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The AgustaWestland Apache is a licence-built version of the AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter for the British Army's Army Air Corps. The first eight helicopters were built by Boeing; the remaining 59 were assembled by Westland Helicopters (now part of AgustaWestland) at Yeovil, Somerset in England from Boeing-supplied kits. Changes from the AH-64D include Rolls-Royce Turbomeca engines, a new electronic defensive aids suite and a folding blade mechanism allowing the British version to operate from ships. The helicopter was initially designated ''WAH-64'' by Westland Helicopters and was later designated ''Apache AH Mk 1'' (often shortened to ''Apache AH1'') by the Ministry of Defence. The Apache was a valued form of close air support in the conflict in Afghanistan, being deployed to the region in 2006. The Apache has been an object of controversy over the fitting of some munitions, such as cluster bombs and thermobaric weapons. Naval trials and temporary deployments at sea have proven the aircraft as an able platform to operate from the decks of ships, which is a unique application of the Apache amongst its operators. British Apaches served in the NATO 2011 military intervention in Libya operating from Royal Navy ships. ==Development== The requirement for a new attack helicopter was identified by the British government in the early 1990s. In 1993, invitations to bid were issued. Bids received included the Eurocopter Tiger, a modernised Bell AH-1 SuperCobra, the AH-64 Apache, the Boeing/Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche, and the Agusta A129 Mangusta. Both the Tiger and Cobra variant were derided for requiring development, and thus risk, while the Apache was combat proven, however its performance in the First Gulf War was criticised by competitors.〔 Westland and the Apache was selected in July 1995, a contract for 67 helicopters was signed in 1996.〔AgustaWestland 2011, p. 2.〕 In September 1998, Westland produced the first prototype WAH-64 Apache under licence from Boeing.〔Mcgowen 2005, p. 214.〕 The first nine Apache AH1s were authorised for service by the director of British Army Aviation on 16 January 2001.〔 The 67th and final Apache was handed over to the British Army in July 2004.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title= British Army Receives 67th Apache In Ceremony Held At The Farnborough Air Show 2004 )〕 The helicopter fleet's cost was around £3.1 billion, with a total acquisition cost of £4.1 billion.〔National Audit Office 2002, p. 8.〕 Reliability had been questioned by US Apache operations, the entire fleet in the Balkans had been grounded due to serious tail rotor failures in 1999. In 1998, the Longbow radar's development ran into problems regarding its weight, impact upon overall agility, and data transfer abilities.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title= Army Aviation: Apache Longbow Weight and Communication Issues )〕 These problems with key aircraft components, and fleet's high cost, led to calls for its cancellation in 1999. When the requirement for the Apache had been formalised in the early 1990s, military doctrine assumed that a large conventional armoured assault from the Eastern Bloc was Britain's main threat. Following the collapse and break-up of the Soviet Union, the concepts of flexibility and rapid response took precedence.〔National Audit Office 2002, p. 6.〕 The UK's Strategic Defence Review called for Apaches to undertake amphibious attack missions, operating from the helicopter carrier HMS ''Ocean'', the ''Invincible'' class aircraft carriers and their successors, the ''Queen Elizabeth'' class aircraft carriers, and possibly the amphibious assault vessels HMS ''Bulwark'' and ''Albion''.〔National Audit Office 2002, pp. 9, 22–23.〕 Each squadron equipped with the Apache should have eight operational aircraft.〔Heyman 2005, p. 114.〕 The Westland Apache experienced delays in entering service due to complications with the modifications made for British service.〔National Audit Office 2002, p. 7.〕 Prior entering service in 2004, several development problems were noted, including a lack of the ability to securely communicate with other helicopters and a risk of damage to the tail rotor and airframe from firing its Hellfire missiles. The problem with using the Hellfire was debris generated by the firing of missiles, both the Hellfire and CRV7 rockets, could strike the body of the aircraft and cause damage; resolving this issue created a delay to training programmes.〔 These problems were corrected prior to entering service, a secure communications suite was installed and Hellfire missiles are routinely fired by Apaches.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title= Apache )〕〔Bishop and Laurier 2005, p. 47.〕 In 2002, government sources stated that full operational capability was set to be achieved by 2010.〔National Audit Office 2002, p. 22.〕 In 2005, an out-of-service date for the Apache was forecast at 2030, but the Army is looking at a capability sustainment programme (CSP) that will extend their life to 2040. It was thought that updates would be necessary by 2017 because the US Army is to withdraw support for the AH-64D Block I on which the British Apaches are based,〔 but US budget problems pushed this back to 2019 or 2020. A decision will be taken in 2014 on the extent to which Britain will adopt the Block III upgrades of the AH-64E〔 - the options range from abandoning the capability altogether to buying brand new Block III helicopters but Boeing believe it is most likely that Britain will remanufacture, putting the existing engines and avionics into new airframes.〔 As of August 2015, the UK has requested through a Foreign Military Sale, the upgrade of 50 of its Apaches to AH-64E standard.〔http://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/united-kingdom-ah-64e-apache-guardian-attack-helicopters〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「AgustaWestland Apache」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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