IAF AH-64A "Peten" פתן
The Israel Air Force has operated AH-64 Apaches since 1990. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) uses the Apache to strike various targets with guided missiles. The AH-64A attacked and destroyed some of Hezbollah outposts in Lebanon during the 1990s, attacking in many weather conditions — day and night. During the morning of 24 May 2001, a private owned Lebanese registered Cessna 152 flew into Israeli airspace and was intercepted by two Israeli AH-64. One of the helicopters shot down the Cessna with an AGM-114 Hellfire missile off the coast of Netanya killing the pilot.[23][24]
During the al-Aqsa Intifada, the IAF used the Apaches to kill senior Hamas figures, such as Ahmed Yasin and Adnan al-Ghoul, with guided missiles. In the Israel-Lebanon conflict of July – August 2006, two IAF AH-64A helicopters collided, killing one pilot and wounding three, all critically. In another incident in the conflict, an IAF AH-64D Apache Longbow crashed, killing the two crew, due to a malfunction in the rotor hub
General characteristics
* Crew: 2: pilot, CPG (co-pilot/gunner)
* Length: 58.17 ft (17.73 m) (with both rotors turning)
* Rotor diameter: 48 ft 0 in (14.63 m)
* Height: 12.7 ft (3.87 m)
* Disc area: 1,809.5 ft² (168.11 m²)
* Empty weight: 11,387 lb (5,165 kg)
* Loaded weight: 17,650 lb (8,000 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 23,000 lb (10,433 kg)
* Powerplant: 2× General Electric T700-GE-701 and later upgraded to T700-GE-701C (1990-present) & T700-GE-701D (AH-64D block III) turboshafts, -701: 1,690 shp, -701C: 1,890 shp, -701D: 2,000 shp (-701: 1,260 kW, -701C: 1,490 kW, -701D: 1,490 kW) each
* Fuselage length: 49 ft 5 in (15.06 m)
* Rotor systems: 4 blade main rotor, 4 blade tail rotor in non-orthogonal alignment[48]
Hydra 70 and AGM-114 Hellfire.
Performance
* Never exceed speed: 197 knots (227 mph, 365 km/h)
* Maximum speed: 158 knots (182 mph, 293 km/h)
* Cruise speed: 143 knots (165 mph, 265 km/h)
* Combat radius: 260 nmi (300 mi, 480 km)
* Ferry range: 1,024 nmi (1,180 mi, 1,900 km)
* Service ceiling: 21,000 ft (6,400 m)
* Rate of climb: 2,500 ft/min (12.7 m/s)
* Disc loading: 9.80 lb/ft² (47.90 kg/m²)
* Power/mass: 0.18 hp/lb (310 W/kg)
Armament
* Guns: 1× 30x113 mm (1.18x4.45 in) M230 cannon, 1,200 rounds
* Rockets: Hydra 70 FFAR rockets
* Missiles: combination of AGM-114 Hellfire, AIM-92 Stinger, and AIM-9 Sidewinder
AH-64A
The AH-64A is the original production attack helicopter. It is powered by two GE T700 turbo-shaft engines. The crew sit in tandem in an armored compartment.
The helicopter is armed with a 30 mm M230 Chain Gun that is slaved to the gunner's helmet-mounted gunsight. The AH-64A carries a range of external stores on its stub-wing pylons, including a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missiles, Hydra 70 general-purpose unguided 70 mm (2.75 in) rockets, and AIM-92 Stinger air-to-air missiles for defense.
AH-64B
In 1991 after Operation Desert Storm, the AH-64B was a proposed upgrade to 254 AH-64As. The upgrade included new rotor blades, a Global Positioning System (GPS), improved navigaton systems and new radios. Congress approved US$82 million to begin the Apache B upgrade. The B program was canceled in 1992.[5] The radio, navigation, and GPS modifications, would later be installed on most A-model Apaches as part of an upgrade program.
AH-64C
Additional funding from Congress in late 1991 resulted in a program to upgrade AH-64As to an AH-64B+ version. More funding changed the plan to upgrade to AH-64C. The C upgrade would include all changes to be included in the Longbow except for mast mounted radar and newer engines. However, after 1993, the C designation was dropped.[5]
The upgrades would go forward. However, since the only difference between the C model and the radar-equipped D model was the radar, which could be moved from one aircraft to another, a decision was made to not distinguish between the two versions, despite the presence or absence of the radar.
The AH-64 Apache is a four-blade, twin-engine attack helicopter with reverse-tricycle landing gear, and tandem cockpit for a crew of two. The Apache was developed as Model 77 by Hughes Helicopters for the United States Army's Advanced Attack Helicopter program to replace the AH-1 Cobra. First flown on 1 October 1975, the AH-64 features a nose-mounted sensor suite for target acquisition and night vision systems. The Apache is armed with a 30 mm M230 Chain Gun carried between the main landing gear, under the aircraft's belly. The AH-64 also carries a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire and Hydra 70 rocket pods on four hardpoints mounted on stub-wing pylons. The AH-64 also features double- and triple-redundant aircraft systems to improve survivability for the aircraft and crew in combat, as well as improved crash survivability for the pilots.
The US Army selected the AH-64 over the Bell YAH-63 in 1976, awarding Hughes Helicopters a pre-production contract for two more aircraft. In 1982, the Army approved full production. McDonnell Douglas continued production and development, after purchasing Hughes Helicopters from Summa Corporation in 1984. The first production AH-64D Apache Longbow was delivered to the Army in March 1997. In August 1997, Boeing and McDonnell Douglas merged to become The Boeing Company. Today, AH-64 production is continued by the Boeing Integrated Defense Systems division.
The Israel Air Force has operated AH-64 Apaches since 1990. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) uses the Apache to strike various targets with guided missiles. The AH-64A attacked and destroyed some of Hezbollah outposts in Lebanon during the 1990s, attacking in many weather conditions — day and night. During the morning of 24 May 2001, a private owned Lebanese registered Cessna 152 flew into Israeli airspace and was intercepted by two Israeli AH-64. One of the helicopters shot down the Cessna with an AGM-114 Hellfire missile off the coast of Netanya killing the pilot.[23][24]
During the al-Aqsa Intifada, the IAF used the Apaches to kill senior Hamas figures, such as Ahmed Yasin and Adnan al-Ghoul, with guided missiles. In the Israel-Lebanon conflict of July – August 2006, two IAF AH-64A helicopters collided, killing one pilot and wounding three, all critically. In another incident in the conflict, an IAF AH-64D Apache Longbow crashed, killing the two crew, due to a malfunction in the rotor hub
General characteristics
* Crew: 2: pilot, CPG (co-pilot/gunner)
* Length: 58.17 ft (17.73 m) (with both rotors turning)
* Rotor diameter: 48 ft 0 in (14.63 m)
* Height: 12.7 ft (3.87 m)
* Disc area: 1,809.5 ft² (168.11 m²)
* Empty weight: 11,387 lb (5,165 kg)
* Loaded weight: 17,650 lb (8,000 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 23,000 lb (10,433 kg)
* Powerplant: 2× General Electric T700-GE-701 and later upgraded to T700-GE-701C (1990-present) & T700-GE-701D (AH-64D block III) turboshafts, -701: 1,690 shp, -701C: 1,890 shp, -701D: 2,000 shp (-701: 1,260 kW, -701C: 1,490 kW, -701D: 1,490 kW) each
* Fuselage length: 49 ft 5 in (15.06 m)
* Rotor systems: 4 blade main rotor, 4 blade tail rotor in non-orthogonal alignment[48]
Hydra 70 and AGM-114 Hellfire.
Performance
* Never exceed speed: 197 knots (227 mph, 365 km/h)
* Maximum speed: 158 knots (182 mph, 293 km/h)
* Cruise speed: 143 knots (165 mph, 265 km/h)
* Combat radius: 260 nmi (300 mi, 480 km)
* Ferry range: 1,024 nmi (1,180 mi, 1,900 km)
* Service ceiling: 21,000 ft (6,400 m)
* Rate of climb: 2,500 ft/min (12.7 m/s)
* Disc loading: 9.80 lb/ft² (47.90 kg/m²)
* Power/mass: 0.18 hp/lb (310 W/kg)
Armament
* Guns: 1× 30x113 mm (1.18x4.45 in) M230 cannon, 1,200 rounds
* Rockets: Hydra 70 FFAR rockets
* Missiles: combination of AGM-114 Hellfire, AIM-92 Stinger, and AIM-9 Sidewinder
AH-64A
The AH-64A is the original production attack helicopter. It is powered by two GE T700 turbo-shaft engines. The crew sit in tandem in an armored compartment.
The helicopter is armed with a 30 mm M230 Chain Gun that is slaved to the gunner's helmet-mounted gunsight. The AH-64A carries a range of external stores on its stub-wing pylons, including a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missiles, Hydra 70 general-purpose unguided 70 mm (2.75 in) rockets, and AIM-92 Stinger air-to-air missiles for defense.
AH-64B
In 1991 after Operation Desert Storm, the AH-64B was a proposed upgrade to 254 AH-64As. The upgrade included new rotor blades, a Global Positioning System (GPS), improved navigaton systems and new radios. Congress approved US$82 million to begin the Apache B upgrade. The B program was canceled in 1992.[5] The radio, navigation, and GPS modifications, would later be installed on most A-model Apaches as part of an upgrade program.
AH-64C
Additional funding from Congress in late 1991 resulted in a program to upgrade AH-64As to an AH-64B+ version. More funding changed the plan to upgrade to AH-64C. The C upgrade would include all changes to be included in the Longbow except for mast mounted radar and newer engines. However, after 1993, the C designation was dropped.[5]
The upgrades would go forward. However, since the only difference between the C model and the radar-equipped D model was the radar, which could be moved from one aircraft to another, a decision was made to not distinguish between the two versions, despite the presence or absence of the radar.
The AH-64 Apache is a four-blade, twin-engine attack helicopter with reverse-tricycle landing gear, and tandem cockpit for a crew of two. The Apache was developed as Model 77 by Hughes Helicopters for the United States Army's Advanced Attack Helicopter program to replace the AH-1 Cobra. First flown on 1 October 1975, the AH-64 features a nose-mounted sensor suite for target acquisition and night vision systems. The Apache is armed with a 30 mm M230 Chain Gun carried between the main landing gear, under the aircraft's belly. The AH-64 also carries a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire and Hydra 70 rocket pods on four hardpoints mounted on stub-wing pylons. The AH-64 also features double- and triple-redundant aircraft systems to improve survivability for the aircraft and crew in combat, as well as improved crash survivability for the pilots.
The US Army selected the AH-64 over the Bell YAH-63 in 1976, awarding Hughes Helicopters a pre-production contract for two more aircraft. In 1982, the Army approved full production. McDonnell Douglas continued production and development, after purchasing Hughes Helicopters from Summa Corporation in 1984. The first production AH-64D Apache Longbow was delivered to the Army in March 1997. In August 1997, Boeing and McDonnell Douglas merged to become The Boeing Company. Today, AH-64 production is continued by the Boeing Integrated Defense Systems division.
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