An Apache attack helicopter belonging to 4 Regiment, 656 Squadron, Army Air Corps made the first landing of this aircraft type on HMS Queen Elizabeth on 3rd June.
The Apache AH-1 Longbow has been embarked while the ship is alongside in Portsmouth. This is not a flying trial but a series of test to ensure the aircraft can be handled and supported by the ship. Movement around the flight deck, aircraft lifts and hangar, as well as refuelling and re-arming procedures, are trialled during what is officially known as Platform Ship Integration Testing (PSIT). RN aircraft handlers must become familiar with the aircraft and AAC personnel will need to re-acquaint themselves with life at sea and a very different ship – the Apache was last deployed at sea on HMS Ocean.
The PSITs are expected to take 3 days before the Apache returns to its base at Wattisham Airfield. HMS Queen Elizabeth is scheduled to sail for another series of helicopter trials in the Eastern Atlantic in July. When she sails an Apache of 667 (Development & Trials) Squadron, based at Middle Wallop will embark to conduct Ship-Helicopter Operating Limits (SHOL) clearance trials. Assessments will be made about the maximum sea state and wind speed the aircraft can operate from the QEC carriers while carrying various weapon and fuel loads. This will prepare the ship and aircrew to deploy the Apache operationally on the QEC carriers when required as part of the CV Air Wing (SHOLs have already been conducted for the Merlin, Wildcat and Chinook). The potent attack helicopter is likely to be embarked when the QEC at employed in the ‘Littoral Manoeuvre’ / assault ship role. With the axing of the Harriers, Apache’s flying from HMS Ocean provided a limited stop-gap carrier strike capability during operations over Libya in 2011.
Some AH-1s have received the enhanced corrosion protection package to protect them from salt spray damage in the marine environment. The Army is going to replace its 66 AH-1s with 50 AH-64E Apache Guardians and it is assumed that marinisation measures including floatation bags will be applied to at least some of the new aircraft so they have the flexibility to be deployed on the carriers when called for. It has not been confirmed if the new aircraft will be fitted with folding rotors in the same way as the much altered UK-built AH-1 Apaches, although it would be very short-sighted not to make this important modification. 38 Apache Guardians are on order from Boeing at present with the plan that all 50 will be delivered to the Army by 2025.
Well the Apache is 40 mph faster than a Swordfish, and climbs faster.
They just need a proper paint job.
Swordfish will probably be brought back, and outlast the Apache
I see that once again the British Army is a projectile to be fired by the Royal Navy. Fisher would be pleased.
As it is to be manned partly by US troops, I wonder when their helicopters start their testing?
I’m sure they’d love them to bring V22.
I wonder, whatever happened to helicopters carrying big anti-ship missiles?
If Merlin could carry NSM/JSM it might have proved a useful middle ground for Harpoon obsolescence.
WAH-64 Apache (Westland built Attack helicopter, named after the native american tribe for its stealthier approach to the enemy which is what the Apache tribe was known for) not AH-1. AH-1 is cobra we have never had that in the british army.
Yeah but … no but … my friend Julie; she’s a slag so who care wot she says anyways, but she says she read this on the init’ web.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AgustaWestland_Apache
More Westland ‘Assembled’ Attack helicopter than built! They were effectively built as CKD kits from Boeing with some unique UK specific sub systems and RTM322 engines.
The replacement AH-64E Guardian are coming pretty much vanilla and direct from Boeing at a significant cost saving to the UK tax payer.
As for the AH-1 designation, that is their designation in UK service as assigned by the MOD. Not an unusual thing for a nation to do when they purchase a type.
Don’t feel bad, we ‘build’ (assemble) Airbus 320s in Mobile, AL. USA#1 and all that. Boeing 787 mostly foreign content. One big happy interconnected world
Slightly off thread, but re QE airgroup. Have you seen the articles on defensenews about F-35B & C issues? If the F-35B & C fly for more than about a minute above Mach 1.2, then the stealth coating starts to blister. The unprotected parts then can suffer structural failure & you could lose the aircraft. Pre lot 8 are the worst affected. Post lot 8 have a newer better coating.
Also sovereign data issues with ALIS, which are on track to being solved.
Is this the problem around the afterburner?
There were reports over a year ago that the horizontal tail was getting fried when the after burner was used.
Oh well, we’ve managed 40years without supersonic carrier aircraft and it dosnt seem to be much of a problem to manage without anything at all for 10/15 years.
The F-35 is a bomber with a reduced radar signature. If it is accepted as that it will work well enough. Problem is it is being sold as a fighter and the solution to all things.
It was the sort of thing thrown up by trials. Apparently it had occurred in 2 pre-Lot 8 aircraft (of which the UK has a tiny number), but only twice out of hundreds of occasions. And only at extreme edge of the envelope tests that are unlikely to be replicated in real world. The amendments made post Lot 8 means it won’t occur on those. And that’s practically all of the UK fleet. Its the sort of thing that all trials programme throw up. It’s been resolved, pretty much nothing to see here…