FY19 ARMY PROGRAMS

AH-64E Apache

Executive Summary
• The Army completed FOT&E II of the Version 6 AH-64E in
3QFY19. FOT&E II included training, realistic comparative
force-on-force tactical scenarios with Version 4 AH-64E
aircraft, live ordnance firing, and adversarial cybersecurity
testing.
• The Version 6 includes numerous enhancements that improves
the lethality, operational effectiveness, and survivability of the
AH-64E.
• The Modernized Day Sensor Assembly (MDSA) increases the
range at which aircrews can positively identify targets during
daytime conditions allowing for greater standoff engagement
ranges. The Modernized Radar Frequency Interferometer
(MRFI) provides passive geolocation of emitting radar
threats. The addition of a maritime mode and extended range
of existing modes on the Fire Control Radar (FCR) expands
engagement opportunities. Correlation Engine to merge icons, and the Fire Detection and
• Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUMT) effectiveness for Expansion System to improve survivability in the event of an
Version 4 and Version 6 units was limited during FOT&E II. onboard fire.
Aircraft interfaces, employment concepts, procedures, and • The Army intends Version 6 to improve and expand the
documentation are not mature and contributed to the lack capabilities of the FCR by adding a maritime capability
of interoperability between AH-64E aircraft and unmanned and expanding ranges of existing capabilities, updates to
aircraft systems. an MRFI to provide passive detection and geolocation of
• The Version 6 Adversarial Assessment (AA) revealed no emitting radar threats, and expanding unmanned capabilities
critical vulnerabilities that would immediately lead to the with the MUMT – eXpanded (MUMT-X), which increases
degradation of the aircraft’s confidentiality, availability, or interoperability control of unmanned platforms and improves
integrity from an insider or nearsider threat posture. Link-16 functionality.
• The Army completed joint live fire testing of the fire detection
and expansion system, demonstrating an increase in force Mission
protection in the case of tail boom fires. The Joint Force Commander and Ground Maneuver Commander
employ AH-64E-equipped units to shape the area of operations
System and defeat the enemy at a specified place and time. The Attack
• The AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter is a tandem cockpit, Reconnaissance Battalions assigned to the Combat Aviation
four-bladed, twin-engine helicopter that operates in all Brigade employ the AH-64E to conduct the following types of
tactical environments. The aircraft type was first fielded missions:
as the AH‑64A in 1986 and has undergone two major • Attack
modernizations: AH-64D in 1997 and AH-64E in 2012. • Movement to contact
• The Version 6 AH-64E is the final planned modernization • Reconnaissance
of the AH-64D. The Army will continue the AH-64D • Security
modernization program, which remanufactures aircraft into
the Version 6. It will institute a retrofit program to update all Major Contractors
earlier versions of the AH-64E to the Version 6. The Apache • Aircraft: The Boeing Company Integrated Defense Systems –
will sustain the Army’s Attack Helicopter fleet through 2050. Mesa, Arizona
• The Army uses the AH-64E in Attack Reconnaissance • Targeting Sensors and Unmanned Aircraft System datalink:
Battalions assigned to Combat Aviation Brigades. - Longbow Limited Liability Company – Orlando, Florida,
Each battalion has 24 aircraft. The current Army procurement and Baltimore, Maryland
objective is 791 aircraft. - Lockheed Martin Corporation – Orlando, Florida, and
• The Version 6 adds the MDSA to the Modernized Target Owego, New York
Acquisition Designation Sight, integration of the Joint • L3 Communications Systems – Salt Lake City, Utah
Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM), the Cognitive Decision
Aiding System to improve pilot situational awareness, a Data

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 FY19 ARMY PROGRAMS

Activity
• The Army completed all testing in accordance with a • New Link 16 functionality reduced target acquisition timelines
DOT&E‑approved Test and Evaluation Master Plan, for threat radars and helped coordinate engagements among
operational and live fire test plans, and Live Fire Strategy. Apache aircrews. The FCR added maritime engagement
• Developmental testing of Version 6 software and major modes and increased target ranges for existing modes.
subsystems in 2018 revealed multiple performance • While most of the enhancements worked as the
deficiencies. One or more deficiencies affected the Multi‑Core Service anticipated, improvements to MUMT-X could
Mission Processor, Modernized Radar Interferometer, the not be demonstrated in an operational environment.
Fire Control Radar, the Target Acquisition Designation When connectivity could be established, interoperability
Sight, and MUMT. The discovery of these problems resulted showed no improvement over that of the MUMT-2 found on
in postponement of the planned Version 6 FOT&E until legacy AH-64D/E platforms.
FY19. DOT&E supported the Army decision to fix problems • MUMT effectiveness for Version 4 and Version 6 units was
discovered and delay FOT&E II. limited during FOT&E. Interoperability and video sharing
• In 2019, the Army conducted development and regression between AH-64E Apaches, unmanned aircraft systems,
testing of subsystems to verify that fixes to the problems and ground stations is complicated and requires exacting
discovered in FY18 had been corrected. This testing verified pre‑mission coordination of technical information across
the functionality of the pilot vehicle interface for employment multiple organizations and systems. Aircraft interfaces,
of the JAGM missile. employment concepts, procedures, and documentation are not
• Apache aircraft supported integrated testing of 70 JAGM mature and contributed to the lack of interoperability between
missiles using Version 4.5 and Version 6 Apache software. AH-64E aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems.
• The Army conducted a Cooperative Vulnerability and • Version 6 aircraft have improved operational suitability
Penetration Assessment in September 2017 and conducted an compared to Version 4. Pilots report that the Version 6 is
AA of the Version 6 in June 2019. easier to use and has lower workload than the Version 4.
• The Army completed FOT&E II for the Version 6 in Version 6 aircraft are as reliable, available, and maintainable
3QFY19. FOT&E II included training, realistic comparative as Version 4 aircraft and achieved reliability requirements with
force‑on‑force tactical scenarios with the Version 4 aircraft, statistical confidence.
live ordnance firing, and adversarial cybersecurity testing. • Version 6 units were more survivable than Version 4 units
• In August 2018 and May 2019, the Army Research, during FOT&E II. MRFI provided automatic, passive
Development and Engineering Command/Survivability/ detection of radar threat locations. MDSA assisted in
Lethality Analysis (RDECOM/SLAD) performed Joint pinpointing threat emitter locations to enable Version 6 units
Live Fire-funded tests under operationally representative to find and engage threat radars at a rate 4.5 times higher than
flight loading to assess the effectiveness of a fire barrier and Version 4 units. Lacking a similar level of threat awareness,
fire‑resistant intumescent paint previously added to production Version 4 units maneuvered cautiously through the objective
AH-64s to minimize fire-induced damage effects. area, taking care to remain below line-of-sight, but often
• Testing of the onboard engine nacelle halon fire suppression failing to find and defeat threat radars during the mission.
system is delayed and is now expected to begin in 2QFY20. • Joint Live Fire testing of the loaded tail boom with fire barrier
and intumescent paint demonstrated a 2.5 minute increase
Assessment in the time before the structure degraded and the tail boom
• Version 6 have improved operational effectiveness compared failed. Version 6 with the fire detection and expansion system
to the units equipped with Version 4. Version 6 units had provides improved force protection over legacy Apache
higher mission success scores and engaged targets at greater aircraft without these modifications.
ranges than Version 4 units.
• The JAGM employment timeline was comparable to that of Recommendation
HELLFIRE missiles and provides increased capability against 1. The Army should improve interoperability with unmanned
countermeasures and targets at longer ranges. aircraft systems, simplify pilot vehicle interfaces, and
• The Version 6 Adversarial Assessment conducted in 3QFY19 improve training documentation for MUMT.
revealed no critical vulnerabilities that would immediately
lead to the degradation of aircraft confidentiality, availability,
or integrity from an insider or nearsider threat posture.

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