The next evolution of the Army’s multi-role AH-64 Apache combat helicopter program produced by Boeing [BA] is moving toward a Limited User Test next month, officials said.
Al Winn, Boeing vice president Apache programs, said the key milestone for LUT will involve two Block III avionics airplanes that will be used by Army aviators in a users test to show the aircraft is accomplishing “what it’s supposed to and operating as it’s supposed to.”
Apache’s future is in the Block III, and the program is doing well, he said.
“There are 26 enhancements going into the aircraft,” Winn said. “We’re on plan, on cost, on schedule, meeting all requirements.”
The LUT will feature a first: Army aviators will be controlling an unmanned aerial system (UAS)–a Boeing AH6, as a surrogate Sky Warrior, from another aircraft, he said.
The Level 4 UAS controls allow the Apache crew to be in control of the sensor on the UAV, a concept Boeing invented several years ago, Winn said. The Apache crew can also affect the UAS path by inputting waypoints.
Pilot training began two weeks ago.
The next milestone will involve the structures Block III aircraft, which will have a new rotor blade and transmission, Winn said. The new split torque face gear transmission has had some minor improvements and is in testing right now, he said. This integration will likely happen before the end of the year.
Boeing has just completed putting some Block III hardware and network architecture into a Block II Apache, Winn said. This aircraft goes to different demonstrations to “basically demonstrate the capability the Block III provides for the future force.”
The production milestone decision comes in April 2010, and a Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) contract will follow shortly.
Winn said Boeing is already planning for Block III production, because they will still be building Apache Block II as Block III LRIP gets moving. For about two and a half years, the company will be building Block II and Block III at the same time.
“We’re laying off how the factory floor will look,” he said. It’s a “stop and go” line, with 10 workstations. Currently, it takes about three days for an Apache Block II to move from one station to the next.
“Block III first time assembly will take longer initially to build. We’re talking about almost two lines, going down the floor side by side, coming together and apart, then when the Block III cycle time comes down, merge them back into a single [production] line,” Winn said.
As Block III moves toward production, it is not the end of the program. It will continually evolve and change as the Army’s operational realities change to stay relevant.