The Israeli Air Force (IAF) is keen to acquire the latest variant Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopter to offset some of the performance deficiencies of its current A- and D-model aircraft, a serving pilot told IHS Jane's on 2 April.

Speaking at the home of the Hornet Squadron at Ramon Airbase in southern Israel, AH-64D 'Sharaf' pilot Captain G (security considerations prevent the disclosure of his full name) said that while there is currently no official programme of record to buy the new model, it is something that he and his colleagues would very much like to see happen.

"We are hearing rumours about the AH-64E, and from what we hear there are amazing improvements. We would love to get those helicopters. I don't know of any plans to get them, but I really hope it happens," he said.

According to Capt G, the real benefit of the AH-64E compared to the A and D models currently in service is the increased power of the T700-GE-701D engines. "For us, the main drawback of [our] D helicopter is the weight - it is very heavy. This means that I am limited in how much fuel and ammunition I can take. It also means that I can't take off from a hover - I have to do a rolling take-off like any other [fixed-wing] aircraft." It is for reasons of weight also that the IAF will sometimes fly its Apaches without the heavy mast-mounted Longbow radar.

The IAF received the first of its 42 AH-64A helicopters in 1990 (24 now remain in service), with deliveries of 21 AH-64Ds commencing in 2005 (of which 20 remain). Originally acquired to augment the Bell AH-1E/F Cobra ('Tsefa' in IAF service), the Apache became Israel's de facto sole attack helicopter in late 2013 when the Cobras stopped flying after more than 30 years of service.

Plans to upgrade the entire AH-64A fleet to D standard have been curtailed, so now only a limited number will be fitted with the enhanced communications, electronic warfare (EW), radar, and mission systems of the more-advanced configuration (although the precise number has not been disclosed). As Capt G explained, both the A and the D aircraft undertake the same missions, it is just that the D offers a more capable means of achieving them.

As is common with most other global Apache users, the IAF by-and-large follows the US Army's operating procedures. One notable difference, however, is in the division of labour between the two crew members. Whereas in the United States the rear-seater is the pilot, with the front-seater the gunner, in the IAF this has been adjusted so that both crew members share most of the flying, while the mission commander in the front retains control over most of the aircraft's weapons and sensors.

The IAF's Apaches operate with a standard weapons fit for the type, employing a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface, laser-guided missiles and the chin-mounted 30 mm chain-gun. As both the US and UK armies have discovered in Afghanistan, the IAF has found the chain-gun to be particularly effective for shows of force.

"The main advantage that we see [in the gun] is its ability to intimidate," Capt G said. "Even if you're not firing directly at the target, they can hear the gun from a couple of kilometres away - it's very scary, and any enemy in the area will either duck or run."

Currently the IAF does not employ a longer-range weapon and, according to Capt G, has no plans to do so. "We don't have a stand-off weapon, but it is a trend we are seeing worldwide. If the Americans are getting one, we'd like it also. We're still just 2 km from the enemy, so the risks we take haven't changed much in the last 10 years."

As the captain noted, the risks mainly revolve around man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS) and radar-guided surface-to-air missiles (SAMs). The IAF's AH-64D is equipped with a self-defence system to deal with both of these threats, but it remains a struggle to stay ahead of surface-to-air developments, he told IHS Jane's . "For both of these threats I have an answer from my self-protection system. I can say though that it is always a race to be a step ahead of the enemy - they're always getting better and we are trying to enhance our systems. I'm pretty sure it's a process that will never end, and I hope we are always one step ahead."

According to Capt G, a hostile-fire warning receiver of some description is fitted, but he declined to provide further details, except to say: "We are able to see today the area from where we are being fired at, with our self-protection systems. This is something that came with the helicopter, but we are always looking at improvements."

On the subject of manned/unmanned teaming and the control of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), Capt G said that, while some real-time video imagery is streamed to the AH-64D, it is not really a concept that the IAF is exploring with any great interest.

"There are some UAV images that we can see, but I can't really say too much about that. We have had visits from the Americans, who have told us about manned/unmanned teaming. It sounds very interesting, but we don't really work that way. We see different advantages for UAVs and different advantages for [the Apache]. We have had the discussion here, but it is not something we are doing or that we have plans to do.

"The main advantage is that UAVs are becoming cheaper but much more sophisticated and they have the ability to be over Gaza or Lebanon for 24 hours or more. I don't have that sort of fuel, and that is where the advantages of the UAV show. Also, if the UAV gets hit then you can just send another one, which means the commander can take high risks."

With men having to serve a compulsory three years in the Israel Defence Force (IDF), and women two years, an IAF pilot is typically committed to a 12-year span of service (including three years training). A pilot will graduate to be a mission commander usually after about six years, before becoming a two-ship formation leader after eight years, and a four-ship leader after 10 years. Once the 12 years of service are complete, pilots still fly operationally at least once a week to maintain their currency as reservists.
http://www.janes.com/article/36463/i...-latest-ah-64e