The Israeli Apache is a completely different matter
When some piece of equipment serves for a long or very long time (something like the T-72, V-52 or Tu-95), it doesn’t exactly cause concern; rather, it becomes a reason for thinking about “isn’t it time to retire it?” a well-deserved pension” and stuff like that. But then another fire started and it became clear that no, it was not too early. Later - yes, perhaps, but for now he is needed here and now.
And there are such long-serving veterans for whom people whose duties would include developing new types of weapons came up with a bunch of modernization gizmos that allowed the veterans to stay afloat and be more or less relevant.
AN-64 “Apache”…
It began service back in 1984, was manufactured in more than 2400 copies and is the most common combat helicopter in the world. Next year he will celebrate his fortieth birthday, and this, in principle, is an indicator of his capabilities.
It is in service with 16 armies around the world. In terms of quantity, it is ahead of our Mi-24, which, although it was produced in large quantities, by 2021 fewer Crocodiles have survived than Apaches.
The Israeli Army is among those who not only have the AN-64 in service, but actively operate them. That is, they do not hit training targets during maneuvers, but work against a real enemy.
The Israelis followed their own development path and modernized their attack helicopters on their own. What is the strength of Israeli engineers? That's right, in radio electronics. And the fact that Israeli engineers have made their army one of the most technologically advanced armies on the planet is an indisputable fact. And even though technology is not always the key to victory, work in Israel has been carried out, is being carried out and will continue to be carried out.
Let's figure out what the Israeli engineers did with the Apache that still leaves this attack helicopter on the first strike line?
In general, the Israelis did not skimp on modifications for their equipment, including helicopters. But the package that they were able to stuff into the Apache is a masterpiece in its own way.
Photographs of Israeli Air Force AH-64 attack helicopters in Gaza show some carrying a conspicuous capsule under their bellies.
The container, which can be seen mounted just behind the 30mm cannon, contains an additional avionics package, and it is this that contains the secret that helps the Israeli Apaches remain at the top, despite the frankly advanced age of many of them.
It would seem like something like this: a ventral container with equipment. In general, its existence and installation as part of the next modernization has been known since 2013. As part of the modernization, the container was first installed on helicopters of the first series, AN-64A “Peten”, which have been plowing in the Israeli Air Force since 1990.
Next came the turn of the AN-64D “Sarat” and “Serpent” according to the Israeli classification. "Serpent" is generally the equivalent of the "Apache Longbow", which began entering service in 2005, naturally, with converted avionics.
In the AN-64D “Serpent” model, which we will take as a sample for consideration, in addition to the AN/APG-78 Longbow over-the-hub mast radar, the differences from the D model consist of a large share of avionics, weapons and Israeli-made self-defense equipment, which is not available on the standard Apache.
So what is there that is interesting for those who are against the Israeli “Apache”?
Rafael voice and data communications complex (RAVNET 300) and Elta 1891 satellite communications with protruding convex antennas located on the outer parts of the pylons.
Elbit HELICOM mission management system, which provides real-time visibility of the battlefield.
The Elisra Seraph self-defense complex, which includes the SPS-65 missile attack warning system, the SPJ-40 radar jammer and the Elbit Rokar active countermeasures system, which shoots thermal traps, jammers and decoys.
Why such a solution - a container?
It's simple. A helicopter does not have the same aerodynamic requirements as, say, an airplane. And by the time modernization work began, there was simply no free space left in the AH-64 airframe. It housed so many avionics, fuel and ammunition, plus a crew of two, with life support and rescue equipment, that the Solomon decision was made to add a new set of electronics to the outer hull.
It is also worth noting that the cheek fairings on the AH-64A are significantly smaller than on the AH-64D, which further limits the possibilities for internal placement of avionics and, thus, confirms the correctness of the solution to the option with a ventral container.
Night view of an AH-64A with a gray painted avionics container mounted under the fuselage
As a result, the Israeli Air Force completely modernized its AH-64A fleet (12 units) to the AH-64D standard. But this was a complex and expensive process that involved sending the helicopters back to the United States for modification, and a modular solution represented a much more cost-effective way to expand the attack helicopter's capabilities.
Having a larger fleet of attack helicopters is a prerequisite for the IDF's combat missions, and helicopters have played a very significant role in all conflicts in which the IDF has been involved.
Today, the Israeli Air Force relies on a squadron of AH-64As and AH-64Ds, both based at Ramon Air Base in the Negev Desert. The 113th Hornet Squadron flies the AH-64D and the 190th Magic Touch Squadron flies the AH-64A.
In addition to locally produced avionics and a self-defense suite, these helicopters carry Israeli-made weapons, including the Spike NLOS missile, which is planned for use on the US Army's Apaches. Known in Israeli weapons lists as the Tammuz, this electro-optically guided weapon, which can be considered a loitering munition, has a range of about 20 kilometers.
Israeli AH-64s are often armed with both the AGM-114 Hellfire and the Spike NLOS, with the Israeli-made missile serving as a complementary weapon to complement the capabilities of the US-supplied Hellfires. In particular, “Spike” NLOS boasts a guidance system with two operating modes. One of them allows him to simply hit stationary targets at given coordinates, another mode in which the operator can adjust the final phase of the missile's flight using a video stream transmitted from an infrared camera in the nose of the missile. A cylindrical line-of-sight module that can be attached to the Apache's wings (see below) is used to control the Spike two-way.
This AH-64D carries one Spike missile on the starboard suspension mount. The line-of-sight antenna for Spike is mounted on the left side.
Gunsmiths load a Hellfire missile onto an Israeli AH-64. Convex satellite antennas at the top of the wing stub and a drum-shaped line-of-sight antenna at the tip of the wing are used to guide the Spike missile.
All of these additional systems certainly add weight, which will impact the AH-64's performance, but it's not obvious. It is clear that Israel views this as a normal trade-off given what it gains in enhanced combat capabilities.
Israeli AH-64s, judging by IDF reports, were also used to combat drones, with rotorcraft's flexibility in terms of deployment and their low speed making them suitable for targeting certain categories of drones. In this case, Hellfire missiles can be used to combat UAVs, although this is not exactly the intended purpose of these missiles. But here the result is more important, and the result is that Israeli Air Force helicopters are quite successful in shooting down drones.
Iranian drone downed insignia on the nose of an AH-64D
In addition to its role in engaging targets on the ground and in the air, Israeli AH-64s, with their powerful sensors and communications systems, are also well equipped to operate in the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) role. This use is especially relevant in close support operations for ground troops, such as in Gaza, as well as in patrolling Israel's extensive and often tense border areas.
In total, Israel has 48 AH-64s of both versions in service, of which less than 20 are advanced D models.
AH-64A carrying a full complement of four reduced-size tanks
Photos from the current Gaza campaign confirm that the upgraded AH-64A remains an important part of the IAF's attack helicopter fleet, despite its age.
In general, a successful experiment with a ventral container showed that this practice with imported military equipment, how to take everything good and make it even better, in the case of Israel - modernization using locally developed subsystems, has a very positive effect on the properties of the combat vehicle.
In this regard, the Israeli Air Force fighter force is most famous for this, as its F-15 and F-16 have been so deeply modified that they are practically very far removed from the original models. And this process does not end, but vice versa. The new F-35I "Adir" also continues this tradition.
Israeli Apaches are truly unlike any other on the planet, but the A models have a look all their own thanks to some extra space added by their ventral pods.
A country with a highly developed radio-electronic industry and a rich engineering potential can use both domestic and imported weapons systems without hesitation, because the issues of maintaining military equipment in this case fade into the background, since engineers and designers cope with these tasks.
In this regard, Israel is doing a very original thing: on the one hand, by modernizing its equipment using its own developments, it ensures complete maintainability, on the other hand, it makes it as difficult as possible to use its equipment as trophies.
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