AH-64E helicopter has been given a new official name...

[Stratofreighter]

http://www.aviationtoday.com/the-checkl ... 78215.html

http://blog.al.com/breaking/2013/01/post_1023.html

http://verticalmag.com/news/articles/22 ... h-64e.html

Announced this week at the Team Apache annual government industry meeting at the Boeing facility in Arlington, Va., the AH-64E will be known as the "Guardian."
The Ah-64D is known as the "Longbow."

The name was chosen through a contest held by the Apache Project Office. The winning name was submitted by Gill, Logistics Management Specialist from the Aviation and Missile Command Logistics Center at Redstone Arsenal, who said the helicopter's protective capabilities inspired her name.

"Although the Apache is known as the deadliest helicopter it is much more.

The Apache functions as a safeguard for our soldiers on the ground. It seeks and eliminates threats that would otherwise be undetectable and/or indestructible allowing our troops to complete their missions.

The Apache is our soldiers' guardian in the sky," she said.

[Stratofreighter]

Earlier:

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... me-380875/

US Army fields first AH-64E unit, but more improvements to come

Even as the US Army moves forward with fielding its first unit of Boeing AH-64E Block III attack helicopters, the service is planning to add further improvements to the Apache gunship.

"Right now, we are currently fielding the first unit equipped, our FUE [first unit equipped] unit, with Echo-models, and we're on track to meet that fielding schedule," says Col Jeff Hager, the army's Apache programme manager.

Hager adds that Boeing has delivered 28 of 51 low-rate initial production AH-64Es that it is contracted to build. This year, the company will start producing full-rate production aircraft for an eventual total of 634 helicopters.

But even as the AH-64E transitions into full-rate production, some systems engineering work remains, Hager says.

The changes, which will come in production Lots 4 through 6, include better embedded diagnostics for improved maintenance.

The Apache will also gain the Link-16 data-link, which is typically found on fixed-wing combat aircraft.

It will also be afforded improvements to its mast-mounted Northrop Grumman APG-78 Longbow fire control radar, which will improve range and add overwater capability.

Hager says that the army has not quite decided how the overwater capability would be used, but he says the Longbow radar in concert with the Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire missile could be used to attack landing craft or small warships.

In the future, active electronically scanned array radar could be added to the aircraft.