According to many military experts, the finest hour of the helicopter industry fell on the second half of the 20th century. World War II did without the use of such machines. However, already in the Korean War, the situation changed dramatically. The first to use combat helicopters were the Americans. At first, the United States Air Force high command was skeptical about the idea of using helicopters on the battlefield. However, during the Korean War, helicopters, contrary to the expectations of American generals, effectively carried out fire adjustment, reconnaissance, landing of paratroopers and evacuation of the wounded. The second place in the world in terms of prevalence after the Soviet "turntable" Mi-24 was taken by the American Apache helicopter. Since 1980, it has been considered the main strike combat vehicle of the US Air Force. Description, device and performance characteristics of Apache helicopters are presented in the article.
Introduction
An-64 helicopter"Apache" is the first army combat vehicle, the purpose of which is to provide interaction with ground forces deployed on the front line. In addition, it was planned to use shock "turntables" to counter enemy tanks. Apache helicopters (a photo of the machine is presented in the article) were created specifically for offensive operations and support of ground troops in all weather conditions.
In the modern army, an attack helicopter is an indispensable and truly universal machine. For reconnaissance of the accumulation of enemy ground forces, coordination of combat units from the air and the destruction of armored vehicles, "turntables" will do just fine. Today there is an absentee rivalry between the two leading armies in the world: the Russian Federation and the United States of America. Therefore, it is quite logical that many military experts are comparing the Apache helicopters and the Ka-52, developed by Russian designers.
On the effectiveness of combat "turntables"
The poor performance of helicopters, the complexity of maintenance and vulnerability to enemy air defenses hindered the purchase of these combat vehicles by the United States Army. Prior to the use of "turntables", almost 90% of American soldiers died from moderate to severe wounds. With the beginning of the "helicopter era", military experts noted a decrease in mortality to 10%.
At first, helicopters performed tactical tasks: they carried out supplies and the transfer of troops. Soon the helicopter was no longer used as a vehicle, but as a strike machine, an ideal attack aircraft andmeans of supporting ground forces. By the end of the Korean War, helicopters were already equipped with small light machine guns and unguided rockets.
Soon anti-tank guided missiles were developed by military technologists. From that moment on, the helicopter began to be used as an effective means of destroying enemy armored vehicles.
About the first combat vehicles
During the Vietnam War, the Huey helicopter was widely used. This reliable and unpretentious car is still produced today. The Cobra helicopter has also become an effective tool for supporting ground forces and destroying enemy armored vehicles. At the end of the war, several special divisions were formed, armed exclusively with helicopters. In the second half of the 70s, there was a need for a new attack helicopter, which was planned to replace the Cobra.
Beginning of design work
The design of the new "turntable" was carried out on a competitive basis by several American aircraft manufacturing companies. In 1973, Bell and Hughes reached the final. The first company developed the 409th model AN-63, and Hughes developed the AN-64. In 1975, comparative tests of two combat vehicles were carried out. In terms of tactical and technical characteristics, as well as in such parameters as rate of climb and maneuverability, the AN-64 significantly surpassed its competitor. The Apache helicopter was controlled by test pilots Robert Ferry and Reli Fletcher. After the competition, the helicopter was fine-tuned, somechanges in the design and on-board equipment. According to experts, the car was still tested for 2400 hours. For unknown reasons, the mass production of the Apache helicopter was decided to be postponed for a couple of years.
About the requirements for the American "turntable"
Apache combat helicopter was supposed to have the following performance characteristics:
- Cruising at 269 km/h.
- Rate of climb 2.3 m/s.
- Flight duration up to 110 min.
- The Apache attack helicopter must carry out successful sorties at night, in rainy weather, and also, with the help of special instruments, continue combat missions in conditions with poor visibility. In addition, a 12.7mm projectile should not jeopardize the mission assigned to the flight crew.
About mass production
In 1981, the design of the Apache military helicopter was completed. Serial production of "turntables" was launched in 1984. A plant was built specifically for the manufacture of the AN-64 in Arizona in the city of Mesa. Initially, the Hughes Aviation Company and its helicopter manufacturing branch were engaged in the release of "turntables". However, soon the right to serial production of the AN-64 passed to the McDonell-Douglas corporation. The Apache helicopter (helicopter photo below) is one of the best attack combat vehicles in the world, which entered service with the first squadron in 1986.
Three years later, these "turntables" were equipped with the National Guard of the country. serial productionhelicopters was completed in 1994. In total, the American military industry built 827 AN-64s. The production of one combat unit cost the state 15 million dollars. Russia has to spend 16 million to make one Alligator
Description
For the design of the Apache helicopter model, a classic single-rotor scheme was used. For the helicopter, there is one tail and one main rotor, equipped with four blades of a special design. The main rotor is equipped with blades 6 m long. They are made of metal. The blades are coated with fiberglass.
Composite material is used for the trailing edge and titanium for the leading edge. Thanks to this design feature, the Apache helicopter is not afraid of collisions with small obstacles - branches and trees.
An X-shape is provided for the tail rotor. According to the developers, this design is more efficient than the traditional one. In addition, this "turntable" has a low aspect ratio wing and a three-post non-retractable wheeled landing gear using a tail wheel. The wing is removable. In the manufacture of the AN-64 fuselage, aluminum alloys and materials with increased strength and toughness are used.
Ka-52 is an improved version of the Ka-50 "Black Shark" helicopter. The Russian machine is characterized by the rotation of the blades in different directions. This makes it possible for a unique maneuver - the creation of a "funnel". This technique is a flighthelicopter sideways. It is used in situations where it is necessary to evade anti-aircraft defenses aimed at the "turntable".
About the features of the American car
The US Apache helicopter is equipped with spaced interchangeable engines. Since thermal radiation is generated as a result of their work, the designers, in order to reduce its impact, developed a special screen exhaust device for the helicopter. Its job is to mix cold outside air with hot exhaust.
The nose of the "turntable" has become a place for the location of a video camera, a laser system responsible for measuring the distance to the target and its illumination, a thermal imager and a mobile gun mount. To fasten the above elements to the Apache helicopter, a special turret is used. By equipping the “turntable” with an X-shaped tail rotor, the developers managed to reduce noise. In addition, various angles are provided for the location of the blades. As a result, each blade dampens some of the noise that the other produces. According to experts, a double screw is much quieter than a single one.
The chassis is used as the main support in the Apache helicopter model. There is no way to remove it by design. This landing gear contains powerful shock absorbers, the purpose of which is to prevent injury to the flight crew by absorbing impact energy in the event of an emergency landing. The vertical speed must not exceed 12 m/s.
Helicopter in combat"Apache" is reliably protected from missiles containing an infrared homing head. This was made possible thanks to the special ALQ-144 infrared countermeasure system, the task of which is to throw out IR traps.
About cab design
The attack helicopter "Apache" is equipped with a two-seat cockpit, which is characterized by a tandem seating arrangement. The front one is intended for the second gunner pilot, and the rear one, raised by 480 mm, is for the pilot. The lower part and sides of the cabin are covered with armor. The space between the seats became a place for a transparent partition. In its manufacture, Kevlar and polyacrylate are used. This partition is able to withstand a direct hit by a bullet and projectile, the calibers of which vary from 12.7 to 23 mm. This cockpit design provides the flight crew with maximum protection.
In an effort to increase the combat survivability of the Apache helicopter, American designers in the "turntable" use two independent hydraulic systems, protected fuel tanks and armored most important systems and areas.
The design of the Russian helicopter Ka-52 (according to NATO classification it is listed as "Alligator") is characterized by a coaxial scheme. The cabin in this "turntable" is double. However, the chairs are located side by side to each other. There are no restrictions for piloting in the Alligator. Thus, both pilots can fire and control the "turntable". The cockpit of the helicopter is equipped with a special armored capsule. The crew can eject at an altitude of at least 4100 m. The armored coating protects pilots from bullets of caliber not lessabove 23 mm.
About weapons
Apache can destroy enemy armored vehicles with the help of an aviation single-barreled automatic gun M230 caliber 30x113 mm. Its weight is almost 57 kg. The length of the gun is 168 cm. Within one minute, the pilot can fire up to 650 shots. The fired projectile flies at a speed of 805 m/s. Communication with the tool is provided by an electric drive. Shooting at tanks in progress:
- A cartridge containing an M799 high-explosive fragmentation projectile and an explosive weighing 43 g.
- A cartridge that uses the M789 armor-piercing HEAT projectile. This ammunition is capable of penetrating homogeneous armor 51 mm thick.
Hellfire anti-tank missiles are used as the main armament in the AN-64. On one "turntable" can fit up to 16 of these missiles. They are located on four underwing pendants. For missiles, point firing at a target at a distance of no more than 11 thousand meters is provided. Since the indicator of the maximum range of tank missiles does not exceed 5 thousand meters, heavy machine guns 1.5 km, the Apaches, according to experts, can be considered inaccessible to these enemy guns. Unable to destroy the AN-64 and the Igla, Verba and Stinger anti-aircraft missile launchers.
Russian "turntable" is completed:
- Twelve Whirlwind anti-tank missiles. They move towards the target at a speed of 400 m/s. Russian missiles are capable of destroying an enemy tank from a distance of up to 8,000 meters. They penetrate 95 mm thick armor.
- Small and cannon armament, which is represented by a mobile gun 2A42 caliber 30 mm. The gun is equipped with 460 rounds. The weight of one is 39 g. The projectile moves towards the target at a speed of 980 m / s. The gun is effective at a distance of up to 4 km.
- 80 and 122mm unguided rockets.
- Four air-to-air missiles R-73 and Igla-V.
What is the American helicopter equipped with?
Powerful electronic equipment is provided for the AN-64. Flight crew training takes place on a special simulator. The Apache helicopter is equipped with the TADS system, which performs detection and target designation, and represents the main combat power of the "turntable". In addition, for the helicopter, American military designers have developed the PNVS night vision system and the INADSS integrated helmet-mounted system, with the help of which small arms and missile weapons are activated by turning the head. The main system is equipped with a laser pointer-rangefinder. The ability to track the terrain so as not to be detected by the enemy during sorties has become available thanks to the more advanced FLIR-PNVS system.
About the power plant
"Apache" is equipped with a T700-GE-701 engine, whose power is 1695 liters. with. For the "turntable" there are two high-pressure fuel pumps, the place for which were special nacelles on both sides of the fuselage. The helicopter is equipped with two sealed tanks, the tot althe capacity of which is 1157 liters. The tanks are located behind the pilot's seat and behind the gearbox. In addition, fuel tanks (4 pcs.) can be additionally attached to the wing units equipped with armament hangers. The capacity of one tank is 870 l.
ABOUT TTX
Here's something to note:
- AN-64 is capable of reaching a maximum speed of up to 309 km/h, cruising - 293. The Russian "turntable" is considered somewhat faster. The maximum speed of the Alligator is 350 km/h.
- "Apache" is designed for a combat load of up to 770 kg.
- The flight range is 1700 km, Ka-52 is 520.
- The helicopter is designed for three-hour flights.
- The flight crew consists of two people.
- The maximum takeoff weight is 8006 kg, normal takeoff weight is 6670 kg. The empty helicopter weighs 4657 kg.
- The helicopter has a maximum rate of climb of 12.27 m/s.
- The helicopter is operated from the USA, Israel, the Netherlands and Japan.
About modifications
The American helicopter is presented in several versions:
- "Sea Apache" AN-64A. This model of the "turntable" carries out anti-submarine defense of the forces of the US Navy and Marine Corps. In addition, the helicopter conducts reconnaissance activities. The helicopter carries out flights over distances of up to 240 thousand meters, searches for and destroys enemy ships. Also, this combat vehicle is used in situations where it is necessary to cover the landing of landing troops. 18 Sea Apache units were purchased by Israel, 12 by Saudi Arabia, 24 by Egypt, 12 by Greece. Besides,several "turntables" are used in South Korea and Kuwait.
- "Apache Bravo" AN-64V. Represents a more advanced previous model. During the design, the designers used the experience of using "turntables" in the Persian Gulf. In this helicopter model, the developers have changed the cockpit layout and increased the wing span. Due to more powerful engines and external tanks, the helicopter can carry out sorties, the range of which has now increased by 200 thousand meters. The military industry of the United States has produced 254 combat vehicles.
- AN-64S. "Turntable" is an intermediate option between the AN-64A and Apache Longbow models. By helicopter in 1993, a 2000-hour test program was completed. It was planned to upgrade 308 combat vehicles. However, the program was closed in 1993.
- AN-64D "Longbow Apache". It is an improved model of the AN-64A. It is considered the second major modification of the Apache. The main feature of this "turntable" is the presence of the AN / APG-78 radar system. Its location was a special streamlined container above the main rotor. In addition, the helicopter is equipped with reinforced engines and new on-board equipment. It has been in service with the US Army since 1995.
Expert Opinion
According to aviation experts, the engine power of the American model loses to the power plant, which is equipped with the Russian Alligator combat vehicle. However, in such a parameter as flight range, the Apaches are superior to the Ka-52. Regarding weapons, the American helicopter is weaker. The Alligator is equipped with real giants - 122-mm S-13 unguided aircraft missiles, which are capable of penetrating concrete firing points, as well as armored vehicles and enemy ships.
Both models also differ in the quality of booking. The Apaches use polyacrylic and Kevlar armor plates, which, according to experts, are theoretically capable of withstanding a direct hit from a heavy machine gun projectile. However, the events of 2003, when the United States army invaded Iraq, show the opposite in practice. Then an ordinary peasant managed to bring down the Apache. As a weapon, he used a simple hunting rifle. Ka-52 is more survivable.
In conclusion
Apache's baptism of fire took place in Panama in 1989. Later, this combat vehicle was also used in other armed conflicts. In Yugoslavia, Iraq and Afghanistan, the AN-64 has established itself as the most advanced combat helicopter of the second generation.
