The Army will buy fewer Boeing [BA] Apache Block III helicopters in the next few years as it works to save money as the defense budget contracts, but the reductions may be made up in later years, program officials said.
“In next four to five years we’ll buy a few less (Apache Block III helicopters), stretch out the buy and look to buy them back in the out years,” Col. Shane Openshaw, project manager, Apache Attack Helicopters said in a media briefing at the Army Aviation Association of America annual professional forum and exhibit.
As with any program, he said, it is always subject to budget changes and pressures to perform effectively and efficiently.
However, while the program has “shifted some things, it is not to the detriment of the program,” he said.
Lt. Col. Christopher Downey, Commander, Task Force Six Shooters in Afgfhanistan, said they were in the “toughest environment in any regard for any Army aviation aircraft…threat, terrain, weather, remote and not in a good neighborhood.” While his Apaches and Kiowa Warriors conducted a variety of missions, one was escorting duty, and without the escorts–the mission wouldn’t go, and that included military visitors.
Mike Burke, Boeing director of Attack Helicopters Business Development said overall, the Apache program is “delivering ahead of schedule, on cost and performing extremely well. International customers and allies are paying attention to the programs’ success.”
“I predict the Block 3 will be the most successful and most popular version of Apache,” Burke said, who added he’s already starting to see that in letters and interest.
There are 721 Apache’s in the Army fleet. All but 51 began as an A model and have been remanufactured into newer models, and some have gone through the production line twice, Openshaw said. The 51 are new build helicopters built as replacements for those lost in combat.
To date 39 Block 1 Longbow Apaches have begun the process to become Block 111 aircraft, he said. The first group of Block IIIs has just completed Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) testing.
“Their performance during the test has been outstanding,” Openshaw said and he expects a report “favorable” for a full rate production decision review in July.
For Boeing, David Koopersmith, vice president of Attack Helicopter Programs, said, “Our news is there is no news,” as the program continues to perform, delivering Block III Apaches, and ahead of schedule on Block II aircraft, even as the production rate is expected to increase. Later this year, the company anticipates adding additional international Apache customers.
Col. John Lynch, Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Capability Manager, Scout/Attack said the program is ahead of schedule and below cost. As a former task force commander in Afghanistan, he said “the enemy understands the capability of this aircraft and they’re afraid of it.”
At his TRADOC job, Lynch will continue to look at the needed capabilities to field in future Block III lots, and how it will fit into Army Aviation’s future plans.
Tim Sassenach, Boeing director of Apache Worldwide Support said the industry government team has been successful in getting parts to soldiers in the field, and that has driven readiness rates up to “some of the highest seen since conflict started,” and something that has been consistent for the past several months.
Openshaw said: “We’re not done yet, the transition from Longbow to Block III is only the next step on the way. The Apache will be in the inventory for the next 25 years.”