, 06:44**

I'm not sure the paper has got the facts right, some of it doesn't make sense. Mind I bet the report it'll be a long one when finished.

Posted: **27 Nov 2020, 10:49**

Apache AH-64E heralds new era in modern British military aviation

The first two new Apache Attack Helicopters (AH-64E variant) have been delivered to the British Army from the US Government. They arrived at Wattisham Flying Station on 26 Nov 20 with Aviation Technicians from 7 Aviation Support Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (7 Avn Spt Bn REME), who will maintain and service the new aircraft.

Read More: https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events ... -aviation/

Posted: **27 Nov 2020, 11:17**

Good to see the new arrivals.

Posted: **27 Nov 2020, 11:38**

3 F-35B and 2 AH-64E in one day isn't bad going..

Posted: **29 Nov 2020, 10:46**

Look forward to having a look around one next year when I get to Wattisham

Posted: **02 Jan 2021, 16:50**

With the new Apaches
"new data-links will expand battlefield situational awareness, expand our operations with ground troops and implement a Manned-Unmanned Teaming concept with Unmanned Aerial System" but 'detail' does not spell out whether the data link to UAVs is just to receive feeds, or also to control them
- the latter has been rumoured to exist on Israel's Apaches since long

Posted: **02 Jan 2021, 17:48**

Haven't The Americans been doing this for years?

Posted: **02 Jan 2021, 17:58**

Little J wrote:Haven't The Americans been doing this for years?

USMC, when they remanufactured their Cobras, got up & down live video links etc long ago, but that is different from control. Videos about the new Apaches show all kinds of things, but that does not differentiate between what is the 'concept' and what will actually be delivered
- on this forum surely someone knows, I was just reading what the EP says as for project status & operational benefits

Posted: **02 Jan 2021, 21:34**

There is an article in last months "Combat Aircraft" magazine explaining how in on going trials , AH-64E Apache Guardians have been controlling multiple UAVs at the same time.

Posted: **02 Jan 2021, 22:01**

Excellent, looks like we are getting that OTS, or 'on the deal' then.

Posted: **05 Jan 2021, 10:58**

ArmChairCivvy wrote:Excellent, looks like we are getting that OTS, or 'on the deal' then.

MUMT definitely means control.

For the US thats the MQ-1C Gray Eagle (an updated, improved Predator for the US Army).

For the UK it means god knows what....seen numerous Defence figures speak about it as an advantage of Apache E, but no-one ever then asks them what it means to the UK. The only UK platform that it could apply to would be Watchkeeper (there's no way the RAF will be pairing Protector with AAC operated Apache). Does it have an interface compatible with Watchkeeper? Any trials undertaken?

Got a feeling MUMT is going to be an unused capability for the UK...maybe we could invent a new acronym..... Fitted With But Not For? FWBNF...

Posted: **05 Jan 2021, 11:20**

Timmymagic wrote:Defence figures speak about it as an advantage of Apache E, but no-one ever then asks them what it means to the UK.

Yeah, it has also been on utube for years (no doubt in some way promoted/ funded by the manufacturer, as an 'add')
- SHORAD is getting 'quite' good these days
- so having 'eyes' flying ahead/ around you and picking up targets for weapon launch, from max stand-off distance, would not be a bad capability to have
- even send them ahead while the Apache is sitting behind cover, ready to lift off, but not burning (much) fuel

Posted: **05 Jan 2021, 23:55**

I wonder, could the Apache E act as a forward controller for "Loyal Wingmen" conducting CAS sorties, have the latter fly into a control zone and then have the Guardians influence/control their actions.

Posted: **07 Jan 2021, 09:23**

Timmymagic wrote:For the UK it means god knows what....seen numerous Defence figures speak about it as an advantage of Apache E, but no-one ever then asks them what it means to the UK. The only UK platform that it could apply to would be Watchkeeper (there's no way the RAF will be pairing Protector with AAC operated Apache). Does it have an interface compatible with Watchkeeper? Any trials undertaken?

If the UK where to get the Hero 120 loitering weapon in numbers both the Apache and the infantry would have a loiter weapon capable of 40 km and 1 hour

Posted: **07 Jan 2021, 09:26**

Lord Jim wrote:I wonder, could the Apache E act as a forward controller for "Loyal Wingmen" conducting CAS sorties, have the latter fly into a control zone and then have the Guardians influence/control their actions.

Thats exactly what its designed to do.

Posted: **07 Jan 2021, 22:13**

Timmymagic wrote:Thats exactly what its designed to do.

Are you sure. I understood they were controlling UAVs that were to expand their situational awareness rather than supersonic unmanned platforms hence my question. It this is the case then surely a cheaper platform could do the same job. Isn't this going to put a huge load on the crew of the Apaches, both fighting their own aircraft and controls numerous unmanned platforms all at the same time? A cheaper platform dedicated to both recce and controlling UCAVs handed off to them to prosecute a designated kill box for example.

Posted: **09 Jan 2021, 07:59**

https://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTIC ... HTML&src=0

II.1.4)
Short description of the contract or purchase(s):
Systems support services. Apache Capability Sustainment Programme, part of the UK Ministry of Defence (‘MoD’), intends to award a contract to Lockheed Martin Corporation for the purchase of a reprogramming capability for the AN/APR-48B Modernised Radar Frequency Interferometer as well as technical support for this capability.

Whatever this is?

Posted: **09 Jan 2021, 08:19**

BlueD954 wrote:AN/APR-48B Modernised Radar Frequency Interferometer as well as technical support for this capability.

Radar warning device... Lockheed say its a

The AN/APR-48B Modernized Radar Frequency Interferometer (MRFI) is installed on the AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopter and backwards compatible to AH-64D Apache Longbow. Its digital receiver-based signal intercept, positive identification, fast response time and precision Direction Finding (DF) capabilities establish it as both an accurate targeting system and a superior Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) for helicopters.

Posted: **23 Feb 2021, 14:59**

The British Army is considering SPIKE on Apache:

Posted: **23 Feb 2021, 18:15**

Well the Spike-ER2 is a very good missile with a 10-18km range, man in the loop guidance option and there is a Spike manufacturing capability in Europe. In fact we should consider the Whole family of 5th Generation weapons, from the Spike-SR to the NLOS that we already use as Extractor.

Posted: **23 Feb 2021, 18:38**

Sounds like someone doesn’t want to pay for brimstone integration

Posted: **23 Feb 2021, 18:54**

SW1 wrote: pay for brimstone integration

Fast jets, typically high up... and going fast
Protectors. again high up. and going... almost fast
Helos: not high; nor going fast

May be the missile itself would need mods - and it is not just a matter of simple integration?

Posted: **23 Feb 2021, 19:45**

ArmChairCivvy wrote:
SW1 wrote: pay for brimstone integration
Fast jets, typically high up... and going fast
Protectors. again high up. and going... almost fast
Helos: not high; nor going fast

May be the missile itself would need mods - and it is not just a matter of simple integration?

Which is all part of the integration process

https://www.mbda-systems.com/press-rele ... elicopter/

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