APACHE NEws

apache INNOVaTION | U.S. army apache | INTerNaTIONal apache

2009

The ApAche helicopTer

The Apache Team is excited about the Apache, its proud lineage, and more importantly, its bright future. The Ah-64D Apache Block iii helicopter will continue the Apache tradition in step with Army transformation. Apache has been there when needed by the U.S. Army, and by the defense forces of allied nations, for more than 25 years, and Apache will continue to deliver leading edge capabilities well into the future.

Ah-64D ApAche

how This program works iTs The people who make The differeNce
As leader of Boeing Apache programs since 2001, its always interesting to watch as this program and this platform changes and matures.
he adventure of each new day is exciting and fulfilling. its been said over and over that the only thing that is constant is change, but during transition, one thing does remain constant the talented and dedicated people who design, build, deliver, operate and maintain Apache helicopters. Much credit is due the incredible performance of the worlds most lethal and survivable multimission attack helicopter, and rightly so. commanders have time and again acclaimed the Apache as the most important weapon system on the battlefield. And it is. in this new edition of Apache News, were showing appreciation for and highlighting people the amazing people who are affiliated with this incredible program. Without each of you, we wouldnt have the aircraft or the successful system that we have today. The people involved with the Apache are awesome! And just who am i talking about? First, im talking about the people who believed that the worlds best aviation engineers, designers and extraordinary industry team could put capabilities together in a helicopter that would protect crews while providing overwhelming battlefield superiority (an important asset for our nations defense). As many general officers say, the Apache is fielded not to give our soldiers a fair fight, but to give them overwhelming firepower and a tremendous advantage in any fight. These people wrote the requirements (such as a 30-minute

contract specialists and suppliers took the requirements and were able to articulate and design the most respected and feared aviation machine in the history. And going forward, Apache industry partners will provide parts and support through an integrated network of global suppliers. This worldwide Apache team is truly the best in class and best in the world. And most of all, im talking about the courageous soldiers who fly, maintain and rely on the venerable Apache helicopter to accomplish their mission in defending our great nation and our allies. The culmination of all of our collective efforts is the successes of these soldiers and this helicopter. We are, each of us, honored to witness these soldiers accomplishments. So to the requirement writers, designers and engineers i appreciate your foresight. To the government/industry team that manages the program i appreciate your dedication. To the suppliers who maintain high industry standards while being totally flexible to the changing demands of such an active program i appreciate your attention to detail. And most humbly and sincerely, to the soldiers who fly, maintain and depend on this awesome aircraft thank you for your courage and your service. i appreciate all that each of you contribute to Apache. You all are quite simply the best.

The people involveD WiTh The ApAche progrAM Are AWeSoMe! WiThoUT eAch oF YoU, We WoUlDnT hAve The cApABle AircrAFT or The SUcceSSFUl progrAM ThAT We hAve ToDAY. Al wiNN, Vice presideNt of ApAche progrAms.

run-dry transmission, 23mm ballistic protection for the entire aircraft and crew and so much more) and had the vision of the future and confidence in industry to produce this astounding helicopter the Apache. Then both government and industry stepped in and took action. The best aviation planners, designers, engineers, logisticians, proposal writers, estimators,

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promises made, promises kept.
TeAM ApAche apache iNNovaTioN
8 10 14 16 18 20 Apache Block iii first flight A tribute to commander cody Tested and proven at JeFX 08 Bringing Apache Block iii to the forefront Developing voice-recognition system Beyond Block iii

iNTerNaTioNal apache
36 40 42 44 48 50 52 Apaches shine on world stage World market improving for Ah-64D Defense cooperation saves dollars rescue mission: a pilots perception U.K. ATil team anniversary Worldwide supply network Apache photo contest

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apache iN The News

54 59 news briefs employee profiles Welcome home ceremonies

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u.s. army apache

24 26 28 30 32 34 Battalions and soldiers always on duty guard and reserve in defense of freedom Dispatches from iraq gunfighters influencing the fight in iraq commander believes in Apache pilots heroism rewarded

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Ah-64D ApAche

apache News 2009

is published by boeiNg roTorcrafT sysTems for The uNiTed sTaTes army aNd The worldwide apache Team
ediTor copy aNd producTioN ediTor

The apache program moves forward wiTh New u.s. army leaders
BY cArole ThoMpSon

in August 2008, the United States Army assigned two new leaders Apache project Manager col. Shane openshaw and Training and Doctrine command capability Manager for reconnaissance and Attack col. grady King following the retirement of the incumbent leaders. Both colonels assume these leadership responsibilities, bringing experience with the Apache helicopter to their new roles.
ATTenDing Their FirST ApAche proJecT progreSS revieW MeeTing AT The Boeing MeSA, AriZ., SiTe in AUgUST 2008, King AnD openShAW ToUreD The hAngAr Where WorK conTinUeS on Ah-64D ApAche BlocK iii. The TWo TAlKeD WiTh eMploYeeS ABoUT The progreSS Being MADe in The progrAM AS TeAM ApAche geTS reADY To Deliver The FirST proDUcTion helicopTer in JUne 2011.

carole Thompson
roTorcrafT sysTems ediTorial sTaff

elizabeth hayes
phoTography Team

lisa Dunbar, hal Klopper

boeiNg coNTribuTors

Bob Ferguson, Mike goettings, hal Klopper

desigN Team

Debby Arkell, Bill Barksdale, gary Bishop, Mike Burke, Jenny celli, glenn Driggs, randy Jackson, larry plaster, Brad rounding, Scott rudy, David Sidman, cash Striplin, Madonna Walsh

Jennifer Terrill, cass Weaver

vice presideNT of apache programs

Al Winn

ADDreSS correSponDence To eDiTor, ApAche neWS, The Boeing coMpAnY, 5000 eAST McDoWell roAD, M510-A387, MeSA, AZ 85215 or e-MAil cArole.j.thompsoN-suttoN@boeiNg.com or viSiT oUr WeB SiTe AT http://www.boeiNg.com

coloNel shaNe opeNshaw in his previous assignment, openshaw served as the director of integration for the Future combat Systems (Brigade combat Team) program with responsibility for planning and executing system-of-systems integration and test activities. Before his FcS assignment, openshaw served as the project manager for Apache Sensors and as the deputy program manager for Unmanned combat Armed rotorcraft at the Defense Advanced research projects Agency. openshaw is a Master Army Aviator, rated in the Ah-64D Apache longbow and in the Uh-60 Blackhawk. Assigned to the Aviation Brigade, he served with the 24th infantry Division, deploying overseas during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

coloNel grady kiNg As a lieutenant colonel, King deployed to operation iraqi Freedom to command the 3rd Battalion, 101st Aviation regiment in the 101st Airborne Division a battalion of soldiers flying and maintaining 24 Ah-64D Apache longbow helicopters. on return to the states in 2005, King, now a colonel, was assigned to the U.S. Army Aviation Warfighting center as chief of the Tactics Division in the Directorate of Training and Doctrine. Just before assuming his assignment as the recon/Attack TcM, King attended the U.S. Army War college. King is an Army aviator rated in the Ah-64A Apache, Ah-64D Apache longbow, oh-58c and Uh-1. commissioned as a Second lieutenant of Aviation, he completed the Aviation officer Basic course and flight

school and held several assignments at progressively higher levels of command. Kings awards include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster and the Army Achievement Medal. Working together, the U.S. Army, Boeing and Team Apache ensure that the Apache program is continuing its legacy of success, so its expected that well often hear these colonels say, its a great day to be the Apache pM and its a great day to be the recon/Attack TcM.

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ApAche innovATion

roTorcrAFT pioneerS SUch AS FrAnK piASecKi AnD hoWArD hUgheS gUiDeD The lAUnch oF An inDUSTrY. ApAche AviATorS, TeAMeD WiTh DeDicATeD roTorcrAFT viSionArieS, Are lAUnching Ah-64D ApAche BlocK iii.

a legacy of success
BY liSA DUnBAr AnD cArole ThoMpSon

apache block iii firsT flighT:

U.S. Army flying Apache helicopters, kicked off that ceremony with a flight in the new prototype aircraft. The U.S. Army awarded Boeing the first Apache Block iii contract in June 2005. Under the current Apache Block iii plan, 634 Apaches will be modernized at the Mesa facility to the configuration that will provide future-force connectivity, extended-range sensors and weapons, a cognitive decisionaiding system, improved rotor blades, improved transmission and more. Boeing plans to begin long-lead procurement in April 2009 and production in April 2010 in order to deliver the first Ah-64D Apache Block iii in June 2011.

getting to this point took the Apache on a course that proved it was a capable and effective member of the U.S. Armys arsenal of weapons. in 1984, when the U.S. Army accepted delivery of the first A-model Apache, the new helicopter changed the services operational effectiveness. operational effectiveness was positively altered. With the then new capabilities of the Ah-64A Apache, U.S. Army aviators coined the motto We own the night. The A-model proved itself in combat, and the application and value of helicopters in battle was forever changed.
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Apache Block iii follows in the path of a concept that continues to reinvent itself. And all for the good.

h-64D Apache Block iii is the result of a visionary concept built on a legacy of success. That concept became a reality and was unveiled during a ceremony to commemorate the first flight of the aircraft at the rotorcraft Systems site in Mesa, Ariz., July 9. U.S. Army and Boeing test pilots completed the first

flight of the Block iii prototype aircraft over the Arizona desert June 27, 2008. it seemed only fitting that U.S. Army vice chief of Staff gen. richard cody, who spent two-thirds of his 36-year career in the

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ApAche BlocK iii FirST FlighT: celeBrATing A legAcY

a TribuTe To
BY cASh STriplin

commaNder cody

SpeAKing To Boeing eMploYeeS Along The ApAche FinAl ASSeMBlY line AnD hAnDing oUT hiS perSonAl coMMeMorATive coinS, U.S. ArMY vice chieF oF STAFF coDY SAiD, ThAnK YoU FroM The BoTToM oF MY heArT For WhAT YoU Do here everY DAY For ArMY AviATion, The AMericAn ciTiZenS AnD The WArFighTerS. The BATTleFielD MighT Be 10,000 MileS AWAY AnD The SolDierS MAY noT KnoW YoU BY nAMe, BUT TheY All KnoW YoU BY The ApAche. TheY KnoW YoU Are BUilDing A proDUcT TheY cAn DepenD on.

en. richard codys high standards, love for the Army and love for Army Aviation started many years ago. The then captain cody found his calling in the hangars and ramps honing his trade as a Maintenance officer in the Transportation corps. codys expertise and devotion to making the Army better grew as he executed key leadership duties. he served and commanded within Aviation Maintenance, cavalry, Attack, and Special operations companies, battalions and brigades.

A constant in codys life is family. his great first lady, vicki, and their sons have moved countless times and have watched cody be deployed again and again. gen. and Mrs. cody are proud of their two sons both are Army aviators and both are Apache pilots. Their sons have been deployed to operation enduring Freedom and operation iraqi Freedom as the cody legacy continues. cody led in many ways over his 36 years of U.S. Army service. his legacy is a strong Army and a modernized Aviation branch. in his final visit to Mesa, he co-piloted the Armys newest Apache, the Ah-64D Apache Block iii. his involvement with the Apache has spanned more than 25 years, from becoming rated in the aircraft and commanding the Apache battalion that fired the first shots in operation Desert Storm to ensuring that the Block iii Apache will be the attack helicopter that will protect U.S. forces in harms way. codys legacy includes many accomplishments. From a young West point graduate to commander of the 101st Airborne Division to vice chief of Staff of the Army, he has set the standard from the cockpit to the battlefield to the pentagon.
righT: coDYS legAcY inclUDeS MAnY AccoMpliShMenTS. here Are A FeW oF The iMporTAnT MileSToneS ThoroUghoUT hiS DiSTingUiSheD cAreer.

197778

cApT. coDY, roTArY Wing SecTion leADer, lATer AviATion SecTion coMMAnDer, B coMpAnY, AviATion BrigADe (coMBAT), 2D inFAnTrY DiviSion, 8Th U.S. ArMY, KoreA cApT. coDY, Service plAToon coMMAnDer, lATer AviATion MAinTenAnce oFFicer, D Troop, 2D SqUADron, 9Th cAvAlrY; Then Service plAToon leADer, A coMpAnY (ATTAcK helicopTer); AFTer ThAT MAJ. coDY, coMMAnDer, e coMpAnY, 24Th coMBAT AviATion BATTAlion, 24Th inFAnTrY DiviSion, hUnTer ArMY AirFielD, gA MAJ. coDY, BATTAlion eXecUTive oFFicer, lATer coMMAnDer, B coMpAnY, 229Th ATTAcK helicopTer BATTAlion, FolloWeD BY S-3 (operATionS), 55Th ATTAcK helicopTer BATTAlion, 101ST AirBorne DiviSion (Air ASSAUlT), ForT cAMpBell, KY lT. col. coDY, DepUTY coMMAnDer, lATer eXecUTive oFFicer, AviATion BrigADe, 101ST AirBorne DiviSion (Air ASSAUlT), ForT cAMpBell, KY lT. col. coDY, coMMAnDer, 1ST BATTAlion, AviATion BrigADe, 101ST AirBorne DiviSion (Air ASSAUlT), ForT cAMpBell, KY, AnD operATionS DeSerT ShielD AnD STorM lT. col. coDY, DirecTor, FlighT concepTS DiviSion, ForT eUSTiS, vA col. coDY, coMMAnDer, AviATion BrigADe, 1ST cAvAlrY DiviSion, ForT hooD, TeXAS col. coDY, coMMAnDer, 160Th SpeciAl operATionS AviATion coMMAnD, ForT cAMpBell, KY Brig. gen. coDY, ASSiSTAnT DiviSion coMMAnDer (MAneUver), 4Th inFAnTrY DiviSion (MechAniZeD), ForT hooD, TeXAS, To inclUDe DUTY AS DepUTY coMMAnDing generAl For Air operATionS, TASK Force hAWK, operATion AllieD Force, AlBAniA MAJ. gen. coDY, coMMAnDing generAl, 101ST AirBorne DiviSion (Air ASSAUlT) AnD ForT cAMpBell, ForT cAMpBell, KY lT. gen. coDY, DepUTY chieF oF STAFF, g-3, UniTeD STATeS ArMY, WAShingTon, D.c. gen. coDY, vice chieF oF STAFF, UniTeD STATeS ArMY, WAShingTon, D.c.

197981

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cody then lt. col. cody and his Apache battalion, the 1st of the 101st, changed the course of battle in operation Desert Storm. Flying Apaches under cover of darkness over the Middle eastern desert, they fired the initial shots to destroy the enemys radar. in the late 1990s, the Army achieved another Apache transformation. U.S. Army aviators flew the first Ah-64D Apache longbows. even before the D model entered service with the Army in 1997 and thus far with the defense forces of 10 nations around the world the Ah-64D was proved in the initial operational test and evaluation to be 28 times more effective than the Ah-64A Apache. visionaries including Apache champions such as cody, Army leaders, industry partners and Boeing teammates were proved right, and faith in the Apache was rewarded.

As the war on terrorism began, the Ah-64D was put to the test in combat. over the desert, in the mountains, in extreme weather conditions, in close combat and in urban fighting, the D-model Apache proved itself. The recent ceremony in the flight hangar at the Mesa site to celebrate Ah-64D Apache Block iii drew more than 400 U.S. Army leaders, supplier representatives, government officials and Apache team members. Achieving this milestone proves that success can be achieved when visionaries face the unknown, embrace risks, accept challenges and overcome obstacles, said Apache programs vice president Al Winn. Block iii is going to change the face of battle, giving us fully integrated ground and air battlefields. The enemy wont know what is coming, cody told the audience.

ApAche innovATion

employees at the Mesa site watched the celebration, which was webcast to two locations on site. This is a great celebration for employees to be part of, said Mesa employee and network designer earl Balentine. its good to remind employees how important what we do here is. The ceremony wrapped up with doors of the flight hangar rolling open to music, revealing the new Block iii prototype aircraft. cody later spoke to about 150 employees along the Apache final assembly line and handed out his personal commemorative commanders coins.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you do here every day for Army Aviation, the American citizens and the warfighters, cody told production employees. The battlefield might be 10,000 miles away and the soldiers may not know you by name, but they all know you by the Apache. They know you are building a product they can depend on. Apache Structures mechanic Todd Boschee was one of the employees who shook codys hand and received a coin. This makes me proud of what we do here every day, he said. it gives me a sense of satisfaction and purpose. i feel good that im doing something that makes a difference to the freedom of our country. The Ah-64D Apache Block iii will help to defend that freedom and define the future of attack/reconnaissance helicopters.

DigniTArieS pArTicipATing in The Ah-64D ApAche BlocK iii FirST FlighT cereMonY in MeSA, AriZ., inclUDe col. MArK hAYeS, U.S. ArMY TrAining AnD DocTrine cApABiliTY MAnAger For reconnAiSSAnce AnD ATTAcK; coDY AnD chieF WArrAnT oFFicer 5 rUcie Moore; coDY; col. DereK pAqUeTTe, U.S. ArMY ApAche proJecT MAnAger; MAJ. gen. DAviD rATAcZAK, ADJUTAnT generAl AriZonA nATionAl gUArD.

block iii (Apache) is going to change the face of battle, giving us fully integrated ground and air battlefields. the enemy wont know what is coming, u.s. Army Vice chief of staff cody, told the audience attending the ceremony
coDY KicKS oFF The cereMonY To coMMeMorATe The FirST FlighT oF Ah-64D ApAche BlocK iii WiTh A FlighT in The neW proToTYpe AircrAFT. The generAl AnD An ArMY eXperiMenTAl TeST piloT, chieF WArrAnT oFFicer 5 rUcie Moore (picTUreD leFT), FleW The helicopTer.

commemorating the first flight of Ah-64d Apache block iii.

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TesTed aNd proveN aT JefX 08

BY DAviD SiDMAn AnD cArole ThoMpSon

ah-64d apache:

The BlocK iii ApAcheS neT-enABleD ArchiTecTUre iS The KeY To FielDing TheSe cApABiliTieS For The U.S. ArMYS cUrrenT AnD FUTUre Force.

At JeFX 08 the Ah-64D Apache demonstrated its ability to meet or exceed event objectives collaboration and connectivity.
oint expeditionary Force experiment 2008 Biannually, the United States Air Force conducts a JeFX in select laboratory and field environments at U.S. military facilities across the United States. JeFX 08, held early in 2008, was a multinational, multiservice military experiment intended to accelerate the research, development and fielding of new combat systems. The experiment culminated in April 2008 with a field demonstration designed to test full joint connectivity and situational awareness in an operational setting.

The Ah-64D Apache longbow was the primary Army aviation component of JeFX and worked with the ground component of JeFX by enabling both near-real-time threat data for the network and shared situational awareness between ground and air assets. The theme for this years JeFX was collaboration and connectivity. The Ah-64D Apache demonstrated new capabilities by streaming sensor video, sending still images and sharing situational awareness data with dismounted ground forces

and vehicles as a node on the network. Situational awareness data automatically appeared as icons on situation maps in the cockpit and in ground vehicles. The Apache received streaming video from unmanned aerial vehicles, which extended sensor range. And the Apache performed fire missions in direct support of ground forces. The Apache also was able to receive calls for fire and image requests and send spot reports, shot-at reports and images.

The Apaches network-centric warfare capabilities shown at JeFX serve as an excellent proof point for Boeings next-generation Block iii Ah-64D Apache, said Bob Speir, Apache JeFX 08 project manager. The Block iii Apaches net-enabled architecture is the key to fielding these capabilities for the U.S. Armys current and future force.

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such as weather, weapon availability and force locations are just some of the applications of nco connectivity. And the success of the Ah-64D Apache Block iii is based on more than just network-centric connectivity. capabilities of the aircraft are being enhanced to deliver extended-range sensing, passive ranging and image fusion, said Scott rudy, Boeing Apache Block iii program manager. performance of the aircraft is being improved with the addition of composite main rotor blades; a 3,400 horsepower, split-torque, face-gear

transmission; and upgraded 701D engines that include the enhanced Digital electronics control Unit. These three performance improvements will provide the warfighter with an increased capability in terms of either firepower, time on station, or both. life cycle costs are also being reduced as a result of open systems architecture and by incorporating components with much higher meantime-between-failure rates. lower life cycle costs will also translate into a greater readiness rate for our soldiers.

The Apache is the Armys first aviation platform thats network enabled connected to the network with the ability to receive and send relevant information. Apache is a node on the network, an aviation platform with sensors that collect, interpret and route data in near real time. Sharing information enhances situational awareness, enabling more rapid command decision-making, resulting in increased mission effectiveness. The Ah-64D Apache delivers on the promises made, and the Ah-64D Apache Block iii is a promise kept again.

briNgiNg apache block iii

BY cArole ThoMpSon

To The forefroNT
The ApAche hAS An ASToUnDing legAcY oF AchieveMenT, AnD The BlocK iii progrAM iS BUilDing on ThAT legAcY To creATe A neW helicopTer WiTh All The BeneFiTS oF The proven plATForM. rUDY reporTS ThAT SoMe oF The MileSToneS recenTlY AchieveD AnD AnTicipATeD in The neAr TerM Are:

Achieving connectivity between individuals, within workgroups, across a three-dimensional battlefield, among differing military services and allied forces takes a concentrated commitment, dedicated effort, well-thought-out planning and efficient execution.

he Block iii Ah-64D Apache is bringing network-centric connectivity to the customer. Designers and planners worked the concept out on paper and demonstrated and simulated it in computer models. Under the guidance of and in cooperation with the U.S. Army, Boeing, using the resources and expertise of the round-the-world group of Team Apache suppliers helped ensure that the various aspects of the final product comprises the best industry has to offer. production and assembly workers are building the aircraft to the documented

specifications. And with the successful first flight of Apache Block iii aircraft in June 2008, test pilots and engineers are verifying technologies and capabilities to get ready for the first production delivery to the customer in 2011. network-centric operations are valuable to the soldier who defends our nations ideals and freedom. To put it in simple language, nco uses the power of a network to access information from a broad array of resources to enable users to make efficient, well-timed and

oftentimes lifesaving decisions. Todays battlefield commanders have more information available to them than at any other time in history, and as nco capabilities continue to expand and be implemented within platforms such as the Ah-64D Apache Block iii that information is going to expand for the ultimate benefit of the soldier and commander. providing data about the precise locations of allied and adversarial troops and battlefield assets, delivering information about changing conditions

Completion of the lot 1 preliminary design review. The first flight of Avionics aircraft 1 june 27, 2008. the composite main rotor blades july 5, 2008. the aircraft dedicated to testing the radar electronics unit in November 2008. Avionics aircraft 2 in february 2009. The lot 1 critical design review in March 2009.

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boeiNg developiNg voice-recogNiTioN sysTem

for apache cockpiT

BY liSA DUnBAr

in the Apache of the future, pilots will be able to speak thousands of commands into their cockpit headsets to call up information on the multipurpose displays, to configure radios, to prepare weapons and more.

ApAche eXperiMenTAl FlighT TeST piloTS pArTicipATe in TeSTing voice coMMAnD AnD conTrol TechnologY in The MeSA SiTeS ADvAnceD roTorcrAFT rApiD proToTYping MiSSion SiMUlATor.

ngineers at Boeing in Mesa, Ariz., are testing voice-command-recognition technology that will allow pilots to keep their hands on the flight controls and eyes on the battlefield while they use their voices to accomplish other tasks. The engineers have been using internal research and development funds to investigate the technology, said Deanna Decou, principal investigator and project engineer. With software acquired from Adacel, an aerospace software and simulation training company, the technology was tested in the Mesa sites Advanced rotorcraft rapid prototyping Mission Simulator, a live Apache cockpit simulator. one of the objectives is to increase the crews ability to function effectively in the high-workload, information-rich environment envisioned

for the future, Decou said. Apache experimental flight test pilots and production flight test pilots participated in the testing in an environment that simulated the noise in an Apache crew station. The system achieved 92 percent recognition accuracy for spoken commands. The technology was also demonstrated for high-ranking U.S. Army officials and the Army Apache program office and was well received, according to Decou. The plan is to improve the system for greater recognition accuracy, expand the grammar for Apache applications and integrate the software into Apache aircraft software and hardware for evaluation. The opportunity to invigorate the Apache is a challenge that the Boeing Analysis, Modeling and

Simulation team has accepted willingly The goal is to make future generations of Apache even more capable and versatile. The Apache has proved in combat that its early government/industry requirements and design teams had a vision that was greater than the Fulda gap fight. The multirole combat aviation platform has capability that far exceeds its early expectations and is limited only by the minds of the soldiers who use it in combat. The future is focused on enhancing the Apaches combat power, survivability and agility to ensure that solders can rely on the future Apache to be more capable than todays Apache.

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its approaching 11:00 p.m. local time as the u.s. Army attack/recon aviation team approaches the hostile urban area where a powerful drug cartel in control of the local government has been holding the u.s. ambassador and her family captive for more than three weeks. special operations forces are already in place for this operation and have their warrior unmanned aerial system over the building where intelligence sources indicate that the family is being held. A usAf AwAcs is loitering high overhead to provide overall battlefield information and aerial command and control, and a b-52 is also in the airspace. the warrior has sent images of an armored vehicle with a heavy machine gun at each end of the main street that provides access to the building. the vehicle to the north must be eliminated for the ground forces to get to the building. the reconnaissance helicopter goes in first to take out the armored vehicle. just as that helicopter approaches a position

for missile fire, a rocket-propelled grenade is launched from an adjacent rooftop, and heavy machine-gun fire follows from the top of a building to the south. the rpg hits the helicopter, which makes an emergency landing on the street. the Ah 64d Apaches hostile-fire indication system instantly pinpoints the location of the rpg launch and the machine-gun fire. the data fusion algorithm in the Apaches advanced mission processor confirms both targets with visual images transmitted from the warrior uAs and displays the target icons on the Apaches advanced display system. the Apaches cognitive decision-aiding system slews the Apaches laser pointer tracker to the machine-gun operator, and a blinding flash of light from the Apache laser temporarily blinds him. simultaneously, the Apaches automatic target recognition software system slews the Apaches turreted 30 mm weapon to the rpg launch site.

beyoNd block iii

BY lArrY plASTer WiTh cArole ThoMpSon

apache moderNiZaTioN program

A hail of 30mm gunfire takes out the rpg launch team. within seconds, a bright flash eliminates the machinegun operators. over the Apaches tactical common data link level iii uAs control software, the Apaches hfi system digitally transmits precise target information from to the warriors laser-guided rocket. the uAs uses this information to launch a laser-guided missile and eliminate the machine gun. the scene surrounding the building where the hostages are being held erupts in gunfire as the other armored vehicle opens fire on the Apache, and enemy troop emplacements begin to open fire on the downed reconnaissance helicopter crew and the approaching sof. the Apaches modernized target Acquisition designation sight system pinpoints the location of the second armored vehicle and uses the onboard link 16 communication network to pass precise coordinates to the aerial command and control aircraft high
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The future is not a far-fetched fantasy.

small group of engineers dedicate their professional expertise to the future version of the Apache. The group, led by larry plaster, manager of Apache Modernization programs in Mesa, Ariz., seeks to address the operational demands of soldiers and battlefield commanders of the future that may involve scenarios such as the one that follows here. like other leaders in the Apache program, these visionaries understand that continuous improvement of the Apache helicopter is essential to its effectiveness and relevance tomorrow.

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the Apache confirms, based on high-fidelity flir imagery from the uAs, that the right number of people are in the room and sends a digital confirmation over wNw to the sof command vehicle. this confirmation is instantly shared with all dismounted sof troops over their srw network. in minutes the sof neutralize the kidnappers, and the ambassador and her family are recovered with no casualties. meanwhile, the Apaches modernized pilot Night Vision system has located the downed reconnaissance helicopter crew members and provides this information to the srw network so that the nearest sof vehicle can find them quickly. the sof ground forces again use the tactical whiteboard battle command software to confirm the location of the downed helicopter crew members before moving in on their objective. in less than a half hour its over, and only enemy forces have died. All this may sound far fetched, says larry plaster, manager of Apache Modernization programs, however, this type of highly automated, digitally controlled precision-attack capability may not be as far off as many would think. All the technologies used in this fantasy scenario are being developed as part of the Boeing Apache Modernization Technology Development plan. Maximizing effective use of the network-centric operational capabilities that the Block iii Apache improvement program provides will depend on inserting the advanced crew station technologies being developed. An advanced crew station with state-of-the-art head-down and head-up displays powered by an advanced distributed aperture sensor system will allow aviators full use of the enhanced/ synthetic vision system technology that boeing is developing. the crew will be able to see 360 degrees around their aircraft, in real time, at night and in low-visibility environments. Advanced CDAS software will allow the crew to assimilate and act on massive amounts of information made available from ground, air and space networks. Advanced data fusion algorithms that correlate data from multiple digital networks and/or uAs sensors and will make Automatic target recognition possible and provide the crew with only the information it needs to address the highest priority threats. A full-authority, fly-by-wire advanced flight control system will allow fully coupled maneuvers that will maximize threat evasion and precision targeting in a complex, asymmetric warfare environment. During JEFX 08 and other recent NCO operational demonstrations, an Apache block iii prototype aircraft has already demonstrated the advantages that the advanced highbandwidth, software-defined communication links provide to the networked battlefield. Advanced weapons, including advanced precision guided rockets and a laser pointer/tracker device capable of temporarily blinding enemy fighters, will add to the Apaches already formidable arsenal.

The Apaches reputation for protecting the lives of U.S. ground forces and ensuring that soldiers come home is widely recognized. The next generation of technologies that the Apache Modernization program is developing will improve this capability by another order of magnitude. Battles will be short, and more troops and helicopters will survive to fight another day, predicts plaster.
MAXiMiZing eFFecTive USe oF The neTWorK-cenTric operATionAl cApABiliTieS ThAT The BlocK iii ApAche iMproveMenT progrAM proviDeS Will DepenD on SUcceSSFUl inSerTion oF The ADvAnceD creW STATion TechnologieS cUrrenTlY Being DevelopeD To enhAnce The BlocK iii cApABiliTieS.

the Apaches reputation for protecting the lives of u.s. ground forces and assuring that soldiers come home is widely recognized. the next generation of new technologies currently being developed for the Apache via the Apache modernization program will improve this capability by another order of magnitude.

ApAche MoDerniZATion eFForTS Are on TrAcK, inTegrATing neW TechnologieS To MAinTAin The ApAcheS role in SUpporT oF cUrrenT AnD FUTUre coMBAT operATionS. continued from page 21

overhead. on receipt of command, the b-52 launches a smalldiameter bomb that eliminates the second armored vehicle and its machine gun. meanwhile, the Apaches hfi with 360degree sensor coverage around the aircraft has detected and pinpointed the precise coordinates of all the small-arms fire on the battlefield. the Apaches cdAs and data-fusion software uses the ground force soldier radio waveform network to correlate blue-force positions with the detected ground-fire positions. the Apache uses its srw system to pass all enemy ground-fire positions to the srw network so that all the ground-force vehicles and dismounted troops simultaneously have the location of all enemy ground-fire emplacements. the Apache then begins to eliminate the threats nearest to the ground forces, using the hfi systems precise target locations and the advanced crew station helmet-mounted display system to guide the precision launch of laser-guided rockets and to direct 30mm gunfire. As the lead Apache approaches the building where the hostages are being held, the onboard advanced common missile warning system (cmws) detects a shoulder-fired missile launch. the advanced, full-authority fly-by-wire flight

control system, coupled to the cmws, provides automatic evasive maneuvers while missile countermeasures are launched to divert the missile lock. in the Apaches advanced-display rearview mirror, the lead Apaches crew can see their wingman Apache lock on the missile launch location and direct a laser at the window that the missile was launched from, temporarily blinding all combatants in the room. the wingman Apache instantly launches a laserguided rocket, which takes out the launch-site room with only minor collateral damage to the surrounding rooms. the enemy forces begin to flee the area. A special forces blackhawk is cleared to land on the rooftop just as the sof ground troops reach the building at ground level. the Apache continuously relays a flir (forward-looking infrared) video of the building from the warrior uAs now loitering close to the building. the high-fidelity streaming video transmitted over the Apaches onboard wideband networking waveform provides the sof dismounted troops with the precise location of occupied rooms. the soldier in the sof command and control vehicle circles a building window on his display and transmits this image to the Apache crew using tactical whiteboard battle command software.

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u.s. army acTive aNd reserve compoNeNT uNiTs

BAcK FroM AFghAniSTAn

3rd Battalion, 101st Aviation regiment, Fort campbell, Ky. 1st Battalion, 229th Aviation regiment, hunter Army Airfield, ga. 3rd Battalion, 229th Aviation regiment, Fort Bragg, n.c. 1st Battalion, 130th Aviation regiment, north carolina national guard, Morrisville B company, 1st Battalion, 111th Aviation regiment, Florida national guard, Jacksonville 1st Battalion, 211th Aviation regiment, Utah national guard, West Jordan 1st Battalion, 183rd Aviation regiment, idaho national guard, Boise c Troop, 7th Squadron, 6th cavalry regiment, USAr, conroe, Texas r Troop, 4/278th, Tennessee national guard, Jackson 2nd Squadron, 6th cavalry regiment, illesheim, germany 1st Battalion, 285th Aviation regiment, Arizona national guard, Marana

iN afghaNisTaN as of ocTober 2008

1st Battalion, 101st Aviation regiment, Fort campbell, Ky.

u.s. army acTive aNd reserve compoNeNT uNiTs

Boeing is proud to continue to support all of our great aviation heroes. Aviation and maintenance crews have been deployed to Afghanistan and to iraq in most cases more than once or twice since late 2001. These soldiers are living the Army values loyalty, Duty, respect, Selfless Service, honor, integrity and personal courage.

BAcK FroM irAq

1st Battalion, 151st Aviation regiment, South carolina national guard, eastover 1st Battalion, 149th Aviation regiment, Texas national guard, houston 8th Battalion, 229th Aviation regiment, USAr, Fort Knox, Ky. B Troop, 7th Squadron, 6th cavalry regiment, USAr, conroe, Texas 1st Battalion, 501st Aviation regiment, Fort hood, Texas 1st Battalion, 1st Aviation regiment, Fort riley, Kan. 2nd Squadron, 6th cavalry regiment, illesheim, germany 3rd Battalion, 101st Aviation regiment, Fort campbell, Ky. 4th Battalion, 4th Aviation regiment, Fort hood, Texas 1st Battalion, 101st Aviation regiment, Fort campbell, Ky.* 6th Squadron, 6th cavalry regiment, illesheim, germany 2nd Battalion, 101st Aviation regiment, Fort campbell, Ky.* 3rd Battalion, 101st Aviation regiment, Fort campbell, Ky.* 4th Squadron, 3rd Armored cavalry regiment, Fort hood, Texas* 1st Battalion, 4th Aviation regiment, Fort hood, Texas* 3rd Battalion, 3rd Aviation regiment, hunter Army Airfield, ga. c company, 1st Battalion, 151st Aviation regiment, Mississippi national guard, Tupelo A company, 1st Battalion, 135th Aviation regiment, Missouri national guard, Whiteman Air Force Base 1st Battalion, 82nd Aviation regiment, Fort Bragg, n.c. 4th Battalion, 227th Aviation regiment, Fort hood, Texas 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation regiment, Fort hood, Texas* 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation regiment, hunter Army Airfield, ga.* 2nd Battalion, 159th Aviation regiment, illesheim, germany

u.s. army apache baTTalioNs aNd soldiers

always oN duTy

BY cArole ThoMpSon

The enemy fears the Apache and gives it names such Demon night Shark. But allied soldiers and their battlefield commanders, who perceive the aircraft quite differently, give it names such as Angel in the Sky. U.S. Army vice chief of Staff gen. Dick cody noted the difference in his speech to military, industry, government and media leaders assembled in Mesa, Ariz., for the ceremonial first flight of the Ah-64D Apache Block iii helicopter.

ody recounted, i spend a lot of time at Walter reed visiting our young soldiers who come back that are wounded in battle. i talked to this one first lieutenant from the 101st. They had been ambushed inside of Baghdad at night. Their humvee had been destroyed, and they had to requisition a commercial vehicle. he told me, i really thought we were in for it, and we were not going to get out of there. And then i heard the rotor blades of the Apache. he said they were like angels in the sky. he said, not only did they (the Apaches) get in there and find us, but they were able to put precision hellfire and rockets in there and separate us from the enemy so we could all could get out alive.

ApAcheS FroM The AcTive U.S. ArMY AnD reServe coMponenTS Are on DUTY DAY AnD nighT AroUnD The WorlD SUpporTing oUr TroopS on The groUnD AnD in The Air.

iN iraq as of ocTober 2008

1st Battalion, 1st Aviation regiment, Fort riley, Kan. 3rd Battalion, 159th Aviation regiment, illesheim, germany 1st Battalion, 10th Aviation regiment, Fort Drum, n.Y. 4th Squadron, 3rd Armor cavalry regiment, Fort hood, Texas *Multiple deployments under the unit designation.

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NaTioNal guard aNd reserve soldiers aT work

iN defeNse of freedom

generally in battle use the normal force to engage; use the extraordinary force to win.
Sun Tzu

ariZoNa, 1-285 A-Model Training Base Western Army Aviation Training Site, Marana idaho, 1-183 gowen Field, Boise mississippi , c company, 1-149 hawkins Field, Jackson

BY MiKe BUrKe

The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the U.S. homeland changed everything. The impact on the guard and reserve has been dramatic.
o longer do reservists simply perform routine weekend drills and attend the normal two-week annual training; rather, they are fully invested in meeting the nations commitment in the war on terrorism. in the past every rotation to operations enduring Freedom and iraqi Freedom, Army national guard and Army reserve aviation forces have made up 25 percent to 75 percent of the aviation forces deployed. nine of the ten guard and reserve Apache Battalions have deployed. All 12 of the guards aviation brigades are in the Army Force generation model for rotations and are predicted to stay in rotation for the foreseeable future.

Apaches are that extraordinary force.

Mother nature has also demanded a higher state of readiness from reserve component aviation forces. guard aviators were among the first responders in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and rita. Army reserve aviators began deploying with less than 24 hours notice to pakistan in response to the earthquake in october 2005 and followed that with a full rotation to Afghanistan. guard helicopters are fighting the wildfires in the Western United States and, when hurricane Alberto was threatening landfall in Texas during the 2006 hurricane season, the president inquired about the readiness of four ch 47 crews and six medical evacuation crews from the guard who were tasked to respond. reserve component aviation crews also play key

roles in peacekeeping operations and homeland defense missions. The readiness of reserve component aviation crews is critical to the operational needs of the U.S. Army. reserve component aviators have the same flight standardization, the same physical requirements and the same academic standards as active component aviators. They operate and maintain the same modernized aircraft and perform the same missions. They have the same career gate requirements, and as recent experience demonstrates, they have to be ready to respond with little notice. national guard and reserve aviation soldiers are ready when needed now!

The reADineSS oF reServe coMponenT AviATion creWS iS criTicAl To The operATionAl neeDS oF The U.S. ArMY.

missouri , 1-135 Whiteman Air Force Base NorTh caroliNa, 1-130 raleigh-Durham Airport peNNsylvaNia, 1-104 Muir Army Air Field, Fort indiantown gap souTh caroliNa, 1-151 Mcentire Air national guard Base, eastover TeNNessee, e company, 1-230 Jackson TeXas, 1-149 ellington Field, houston uTah, 1-211 Army Aviation Support Facility, West Jordan

U.S. ArMY nATionAl gUArD AnD reServe UniTS conTinUe To SUpporT The gloBAl WAr on TerroriSM BY FlYing Their Ah-64A ApAcheS AnD Ah-64D ApAche longBoWS in coMBAT.

keNTucky 8-229 United States Army reserve Fort Knox TeXas 7-6 United States Army reserve conroe

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uNique memorial day iN balad

Yesterday was Memorial Day. i am surprised that more wasnt done here at the base in Balad, but then again, we back home need to honor and celebrate the sacrifice of those in uniform. While the military tries very hard to have as many as possible of the creature comforts of home at all the military bases here, its still iraq. This place is oppressively hot, sometimes with unforgiving sand and dust storms thousands of miles away from loved ones. i dont know how the people here do it, but they do, and i am glad for it. When i asked one soldier yesterday what he was doing this Memorial Day, he said nothing. im going to work. its just another day that ends in y to me. Wherever you are today, soldier, whatever youre doing, thanks for your sacrifice. i have a message for everyone at the Boeing facility in Mesa. Some of the U.S. Army crew members asked me about the status of the Apache Block ii. They love their Apaches here, and the deputy commander of the 4th infantry Division noted the Apaches have become the most sought-after asset in theater, especially in Baghdad, where six Apaches are flying over the city at any given time. of his aircraft received so much damage a special team from the corpus christi Army Depot flew to iraq to make the repairs. They had it up and flying in a couple of weeks, and christiansen was flying it that night. Thats finding a way to keep them up in the air. Boeing and ccAD are partners in ensuring mission readiness for the Apache helicopters. for Boeing. They know that it was many of our products that the U.S. and coalition forces used during the first gulf War that pushed Saddam hussein out of Kuwait and back to iraq. Many of the people here have never forgotten that, and i find many friendly Kuwaitis eager to hear where im from and what St. louis and America are like. This is a beautiful country rich in tradition and history, yet i am eager to get back to the United States and my Boeing Support Systems teammates to share my many stories and adventures from this trip. in a few hours my new Boeing friends here in Kuwait will drive me to the airport to start my last leg home from this adventure.

my lasT NighT iN kuwaiT

After a restless night in the transient tent, i was up at 4:30 a.m. getting dressed with my flashlight with a red lens so i wouldnt wake anyone. My passport was ready, but there was one more story i wanted to get. All week i had seen our Boeing c-17s taking off and landing in Baghdad and Kuwait. These are great aircraft supporting the ongoing actions in iraq. After hooking up with the U.S. Air Force public affairs officer, i went out to talk to a c-17 crew from Travis Air Force Base in california. They had just transported troops and were back for support maintenance. The c-17s are flying nonstop in and out of theater, supporting hundreds of missions. Believe me, after sitting in the back of that c 130 that brought me in and out of iraq, walking into the air-conditioned cargo section of the c-17 was like walking into a rollsroyce. The flight crews and troops really like the aircraft, which is uniquely suited for this mission. After visiting with the c-17 crew, i called Jeff Miracle, a contract field service rep. Dave Sale, a department manager with Apache Field Services in Mesa, Ariz., suggested i call Jeff when i was passing through. Jeff lives and works in Kuwait and supports the Kuwaiti Air Force and its Ah-64D Apache longbow program. its another Boeing connection on the other side of the world, and Jeff is great. he would not let me check into a hotel and said he and the other FSrs have more than enough room. i was staying in their residence, and that was that. Jeff drove out and picked me up at the base, and then we stopped to meet the other FSrs for dinner. Jeff and the other FSrs told me about their lives and work here. it is very different living here they say, but they love it, and they love the challenges of helping the Kuwaiti Air Force keep their Apaches mission ready. They say there is an appreciation among the Kuwaiti military

oN The way home

im sitting here at 30,000 feet looking out the window during the last leg of my journey from iraq, and im thinking how lucky i am. having just spent the last 13 days in war-torn iraq, i am on my way home intact, safe and soon to be sleeping in the comfort of my own bed. But thousands of American and coalition servicemen and women arent as fortunate. They remain on station, and on duty, doing jobs that are both dangerous and critical. Thank heaven for all of them. Although i work for integrated Defense Systems Support Systems, this journey was bigger than just us. This project embraced teammates from Boeing commercial Airplanes, integrated Defense Systems, corporate and Shared Services group and proved that we really are one Boeing. confidence. Thats what i heard. Through the voices of our customers i heard the confidence they have in our programs and our people. When the commander of an Ah-64 Apache attack helicopter squadron gets ready to put his life on the line over Sadr city, iraq, and he tells you that his unit couldnt fly its missions without his Boeing FSr that says something. im looking forward to getting back and reading all the blog comments. Thanks to all of you. Thank you for your thoughts and comments through this journey; they really meant a lot.

parTNered for success

over the weekend, i spent a full night and day at lSA Anaconda. That stands for logistics support area, and its located here in Balad. its another one of Saddam husseins former air bases. Just like at Al Taqaddum, the former dictator ordered his troops to bury their russian-made planes in the sand to hide them. of course when coalition forces got here during the first gulf War, we found them. That means you can be riding down the street and see a Mig fighter sitting along the side of the road. im sure some collectors would have a field day here. As the logistics hub for the U.S. military, everything coming into iraq comes through here first. i mean everything. Miles of fencing and hundreds of shipping containers secure parts and vehicles. its huge. This place is quite the contrast to my next destination, a place called Taji. The U.S. Army is flying and maintaining our Ah-64D Apache helicopters from that base with phenomenal success in some pretty demanding conditions. The other night i spoke to lt. col. Kevin christiansen, an Apache commander. he told me that one

a reporTers view
BY rAnDY JAcKSon

dispaTches from iraq:

From May 19 to June 4, 2008, randy Jackson, a communications specialist for The Boeing companys integrated Defense Systems Support Systems business, told the Boeing story from a unique vantage point on the front lines with U.S. service personnel.
raveling with forward-deployed U.S. military units in iraq as a reporter for the companys internal newsletter, boeing News Now, randy posted frequent blog entries, video reports and Bnn stories to inform employees about the importance and scope of our work supporting the warfighter in-theater. The following is excerpted from randys journal reports.

ABove: An Ah-64D ApAche longBoW liFTS oFF FroM An UnDiScloSeD locATion. DeFenDing AgAinST TerroriSM iS A 24-hoUr-A-DAY, SevenDAY-A-WeeK ASSignMenT For ApAche AviATion AnD MAinTenAnce creWS Who hAve Been DeploYeD To irAq AnD AFghAniSTAn.

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First thing we do is get our mission data cards for the aircraft ready through our AMpS (Aviation Mission planning Station computer) via our cp [command post] with all the aircraft-specific data. We receive our tail number, and we print out the kneeboard cards and communications cards, said chief Warrant officer 3 Thaddeus Menold, air mission commander 1-1 ArB. From there we head over to the battalion Tactical operations center and receive a mission team brief, said 1st lt. Deborah lindeman, c company, 1-1 ArB. personnel from the operations and intelligence staffs brief the pilots on the details of their mission to ensure that they know what to expect. pilots are briefed on the five Ws who, what, where, when and why with respect to the operations portion of the brief. The crews receive instructions on what the ground commanders want along with any changes in procedures or radio frequencies, said 1st lt. peter huang, a battle captain for 1-1 ArB. Furthermore, pilots receive any changes in battlespace and any updates as to what friendly forces are in the area of operations, huang continued. Just as the operations officer gives a detailed briefing, so does the intelligence officer. everything the enemy might be doing or trying to do is briefed, including the careful articulation of possible enemy courses of action. We find patterns and trends the enemy might be engaged in like ieD (improvised explosive devices), small arms fire and emplacements. We give the pilots an assessment so they know what to look for, how the enemy might act and what to expect, said Staff Sgt. Floyd perry, 1-1 ArB intelligence analyst. The intel guys can give a 72-hour look of what has happened in the area of operations as well as a threat analysis to tell us where the bad guys are, based on previous activity, said Menold. once each Apache crew is briefed and understands their mission set, their air

mission commander briefs them. After our intelligence and operations brief we go back to our cp, and we do a team brief and we plan our route of ingress, our execution and our route of egress. We also discuss what our greatest threat might be and what the greatest safety risk is, said Menold. in addition we address what to do if we lose communications or have an emergency. From there we head out to the aircraft for preflight checks, and we also check the weather one more time before we go on the mission, said Menold. The Apache is a two-seat helicopter, and both pilots in an Ah-64 Apache longbow have a certain job to perform. Although both can fly the aircraft, the command pilot and the copilot gunner have distinct duties in a combat situation. The pilot maneuvers the helicopter so that the cpg can fire, said lindeman.

a weapons attack team made up of two Apaches flying as a pair. Mission success depends on the gunship crews working together. i like crew coordination, not just in the cockpit, but in the team. i like to see crew coordination between aircrafts. if someone has a minor problem, no matter how small, i want to know about it, said Menold. each Apache crew has a distinct role during a mission set. The lead aircraft is the primary shooter and navigator and serves as the principal communicator with the ground force commander. The trail aircraft covers the lead aircraft should the lead aircraft take fire. The trail Apache also monitors the cTAF (common Traffic Advisory Frequency) for air-to-air deconfliction, said capt. Jason lynn, 1-1 ArB plans officer. Supporting the ground units is what each mission is about. Mission success is measured by supporting the ground units and helping them get back to their bases safely. So we do our best to help them in any way we can, said Menold. There is nothing better than catching someone emplacing ieD. The ground units are always appreciative of us being there. Apache crews often fly several types of missions from counter-ieD reconnaissance to ground support. Apache pilots say they can see the positive contributions they are making in defeating insurgents. The violence has scaled down quite a bit since we got here, said Menold. We used to catch a lot of insurgents emplacing ieDs. however, there are not as many emplacers as there used to be. We are definitely having an impact on ieD activity, said Menold.

mission success is measured by supporting the ground units and helping them get back to their bases safely. so we do our best to help them in any way we can.
chief Warrant officer 3 Thaddeus Menold, air mission commander 1-1 ArB.
The advantage to being the cpg is that you have laser, and you can shoot missiles or the 30mm cannon. The pilots must work together to accomplish in-flight tasks and duties. We just talk to each other, and i let him (the pilot) know if i have something, where i am looking, at left or right. From there the pilot can see the video i am looking at through my screen. he then places the aircraft to where i am looking, said lindeman. During a mission, individual Apache crews work with a sister gunship and are part of

The fighT iN iraq

apache guNfighTers iNflueNciNg

BY MAJ. enriqUe T. vASqUeZ, coMBAT AviATion BrigADe, 1ST inFAnTrY DiviSion, pUBlic AFFAirS oFFice

Since the days of early aviation, Army pilots have played a key role in the outcome of ground battles and air missions.
or pilots flying the Ah-64 Apache longbows of the 1st Attack reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Aviation regiment, in northern iraq, the legacy of influencing the fight continues through careful mission preparation and teamwork. These pilots, known as the gunfighters, are part of the effort of the combat Aviation Brigade, 1st infantry Division, to sustain a constant presence over the skies of northern iraq in support of Task Force iron. however, before the gunfighters jump into their cockpits and head out into the skies of Multinational Divisionnorth, they must plan each mission meticulously.

ABove: An Ah-64D ApAche longBoW FroM The 1ST ATTAcK reconnAiSSAnce BATTAlion, 1ST AviATion regiMenT, prepAreS For A nighT MiSSion MAY 31 in TiKriT, irAq. The 1-1 ArB gUnFighTer Air AnD groUnD creWS WorK AroUnD The clocK SUSTAining Air operATionS AnD Are pArT oF The coMBAT AviATion BrigADe, 1ST inFAnTrY DiviSion, FroM ForT rileY, KAn., FlYing in SUpporT oF TASK Force iron, 1ST ArMoreD DiviSion, in norThern irAq.

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believes iN apache

u.s. army baTTalioN commaNder

BY liSA DUnBAr oTher creWS oUT There DiDnT FlY hAlF oF The TiMe We DiD AnD We cAMe hoMe SAFelY WiTh All 24 oF oUr AircrAFT, he

oTher creWS oUT There DiDnT FlY hAlF oF The TiMe We DiD AnD We cAMe hoMe SAFelY WiTh All 24 oF oUr AircrAFT. We Were There TAKing The FighT To The BAD gUYS AnD ApAche WAS Up To The chAllenge AnD cAMe ThroUgh WiTh FlYing colorS. lt. col. pAul mArNoN

SAiD. We Were There TAKing The FighT To The BAD gUYS AnD ApAche WAS Up To The chAllenge AnD cAMe ThroUgh WiTh FlYing colorS. months that During the 15lTc pAUl MArnon U.S. Army Apache battalion commander lt. col. paul Marnon

led the 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation regiment from hunter Army Airfield in georgia through operation iraqi Freedom v and vi, he never questioned whether the Apache would bring his soldiers home.

either did his soldiers, who returned home safely in the summer of 2008.

We flew 28,070 hours in 15 months, often under enemy fire, and had no class A, B or c accidents, he told an audience of Boeing employees during a visit to the rotorcraft site in Mesa, Ariz.

The Apache never quit. And that is because of all of you, he told employees. You allowed us to fly, and we never questioned whether we would come home. These guys would not be home with their families if it had not been for you.

What was supposed to be a routine mission deployment in the summer of 2007 for this Apache attack battalion turned into participation in a U.S. military surge in iraq with 10 missions a day for 83 hours a month for some Apache aviators.

The soldiers used the Apache to fight in urban areas with three-story to 20-story buildings, in farm areas with irrigated fields and in rural areas of vast desert, where they used the Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/pilot night vision System and unmanned aerial systems to help see and destroy the enemy. lt. col. Marnons battalion was assigned a company of unmanned aerial vehicles to fly and work cooperatively with the units Apache helicopters.

The battalions responsibilities included escorting and providing security along the iran/iraq border, protecting soldiers on the ground by assisting convoys along the main roads to Baghdad who were finding explosive devices and clearing a route, and working with unmanned aerial vehicles and commanders to help destroy targets and establish command nodes. We fought in rain, snow, sleet and sand storms, Marnon said. The

Apache didnt care. The aircraft would fly for hours at a time. We maintained a mission capability of 85 percent throughout the deployment. other crews out there didnt fly half of the time we did and we came home safely with all 24 of our aircraft, he said. We were there taking the fight to the bad guys and Apache was up to the challenge and came through with flying colors.

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Johnson, the pilot in charge and a unit commander from 4th Battalion, 227th Aviation regiment, was commended for his role in that battle as he worked with iraqi army troops, U.S. special operation forces and U.S. Air Force joint terminal attack controllers to determine the location of friendly and enemy forces while protecting the site of the crash that took the lives of his friends, capt. Mark resh and chief Warrant officer cornell chao. The odds were against us, Division commander Army Maj. gen. Joseph F. Fil Jr. said, noting the enemy had about 600 soldiers in well-fortified, dug-in positions.

i was worried about my friends who were still there. i was scared. But he didnt show it. Johnson, from nampa, idaho, orchestrated more than an hour of organized attacks before running completely out of ammunition. his team flew back to FoB Kalsu, rearmed and went back into the fight. he had nerves of steel, Fil said of Johnson after watching the performance on screen at Johnsons award ceremony. he was calm, reasonable and making sound decisions.

support from firing in a straight line all the way through. Fil said the insurgents were well equipped and organized with supplies and medical stations, but the enemy was virtually destroyed. There was some good shooting that day, Fil said. That opened up the road to a successful deployment for 1st cavalry Division, the general said. i cant imagine how much more difficult it would have been for us if we had lost, he said. on a smaller scale, it made a huge difference for the people in the city. The governor met me and was sobbing. not out of sadness, not out of anger, but out

on a smaller scale, it made a huge difference for the people in the city. the governor met me, and was sobbing. Not out of sadness, not out of anger, but out of thankfulness, he said. he was so grateful that we took away that burden.
of thankfulness, he said. he was so grateful that we took away that burden. That wouldnt have been possible without the skills and professionalism of Johnson and his team, Fil said. i have never been associated with anyone more deserving of the Distinguished Flying cross than chief Warrant officer 3 Johnson, he said. That wouldnt have been possible without the skills and professionalism of Johnson and his team, Fil said. i have never been associated with anyone more deserving of the Distinguished Flying cross than chief Warrant officer 3 Johnson, he said.

you JusT do your Job

BY SgT. nicole KoJeTin, 1ST cAvAlrY DiviSion pUBlic AFFAirS SpeciAl To AMericAn ForceS preSS Service

piloTs heroism rewarded:

chieF WArrAnT oFFicer 3 ZAchArY JohnSon receiveD The DiSTingUiSheD FlYing croSS AT ForT hooD, TeXAS.

Feb. 1, 2008 A 1st cavalry Division Ah-64D longbow Apache pilot got word that two of his friends, fellow pilots, were shot down Jan. 28, 2007, during a fierce battle in najaf, a city under iraqi army control south of Baghdad.
ot thinking of his personal safety and facing an unknown enemy force, chief Warrant officer 3 Zachary Johnson sprang into action. For his courage that day he received the Distinguished Flying cross at the Fort hood catering and conference center exactly one year later.

ABove: U.S. ArMY Ah-64D ApAche longBoWS give piloTS The conFiDence To Do Their JoBS WiThoUT WorrYing ABoUT Their oWn SAFeTY.

There was a fierce battle under way, and the iraqi and U.S. soldiers on the ground needed air support. Johnson and his crew were that support. in eight minutes, Johnson led his team from Forward operating Base Kalsu to the battlefield. Those were the longest eight minutes of my life, he said. There was sadness because i just lost some of my friends.

But he didnt feel calm. i thought my voice was shaking, and i was thinking about a million things at once, Johnson said. But like the movie Black hawk Down, when the bullets are flying, you just do your job. i tried to stay level headed and cool under the pressure. The enemy had dug trenches 12 to 15 feet deep in a zigzag pattern to prevent air

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the Apache is fully living up to the expectation of the british Army and confirming its place as the worlds premier attack helicopter.

apaches shiNe
BY hAl Klopper

oN world sTage

Apaches around the world continue to show why operators in 11 nations continue to buy and deploy their Ah-64 Apaches for key defense needs.

ApAcheS conTinUe To eXpAnD Their preSence AroUnD The WorlD, WiTh operATorS ADDing To Their FleeTS or UpgrADing To The cUrrenT AnD FUTUre conFigUrATionS.

Jonathon haiselden, deputy team leader of the Apache Attack helicopter integrated project Team for the U.K . Ministry of Defence

hether its in Kuwait, where new Ah-64D Apache longbows are being fielded for the first time or in Singapore where their presence is a reminder of the importance of a strong defensive presence, Apaches are on duty around the clock. And the stories on these pages help illustrate how operators are getting the job done.

uNiTed kiNgdom u.k. apache fleet reaches 50,000 flight-hours

The Boeing team in Yeovil, england, is celebrating a significant milestone with its U.K. customer and partner. The British Army reached 50,000 flight-hours this month with its fleet of Apache Ah Mk1s, assembled by AgustaWestland under license from Boeing. Assigned to squadrons in the 3 and 4 regiments, the Apache continues to be flown in deployed operations at a rate of more than twice that originally envisioned. The Apache is fully living up to the expectation of the British Army and confirming its place as the worlds premier attack helicopter, said Jonathon haiselden, Deputy Team leader of the Apache Attack helicopter integrated project Team for the U.K. Ministry of Defence.

prince charles honors u.k. apache regiment

prince charles, the prince of Wales and heir to the British throne, recently presented service medals to the members of the 663 Squadron of the British Army Air corps 3 regiment for their service in Afghanistan. The squadron provided air cover in U.K. Apache attack helicopters to ground troops in the helmand province. The event marked the end of the regiments 12-month-long tour of Afghanistan. After the event, Boeing employee Don Brubaker, Technical Support Services and Yeovil Site Manager for the U.K. Apache, met with prince charles who expressed his awe of the Boeing-designed, AgustaWestland-built helicopter. its an amazing kit, said the prince, who is a qualified helicopter pilot. The ceremony took place at Wattisham Air Base, in Suffolk, england, which is the forward operating station for 3 regiment.

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JapaN
The Japan ground Self Defense Force, as part of its confirming test of the Ah-64D, recently conducted trials of the aircraft with the snow ski kit installed. The test took place on the island of hokkaido, Japan. The objective of testing was to compare the handling quality characteristics throughout the operating envelope of the Ah-64DJp Apache longbow, which was equipped with Ah-64D snow skis. The snow ski kit consists of two main skis and a single tail ski. The kit is produced by Airglas, inc. in Anchorage, Alaska. The wheel penetration-type skis are made of fiber-reinforced plastic using a proprietary Airglas process. A snow ski mission kit is being provided to enable takeoff and landing in snow-covered conditions.

Japanese media tour stops in mesa, ariz.

eight top Japanese defense journalists have been touring several Boeing sites in the United States. At the Boeing site in Mesa, Ariz., the Japanese reporters received overviews on site operations and on the v-22 osprey, Ah-64D Apache longbow and ch-47 chinook programs.

siNgapore
visitors to a republic of Singapore open house in August 2008 had a rare opportunity to view one of the republic of Singapore Air Forces Ah-64D Apache longbow helicopters that are based in Singapore. The rSAF has flown Apaches for many years and has logged thousands of hours of training exercises in Singapore and at training facilities in Arizona.

The NeTherlaNds
royal netherlands Air Force (rnlAF) pilots logged more than 300 missions and well over 800 flying hours in peacekeeping operations in 2008, and logged their 4,000th combined flight-hour in support of the international Security Assistance Force in iraq. rnlAF Ah-64Ds continue to demonstrate the effectiveness of combat helicopters in protecting troops on the ground in challenging environments.

kuwaiT boeing delivers apache helicopter training to kuwait

Training Systems and Services, a Support Systems division, delivered the Kuwait Air Forces first Apache longbow crew Trainer last week. The lcT is a full-mission, high-fidelity flight simulator that provides training for individuals, crews and maintenance test pilots. The Kuwait lcT, provided through a U.S. Army Foreign Military Sale, is the first trainer to be delivered equipped with two of Boeings newly developed technologies: next generation Flight Model and common Simulation Framework. By implementing these new technologies, we have raised the fidelity of the lcT to a highly sophisticated level, providing the most realistic training possible for Apache longbow crews, said Mark Mcgraw, vice president, TSS. The ngFM software, which allows the trainer to operate and feel like the real Apache helicopter, correlates to actual aircraft flight-test data. The cSF combines tools for software development, testing and systems integration with reusable software packages, ensuring that trainer software development and upgrades can occur more quickly and easily. The ngFM and cSF will be standard on future lcT deliveries and included in an upgrade package for the U.S. Armys 23 existing trainers. Deployed worldwide and used for in-theater training in Afghanistan and iraq, the lcT supports battalions by allowing pilots ample opportunity to meet their training needs and rehearse missions.

The roYAl neTherlAnDS Air Force reAcheD A MAJor MileSTone in 2008, pASSing A coMBineD ToTAl oF 4,000 FlighT hoUrS in SUpporT oF The inTernATionAl DeFenSe ForceS in irAq AnD AFghAniSTAn. The rnlAF FleW More ThAn 300 MiSSionS AnD loggeD More ThAn 800 hoUrS in 2008 Alone.

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The international Business Development team has been working hard for years, said cunningham. John Mcgraw, who is working in the trenches as our Business Development lead in the Middle east, is a great example of that drive. Mcgraw had a solid year in 2008, completing two sales in his region and laying the foundation for several more Boeing rotorcraft programs, including Apache and chinook.

The support provided by the British and Dutch Apaches has been tremendous and has clearly demonstrated that Apaches flown by multiple operators can work closely together in the field to support multinational coalition forces. cunningham said that dozens of additional new and remanufactured Apache orders could be on the books by mid-2009. its always about timing, available funding and government support, he said. its never been about how well the Apache can do its job; thats a given.

ToM cUnninghAM, MAnAger oF inTernATionAl roTorcrAFT BUSineSS DevelopMenT, SeeS An UpTUrn in The MArKeT For coMBAT helicopTerS in 2009 BecAUSe oF The BUSineSS DevelopMenT eFForTS oF John McgrAW, inTernATionAl BUSineSS DevelopMenT, righT, AnD The reST oF The TeAM.

cunningham said that, with Mcgraw and others working together, he looks forward to a flurry of activity in 2009 as current operators expand or upgrade their fleets and new customers join the family of Ah-64 Apache, ch-47 chinook and v-22 osprey operators worldwide. The market is making a turn upward, he said. Were looking for 2009 to be an outstanding year for Boeing rotorcraft. cunningham based much of his optimism on the way Apaches have been performing in combat and security assignments for U.S. and international users in the past several years. Apaches have proved to be reliable and effective in the war on terrorism, providing everything, including aerial support of convoys, command and control assignments, suppression of insurgent offensives and much more, he said.
in ADDiTion To The U.S. ArMY, 10 DeFenSe ForceS WorlDWiDe hAve SelecTeD The ApAche helicopTer.

To date, Apaches from 11 nations have logged more than two million flight-hours in combat and training assignments. Apaches are fielded in the Middle east, the Asia-pacific region and europe. Despite being in diverse areas extreme heat and cold, mountains or sandy conditions Apaches have done their jobs with precision, Mcgraw said. The Apache is a mature system that keeps getting better. The current production model will meet the needs of customers for many, many years. Future enhancements, which can be provided in upgrades down the road, mean Apaches will be the dominant multirole combat helicopter for decades to come.

world markeT
BY hAl Klopper

improviNg for ah-64d

When the first Apache longbow for another international customer flew over the fence in July 2008, all the Apache international Business Development team could do was smile and think the world just became a little bit safer.

hat was the way Tom cunningham, manager of international rotorcraft Business Development for Boeing, and John Mcgraw, international Business Development, felt as they recalled the milestone event departure of the first of more than two dozen newly remanufactured Apache longbows for the long-time Apache operator.

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defeNse cooperaTioN saves dollars

aNd makes seNse

BY BrAD roUnDing

Acquisition, development and production benefits U.S. government and international Apache programs.
oth U.S. government and international programs benefit from one another, in terms of acquisition cost (economic order quantities), stability in production lines, labor rates, technology development costs and integration. And this is a good thing, especially because many of these U.S. and international customers fly Apaches and fight side by side around the globe. From the defense acquisition standpoint, it may be hard to imagine that different programs could mutually benefit one another. Detailed analysis has proved the case however. one benefit is in acquisition cost. pricing depends on many factors, chief among them is a warm production line. Both U.S. government and international programs have benefited from their cooperative relationship. Although the U.S. government has provided many years of production that benefited international customers with a warm base, there have

been several breaks in U.S. production when international customers kept the production line warm (and more affordable) for continued U.S. government production. Without a warm production line, prices go up substantially, owing to disruption, loss of learning and startup costs. Another area where acquisition costs are reduced is through eoq purchases. When ordering, international customers can piggyback on U.S. government orders to take advantage of favorable supplier prices. A foreign customer added 30 aircraft to the U.S. government buy of 96 aircraft in the extended Block ii contract to gain the efficiencies of the larger buy for 126. Fixed cost and labor rates are more favorable because costs are spread across numerous programs. george philips, director of international Apache programs says, Apache international customers and the international supply base are critical elements in keeping the

Apache affordable for all customers. Technology sharing reduces developmental costs for any one program. one customer may be able to benefit from nonrecurring engineering work that another customer funded. international contributions of this type that have directly benefited the U.S. government include the backup control system, emergency locator transmitter, underwater locator transmitter, air-to-air weapons integration, components of electronic warfare suites and composite components. Some requirements are also shared among some customers, which can reduce costs associated with developmental programs. A case in point would be the fire-control radar and the integration of additional maritime capabilities. Several international customers and the U.S. government had this requirement, so they developed additional algorithms required in the fire-control computer. in these austere budget times, it is prudent for all Apache customers to share, contribute and benefit from the efforts of one another in technology development and production, says gary Bishop, director, U.S. government Apache programs. in developing the 26 technologies associated with Apache Block iii, there will be many opportunities to cooperate. As we listen to our customers in after-action

conTinUoUS MoDerniZATion oF ApAche Will proviDe opporTUniTieS To ShAre TechnologieS AnD coSTS.

reviews from current operations, we will continue to add more capability into the Apache that the customer needs in the current warfight continuing to make the Apache better and better, so the potential for additional cooperation is great into the foreseeable future, said Al Winn, Boeing vice president of Apache programs. Although these financial and developmental benefits are certainly

significant, many of these Apache users fight side by side in joint and coalition operations against common enemies, so the operational benefits are perhaps the greatest value of all.

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apache TraiNiNg

made my moves and broke every rule in the book to ensure that i was on the very first Apache conversion course to get back to the front line as a combat soldier. The course was extremely tough and the Apache complicated. The Apache longbow pushes the interaction between man and machine to the limit. Any more complicated and the number of pilots capable of mastering it would be too low. 565 Sqn AAc, being the first unit to train on the Apache and take it to war, were given the daunting task of bringing the machine into service as an offensive capability. learning to fly the Apache took six months. learning to fight with the machine took another six months. Then we had another six months integrating with ground forces, building tactics, techniques and procedures. Finally another six months carrying out all that the British government demanded of us. They wanted us to integrate with all of the ground units within 16 Air Assault Brigade, all other helicopters, fast air and then take the Apache to sea. The Apache proved to be a reliable and trustworthy machine that delivered what Boeing said it would. it also proved to be a force multiplier, knowing we can operate it from our navys ships. The average day for each Apache pilot was 16 hours, and this went on for two years until every box on the governments checklist was ticked, and we were finally ready to take her to war.

the intervening months they have had to demonstrate these qualities and more in the most demanding circumstances. we knew from the outset that our forces would face a stiff challenge in southern Afghanistan. we recognized that there would be some hard fighting which is, of course, why we sent the Apache in the first place. we might not have expected the degree of ferocity that fighting would sometimes reach at its peak, but we were ready for it. we were ready because of the quality, training and courage of our forces on the ground. the Apache has, over the course of 2006, established itself, with friend and foe alike, as one of our most powerful and flexible weapon systems as a battle-winning capability. but the weapon system can never be better than the people who wield it. the people of 9 regiment Army Air corps have earned their spurs in the heat, dust and fire of combat; in the face of challenging and complex operational situations; and often in the face of great danger. it is their professionalism, their dedication and their courage that has taken a nascent force and placed it firmly at the cutting edge of british military power. The British Army didnt have many qualified Apache pilots, and 9 regt AAc had the only two combat-ready sqns. 656 Sqn AAc returned to Afghanistan for a second op herrick tour less than three months after the first tour finished. it was toward the end of this tour that the rescue took place.

afghaNisTaN
it took the government less than six months to deploy 656 Sqn AAc to the notorious helmand province of Afghanistan on operation herrick. i and all of my fellow Apache comrades were very happy to deploy with the Apache but extremely apprehensive over our ability; the British Army knew exactly what the Apache was capable of, but the question was, were we capable of delivering this potential. We arrived in May 2006 and within a matter of weeks we had been tested, and testimonies begun to flood in. The commanders on the ground didnt want their soldiers out in the deadly green Zone or patrol bases without the Apache above. The Apache became know as the muscle and their big brother; our soldiers could fight with confidence with the Apaches above. The greatest accolade came from AcM Sir Jock Stirrup, the chief of the Defence Staff. he visited 9 regt AAc on Sept. 23, 2006, to award Afghanistan operation Service Medals to members of my regiment who had just returned from operation herrick. he said the following words in his address to the regiment: As we enter the final few months of 2006, our perspective of the Apache attack helicopters of 9 regiment Army Air corps is very different from that which we had at the beginning of the year. we always knew that the Apache was an enormously potent weapon system. we always knew that the people who operate and support it were brave and professional. but in

The rescue
The missioN
The mission was called operation glacier.

op glacier 1 The deep raid

op glacier 1 was a deep raid on a Taliban headquarters further south than any British troops had ever been. it was the Taliban reception center for new fighters and the hub for all orders in helmand. it would begin in the middle in the early hours of Jan. 11, 2006, with a U.S. B1 lancer, dropping four 2,000pound and six 500-pound bombs on the hq. Two Apaches were to over fly the target and mop up any Taliban trying to escape and destroy the remaining buildings. it was the AAcs first deep raid, and i was extremely delighted to be chosen to fight this battle. We knew if were shot down we would not be rescued until we had evaded capture and proved we were in a safe location. our chances on escape in this area were less than 5 percent. Why we were so self-confident about carrying this mission out without incident was due to the Apaches survivability. We had been shot up before and knew she could take it; she would get us home.
continued on page 46

rescue missioN:

a piloTs percepTioN
Apache news editors note: becoming a part of operation glacier for the british Army was a challenging task for wo1 ed macy, who tells the heroic rescue tale in his book Apache, a fascinating tale of bravery and innovation that added another capability to the combat-proven Apaches repertoire. macy joined the british Army in 1984 and served with the second battalion, the parachute regiment, until 1992. his career in the paras was brought to an abrupt halt when he was knocked down by a car and thus joined the Army Air corps. he was awarded top student on the AAc pilots course and went on to finish his career in the AAc in january 2008. during a 15-year flying career, he served all over the world and with special forces, but his longing to be back at the front line doing what he was trained to do ate into him. eventually the british government agreed to buy an attack helicopter. they didnt buy just any attack helicopter; they bought the world leader the Apache longbow. with new engines, hidAs (helicopter integrated defensive Aids system) and many other luxuries, this version of the boeing Apache would be the world leader in attack aviation. in JAnUArY 2007, U.K. MArineS ATTeMpTeD A DAring reScUe oF A coMrADe DUring An AFghAniSTAn operATion While FighTing The TAliBAn.

The story that follows, in Macys own words, is a fascinating deep dive into a rescue mission in Afghanistan that caught the attention of the whole world.

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continued from page 45

if she couldnt, we would recover ourselves on our wingmans wing with a strap and karabiner. it was known as the emergency recovery procedure but had never been used by us, and we hoped it never would. During that single mission we spent only 32 minutes over the target fighting and fired 12 hellFire missiles, 12 flechette rockets and 360 heDp (high-explosive dual-purpose) cannon rounds. We left not a single building standing and were retasked three times to deal with hidden Taliban commanders. it was a resounding success, and intelligence suggested 80 to 130 Taliban dead, including three senior commanders. The strike-and-reach capability of the Apache was now utmost in the military chiefs minds; the Apaches strike capability was recognized.

We used the Apaches awesome cameras to establish that he was in tact and that he had a heat source. he was lying on his left side, and he was glowing. The marines were going to go back and rescue him, which meant our job changed to one of protection a task that we were used to and one that we cherished. The Apache is a hunter-killer; with its plethora of sights and sensors coupled with an awesome array of weapons, it loves nothing better than routing out the enemy and despatching them quickly and effectively. Mathew was surrounded by Taliban hideouts: buildings, irrigation trenches, trees, tunnels, walls and a village that was too close for comfort. We annihilated every conceivable Taliban location in preparation for the recovery. The flight leader Wo1 Billy Spencer AAc realized that Zulu company were not ready for the recovery, and we were running out of both time and ammo. our biggest worry was the shear number of Taliban fighters that were encroaching on the fort and kept popping up despite the amount of ammunition thrown at them. The Taliban had an underground tunnel system; any attempt to recover Mathew would be suicide for the marines. They would be too slow in their vehicles and picked off like flies when they debused. Billy suggested that we collect two marines each and fly into the fort to recover Mathew Ford using our erp. initially, i thought it was a crazy idea, but it dawned on me that this was Mathews only viable option. We were his only hope of recovery, and we had 3 Flight coming back to help us. i coordinated with the JTAc (joint terminal attack controller) to strike the target area with an A10 and a 2,000-pound bomb from a B1 lancer. This would give us a huge smoke screen in which to get in and out of the fort undetected. i briefed the marines in the desert and then strapped them on. They sat on the wings facing forward with a strap around their chest. it was then pulled tight, and the karabiner on the end was attached to the grab handles behind the pilots cockpit side window; if they were shot, they would stay with the Apache instead of falling off. We flew low over the sandbanks of the helmand river to the fort. The 2,000-pound bomb did what we had hoped for, but the ground was too powdery to get both Apaches down safely. There was a fear of one hitting the other in the dust-out that had started. geordie flew Billy deeper into the fort to allow carl to land my Apache next to Mathew. We went into the brown-out at 50 feet, but carl used the Apaches symbology in his monocle to land the Apache totally blind, exactly where we wanted it. The dust settled, and my marines (capt. rigg re and Marine Fraser-perry rM) were struggling with Mathew. i had briefed their colonel that we could pull this off; it was my coordinated fire plan, and i had briefed the marines what to do. i knew it was my job to ensure that Billys plan was a success. i threw open the gunners cockpit door and leapt to the ground without touching the side. i ran 50 meters toward them; the deafening sound of 3 Flights cannons, rockets and missiles was terrifyingly loud and reassuring. We carried him across the field and came under

effective Taliban fire. We all hit the dirt, and i drew my pistol. it was a moment i had not expected and a defining moment in my life. i wasnt scared of dying, but at the same time i didnt want my life to end in that opium-producing poppy field. carl, waiting in my Apache next to us, pulled power and dusted the whole field out, screening us and the Apache from the Taliban. it bought us the crucial 60 seconds we needed to get out of the fort. geordie had jumped from his Apache to show his marines (rSM hearn and Marine robinson) the way to us. Together we made it to the Apache, and i strapped Mathew to the right footstep of the Apache in the same manner as the marines had been, but using two straps and karabiners. Billy used 3 Flight to keep the Taliban away from his Apache, as they were trying to shoot it. geordie and his marines ran back to their Apache while my marines jumped on and i jumped back in. We took off and flew to the safety of the marines 700 meters away on the far bank of the helmand river.

appreciate that what we did was not stupid or foolhardy. We were the only men in the world with a machine that was capable of doing what was required to bring him home. We had faith in the Apaches iSTAr capability, its hunter-killer instinct, deadly strike and incredible performance but more so because of its survivability. The fight at Jugroom Fort was a success but at a high cost. The remainder of the glaciers went to plan, and the Taliban were defeated in the south long enough to allow the troops time reestablish themselves.
ApAche by ed macy 18.99 published by harperpress, an imprint of harpercollins publishers, isbN 978 0 00 728816 8

op glacier 2 The rescue missioN

The way back for the Taliban was now severed, and the scene was now set for the second phase of glacier op glacier 2. With no effective leadership the Taliban could only move forward to the next stop; the Jugroom Fort. This was also a command and control center and an arms storage facility. here the Taliban would be greeted, briefed on operations and equipped with weapons and munitions before being pushed forward to engage with the British and U.S. troops. The attack would take the same format as the previous glacier but this time the troops would cross the helmand river to check the fort before pulling away. 3 Flight, 656 Sqn AAc would be the Apache pair supporting the attack. hq Flight, 656 Sqn AAc (my flight) were a pair of Apaches on irT/hrF (incident response team/helmand reaction Force) tasking. The irTs role is to react and recover coalition forces in trouble within the helmand province. The hrF role is to react and support troops under fire to facilitate their prosecution of the target or extraction from trouble. Dawn on Jan. 15, 2007, my radio crackled to life, telling us we had a shout. Within 30 seconds we were in the Joint operations cell getting the 30-second brief. Five casualties had been injured during the assault on the Jugroom Fort. We were to escort a chinook down to the casevac grid and then take over from 3 Flight as they were low on fuel and ammunition. With 10 minutes to run to the fort the whole mission changed. Zulu company had come under fire the minute they arrived at the fort, and five men had been shot. They had extracted back across the river but had left an injured man behind. We now had an MiA and it was our job to find him. The Apache is a brilliant iSTAr (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance) asset, and we knew if he was still there when we arrived, wed definitely find him. We flew the Apaches hard and fast to get to the fort before the Taliban stole our man a royal Marine lance corporal by the name of Mathew Ford. if the Taliban got hold of him, we would never see him again. Within seconds of arriving we had located him.

The people oF 9 regiMenT ArMY Air corpS hAve eArneD Their SpUrS in The heAT, DUST AnD Fire oF coMBAT; in The FAce oF chAllenging AnD coMpleX operATionAl SiTUATionS; AnD oFTen in The FAce oF greAT DAnger.

carl gently rested Mathew down, and we returned to camp Bastion using the Apaches fuel calculations to fly at range speed. We would land with 110 pounds of fuel, and all agreed that we were within 10 pounds of crashing into the desert. could we trust the Apaches fuel calcs? Yes. our training had prepared us thoroughly enough to trust her implicitly. We did land with 110 pounds and were mighty relieved to be back at base. The events of the day were phenomenal. it had started out as a routine chinook escort and ended up being broadcast by the worlds media as a mission that could have been straight out of a hollywood movie. The sadness was overwhelming for our Flight; lance corporal Mathew Ford had died. pride came when her Majesty queen elizabeth ii gave us our medals personally in front of our families: hq Flight leader Wo1 Billy Spencer and the 3 Flight leader were both awarded the Distinguished Flying cross. geordie and i were awarded the Military cross the first Mcs in the history of the AAc. The most emotional day of all was when i visited the family of Mathew Ford and they told me how proud they were of us for bringing their son home. i told them the story, and they now

british Apache pilots have a saying: when youre beginning flying, you have two bags: your lucky bag and your experience bag. when you make a mistake, your lucky bag begins to be emptied of luck, and your experience bag begins to fill up. You just need to pray that your experience bag fills up before your lucky bag runs out. with the Apache our lucky bag is bigger than most. for me this mission was my last, and i feared my lucky bag was now empty!
ed Macy

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its not just about aircrew. its about teamwork. its about ground crew and technicians. weve got to prepare them to do a very difficult job. the Atil personnel are embedded in the training that makes this army aviation team work and operate effectively.
col. David Turner, Apache Force commander, U.K. Joint helicopter command

ATil TrAinerS AnD STUDenTS inTerAcT in SoMe oF The MoST ADvAnceD TrAining FAciliTieS in The WorlD.

u.k. aTil Team marks 10Th aNNiversary

BY Bill BArKSDAle

supporTiNg briTish apaches

The Boeing company and Aviation Training international limited recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of a joint venture that provides Apache Ah Mk1 attack helicopter training services to British Army Aviation.
Til, a 50-50 joint venture between Boeing and AgustaWestland, was formed in 1998 and has headquarters in Sherborne, Dorset, United Kingdom. With facilities in Middle Wallop, Arborfield, Wattisham and Dishforth, ATils 125 employees offer fully integrated classroom and synthetic training to British Army Apache aircrew, ground crew and maintenance personnel.

hosted by ATil Managing Director chris haynes, the July 19, 2008, anniversary celebration included videotaped comments from members of the British Army, who described the companys critical role in their military readiness. its not just about aircrew. its about teamwork. its about ground crew and technicians. Weve got to prepare them to do a very difficult job, said col. David Turner, Apache Force commander, U.K. Joint helicopter command, during the video. The ATil personnel are embedded in the training that makes this army aviation team work and operate effectively. ATil began operations by managing the installation of four advanced Apache training centers that included electronic classrooms, part task trainers and flight simulators.

partnering with the U.K. Ministry of Defence, ATil started delivering training solutions to deploying British Army Apache crews in october 2000. That training helped units reach full operational capability before leaving for Afghanistan. What we do inside the simulator is mission rehearsal as well as basic flying and operational training. That mission rehearsal, with the graphics and program, allows us to replicate the Afghanistan environment. it gives us the edge, said Turner. ATil reports to Boeing integrated Defense Systems Support Systems and is an example of the companys globalization efforts, which include strategic investments, partnerships and joint ventures with aerospace companies in key countries around the world.

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alabama
international enterprises ppg industries Sanmina-Sci Systems

colorado
Manes Machine & engineering rMB products

missouri
gKn Aerospace patriot Machine inc.

vermont
Fuel & Utility Systems goodrich corp.

supply NeTwork
BY cArole ThoMpSon

Team apache worldwide

arizona
Acme electric corp. Armor Works ATK ordnance BAe Systems Butler national com Tech D-velco Manufacturing excaliber precision honeywell Aero honeywell international engines honeywell international equipment iMc Magnetics native industries phoenix logistics prescott Aerospace robertson Service & Sales Systems 3 inc. Treffers precision Trio precision Walters precision

connecticut
hamilton Sundstrand SpX Times Microwave Timken

Nebraska
general Dynamics Armament royal plastic Manufacturing inc.

virginia
innovative concepts Measurement Specialties Moog inc.

New hampshire
BAe Timken Aerospace

florida
general electric harris corp. honeywell lockheed Martin longbow llc lBl pall Aeropower corp. Sensor Systems parker hannifin

washington
exotic Metals Forming company ge Aerospace Saint-gobain performance plastics corp.

New Jersey
valcor engineering

The Boeing Apache program continues to deliver the worlds best attack helicopter to defense forces around the world, in great part because of a program supplier base that is committed to excellence and customer satisfaction.

New mexico
honeywell

west virginia
Be Aeropsace

New york
cox & co. goodrich corp. lockheed Martin Moog inc.

wisconsin
nobles Manufacturing inc.

The Apache program office and Supplier Management organization are pleased to recognize the ongoing achievements of the Team Apache suppliers, said greg Krekler, director of rotorcraft Supplier Management. These companies deliver extraordinary levels of performance and quality, and the people behind each product and part understand the importance of providing components that are a critical part of the Apache helicopter. Boeing understands that nurturing and maintaining excellent working relationships with our suppliers and partners are key to our ability to keep our products

more affordable, to increase our productivity, to enhance customer satisfaction and to ultimately win new business. A large percentage of Team Apache suppliers have been a part of the Apache program since the production of the first Ah-64D Apache longbow in the mid1990s. And there are often new suppliers signing on to provide new technologies for the versions of the Apache such as Ah-64D Apache Block iii that will be delivered to the U.S. Army and, potentially, to customers around the world in the years ahead.

With suppliers across the United States and in many countries around the world, the Apache Team has built a network that provides the parts, components and specialty items that keep the Arizona production line moving smoothly while supporting the need for spares and repairs around the globe. The Apache Team is working within a global economy, and each Apache supplier contributes uniquely to the overall success of the Apache program.

georgia
Aid corp. engineered Fabrics

worldwide
canada
l-3 communications northstar

illinois
Borg-Warner Transmission Systems Mpc SKF Aerospace Sealing Solution

North carolina
Kidde Aerospace Kearfott guidance & navigation

california
Adams rite Aerospace ADB industries Aztec components BAe Systems controls chadwick helmeth Ducommun Aerostructures eaton Sterer corp. esterline Mason Technologies corp. glenair inc. globe Dynamics international h.r. Textron iTT Aerospace controls Jaco engineering Klune industries inc. Meggitt Airdynamics Meggitt Defense Metric precision Machine & engineering northrop grumman parker hannifin control Systems parker hannifin customer Support rBc Transport Dynamics Standard Armament Survival Systems international Swift-cor Aerospace TeAc Aerospace Technologies Tempco engineering inc. TFc Manufacturing Universal propulsion company venture Aircraft W Machine Works Western Design

ohio
Aerocontrolex BF goodrich company canton Drop Forge ge Aviation goodrich landing gear honeywell international inc.

france
Thales communications

indiana
raytheon

germany
renk

iowa
carleton life Support Systems

great britain
ge Aviation Meggitt page Aerospace SeleX

kansas
Air Technics Arrow richie Ducommun Aero

oklahoma
precision Machine Works inc.

oregon
Meggitt Silicone products

israel
cyclone carmiel composite

maryland
eaton Fairchild controls corp. northrop grumman

pennsylvania
Allegheny ludlum corp. Ametek eaton Aerospace Tedeco Fraccaro industries lord corporation precision Defense Services

korea
Korean Aerospace industries

massachusetts
Ametek chomerics general electric Aircraft engines parker hannifin

The Netherlands
Stork Fokker Stork Sp Thales

rhode island
Kearflex engineering company Magnetic Seal corp.

michigan
eaton Aeroquip ge Aviation l-3 communications

Texas
ASc eSA Merritt Tool company

minnesota
honeywell DSeS rosemount Aerospace Stremel Manufacturing company TSi plastics

utah
Klune industries inc. l-3 communications

mississippi
eaton-vickers

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inTernATionAl ApAche

conTeST rUleS
All photos must be originals and must not be digitally enhanced or modified. Any number of photos may be submitted. (photos will not be returned.) The photo need not be recent. Any photo of an Apache is acceptable. no classified or sensitive images will be accepted. The photo must include an Apache. The submitter must have taken the photo and must include a note confirming ownership. photos that have been entered in other competitions may be submitted. color or black-and-white images may be submitted. Digital or printed copies may be submitted.

ApAche phoTo conTeST

Amateur Army and civilian photographers have taken thousands of images of the Apache. now is the time to pull out your best images and send them to Apache News for award consideration. Winners will be recognized in the 2010 edition of Apache News, and their photos will be featured in a special multimedia display at the 2009 Army Aviation Association of America annual gathering in nashville, Tenn. get focused: Send us your award-winning photos now! hoW To SUBMiT YoUr enTrieS
e-mail: Send your photos to carole Thompson at carole.j.thompson-sutton@boeing.com. Send images of less than 1 megabyte. if larger images are needed for printing, we will contact you. U.S. Mail: Send your photos, no larger than 8 by 10 inches, to editor, Apache News, The Boeing company, 5000 e. McDowell road, M/c 510A387, Mesa, AZ 85215-9797. photos will not be returned.

proviDe The FolloWing inForMATion

Your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address. Your current Army unit, if appropriate, so we can give you credit at AAAA. general information about when and where you took the photo. Based on the number and variety of photos submitted, images may be placed in different categories to be judged fairly.

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iN The News
The Ah-64D Apache continues to log impressive milestones
apache vp eXplaiNs beNefiTs of apache block iii aT farNborough airshow
Al Winn, vice president, Apache programs, brought reporters at the Farnborough international Airshow up to date on the Ah-64 Apache program and the progress toward fielding the Block iii version, which made its first flight June 27, 2008. Winn outlined the benefits of Block iii technologies, including enhanced performance, improved target detection and acquisition, increased situational awareness and survivability and improved maintenance and training systems. halfway through the current design and development phase, the program is on cost and schedule as it moves toward anticipated low-rate initial production in April 2010 and delivery of the first production Ah-64D Apache Block iii in June 2011. Block iii incorporates 26 new technological advancements from extended-range sensors and weapons to software developed with open systems architecture. This new Apache will connect soldiers on the ground with airborne dominance in the skies. The Block iii Apache boasts a composite rotor blade that allows the attack helicopter to carry almost 1,000 pounds more than current Apaches. And state-of-the-art onboard sensors will enhance mission readiness and make maintenance stops less frequent and more cost effective.

boeiNg compleTes apache model for Nasa wiNd-TuNNel TesTs

Under a nASA contract, Boeing has built a 22 percent scale model of an Ah-64D Apache longbow and will soon deliver it to nASA. Boeing used experimental and analytical methods to confirm that the models characteristics exactly match those of a full-size Apache. Boeing also designed the models tail boom to adjust shape and measure aerodynamic loads. This configuration makes it possible to test ways to alleviate the buffeting of the tail. Testing will begin in the nASAs Transonic Dynamics Tunnel wind tunnel at the langley research center in hampton, va., in late 2008.

boeiNg apache field service Team wiNs 2007 army aviaTioN associaTioN of america maTeriel readiNess award
The Boeing Korea Ah-64D Apache field service team has captured the 2007 Army Aviation Association of America Materiel readiness Award for contribution by a major contractor. The team was recognized for its outstanding maintenance performance in keeping Apaches fielded. The AAAA Korea chapter (land of the Morning calm) presents the award annually to a major defense contractor that has made an outstanding contribution to materiel readiness and logistical support of U.S. Army aviation. The Boeing Support Systems team has supported the U. S. Armys 2nd combat Aviation Brigade 4-2 Aviation regiment and 1-2 Aviation regiment maintenance teams for the past 12 months. The teams dedication facilitated the accomplishment of the Apache Ah-64D battalions Flight-hour programs of approximately 9,700 hours while maintaining an average operational rate of over 80 percent, said roger Brown, senior field service representative in Korea. it also supported the battalions during 12 field exercises, including four live hellfire shoots at chi-Do island.

reporT from iraq: apache used heavily over baghdad

The Ah-64D Apache longbow is playing a large role in the skies over Baghdad, iraq. U.S. Army units in iraq are using the Ah-64D around the clock in a major thrust to quell violence in the Sadr city section of Baghdad. U.S. Army col. Tim edens said six Apache helicopters are flying over the violence-plagued neighborhood 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The 4th Squadron, 3rd Armored calvary regiment is using 24 helicopters in the mission. First, they are a morale booster for our forces on the ground, and second, they are a deterrent for the insurgents, edens said. More than 200 hellfire rockets have been fired this month at insurgent targets, he said. Maintenance crews are working around the clock to keep the helicopters mission ready. in fact, Boeing has a field service representative deployed with the squadron to assist with technical problems that might arise because of the fleets increased operations tempo. gary Beery, a contract field service representative, said his purpose on station is to help Army maintainers troubleshoot issues with the helicopters. if there is a problem, i can just pick up a phone or e-mail our 24-hour help desk and get answers. its a total reach back for our customer.

Top u.s. army cusTomer visiTs boeiNg To Talk apache

When the commander of the U.S. Armys Aviation and Missile life cycle Management command, redstone Arsenal, calls on Boeings Apache campus in Mesa, Ariz., hes got a good reason. For Maj. gen. James Myles, that reason was to get an update on the future of the Ah-64D Apache and its agile support programs that keep the attack helicopter mission ready. Asked about the future of the Apache, Myles said, i feel confident about the Apache from the privates to the generals, you have credibility with the combat arms soldiers of our Army.

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iN The News
apache works wiTh a160T aT forT diX demoNsTraTioN
The prototype Ah-64D Apache Block iii attack helicopter cooperated in a demonstration with the Boeing A160T hummingbird unmanned rotorcraft during the U.S. Armys c4iSr on-the-move demonstration at Fort Dix, n.J. Modified with the Block iiis new open-architecture avionics, which was developed under the Manned/ Unmanned common Architecture program, the helicopters processors allow control of unmanned aerial vehicles. receiving streaming video from the A160T, the rotorcraft platforms communicated over the high-capacity tactical common data link. The current U.S. Army plan calls for equipping a third of its Ah-64D Apache helicopters with the level iv UAv control system. currently a third of the U.S. Armys Ah-64D Apache longbows carry the fire-control radar.

boeiNg flies The ah-64d apache wiTh composiTe maiN roTor blades
on July 5, 2008, Boeing began flight-testing the new performance-enhancing composite main rotor blades. Scott rudy, Boeing Apache Block iii program manager, said, The composite main rotor blade, or cMrB, is designed to provide an additional 500 pounds of lift at 6,000 feet and 95F design parameters similar to conditions in Afghanistan. The new composite blade, which Boeing is building, is longer than the original blade, though it can be attached to the same hub and can be interchanged with the metal blades currently in use. Testing for performance and handling qualities are on going. Fielding to existing Apaches is anticipated for early 2010.

We Are A UniTeD ApAche AcqUiSiTion TeAM coMMiTTeD To eXcellence, TiMelineSS AnD WorlD-clASS conTrAcTing, DeDicATeD To proviDing The WArFighTer WiTh The MeAnS For MiSSion SUcceSS AnD The ABiliTY To reTUrn hoMe SAFelY So All cAn enJoY The FreeDoM TheY DeFenD. missioN stAtemeNt of the joiNt ArmY/boeiNg ApAche AcquisitioN teAm

New efforT To sTreamliNe apache acquisiTioN process by boeiNg aNd The u.s. army
getting the best of both worlds is the goal of a new Boeing and U.S. Army effort to streamline Ah-64 Apache acquisition. The two organizations have one shared mission to serve the needs of the warfighter. The contract teambuilding project is the vision of U.S. Army Apache program project Manager col. Derek paquette and Boeing vice president of Apache programs Al Winn. The first step toward achieving their vision was taken in February 2008 when Boeing and U.S. government contracts teams met in nashville, Tenn. During this event, the teams toured Fort campbell and met with soldiers from an Apache battalion. The teams met again in July in Mesa, Ariz., to celebrate the first flight of the Ah-64D Apache Block iii aircraft and initiate development of the teams mission and vision statements. Attending the ceremony was ideal for formalizing each teams commitment to the program and defining the shift from its a job to its our mission. open and improved communication focused the teams on their true customer, the soldier who depends on the protection and firepower the Apache brings to the battlefield. in a series of teambuilding exercises conducted during February and July, Dr. Sandra Sperry, a Boeing organization effectiveness consultant, used tools and activities to shed light on the participants differing viewpoints and how they communicate them. The teams addressed process improvements, improved contracting cycle time and drafted a mission statement that confirmed a commitment to a joint vision of what the organization would achieve. They also standardized an after-action review process and made it responsive and applicable to the entire organization. At the end of these events, participants felt a renewed commitment and the benefit of having a strong united team. This mission statement indicates everyone is committed to the concept envisioned by paquette and Winn when they initially discussed their vision of a united Apache Acquisition Team, said David hyams, senior U.S. government contracts manager at Boeing. The teams feel satisfied the process is moving forward and that the commitment will ensure a successful completion of their mission. U.S. Army Aviation and Missile command Director of Apache contracts lisa Stangle agreed that the teambuilding activities helped streamline the Apache acquisition process. The Apache Acquisition Team is a model for this process, she said. jenny celli

eNgiNeers iNTegraTe uas TeamiNg iNTo fuTure apache cockpiTs

in the Apache cockpit of the future, pilots will receive video and data at the touch of a button directly from unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and ultimately take control of these UASs. With the goal of extending the viewing range of the Apache longbow pilot and shortening the time it takes to detect, classify and destroy a target, engineers at rotorcraft Systems in Mesa, Ariz., are integrating UAS teaming capabilities into future Apache cockpits. This is a culmination of lessons learned from UAS teaming developmental programs over the years, said Ken Justice, UAS control ipT lead. We are integrating control of the UAS into the production Apache crew station by leveraging past experience. engineers are working on three UAS levels of interoperability for future Apache longbows. in level 2, pilots will receive video and data from a UAS, which is integrated into the Apache fire control system. pilots can directly view the UAS sensor video while viewing the Apache sensor video. This capability provides pilots with multiple viewpoints of the same target to detect, classify, acquire and engage. The capability for Apache pilots to take control of the UAS sensors and laser designator will be added in level 3 UAS teaming. The copilot/gunner can control where UAS sensors are looking, thereby removing time required for the Apache crew to ask the UAS ground control station operator to reposition the sensor. level 4 UAS teaming allows Apache pilots to take control of the UAS navigation and sensors, enabling them to quickly customize the coordinated attack. This capability eliminates the time required to communicate with the UAS ground control station operator during the actual operation.

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iN The News
boeiNg awarded coNTracT for u.s. apache helicopTer supporT
Boeing has been awarded the U.S. Armys Apache performance-based logistics contract. The versatile Boeing Apache will continue to carry out its critical missions with the support of a Boeing performance-based logistics contract valued at more than $170 million. its important for the warfighter in the field to have mission-ready helicopters at all times for every military scenario, said peri Widener, Army integrated logistics program executive. Under the contract, which has a base year and two one-year options, Boeing provides fixed-price, total logistics support for hundreds of Ah-64D components that the Apache uses. col. Derek paquette, Army project manager for Apache attack helicopters, was equally pleased with the award. This contract award signals a new era in Apache supportability. if this proves to be the success story that we expect it will be, it is our intent to continue the pBl approach with our planning for long-term Apache logistics and sustainment. Boeing and Apache logistics planners are working with Army Aviation and Missile life cycle Management command to map an approach that will increase the corpus christi Army Depots involvement in Apache pBl support. Since 2001, Boeing Support Systems, a business of integrated Defense Systems, has maintained a more than 90 percent military availability rate for more than 1,400 D-model components in the U.S. and abroad through a successful multiyear logistic support contract. Through the Apache pBl program, Boeing has pledged improved parts availability, a reduced logistics footprint, and lower customer investment for the Ah-64 sustainment activities. We are working closely with our customer to provide affordable and flexible readiness solutions. This agreement is a direct example of that effort, Widener said.

profiles
Boeing succeeds in the defense helicopter market thanks to the combined efforts of the 9,500 dedicated employees in rotorcraft Systems.
They keep The blades TurNiNg
chuck Allen, vice president and general manager of Boeing rotorcraft Systems since March 2007, spoke recently about his goals and priorities for the organization saying: The top priorities for my organization are, first, making it a place where mutual trust and respect for everyone is a hallmark. Second, to be an organization renowned for world-class quality in everything we do our products, our business systems, our hr processes, and on and on. rotorcraft Systems is very fortunate to be in a growing market for some time to come. i know we have the best products and the best people, so we need to be sure we have the right vision, the right discipline in execution and the right commitment. Were showing outstanding growth. The challenge is to keep everyone focused on the future and how good we can be. Apache teammates are committed to delivering the best products and services to our customers, as Bob harmon and Jules Maddon express below. debby Arkell

bob harmon, apache program liaison, fort hood, Texas

i am the Fort hood, Texas, program liaison between the plant in Mesa, Ariz., and the customer, which includes the U.S. Army, the national guard, the reserves and international customers. ive been here since we started fielding the Apache longbow. early on, i participated in a unit-fielding program where (Army) units trained with me at Fort hood for nine months. Many of those unit members are now in leadership positions with the Army, and im proud of the strong relationships that have come from that experience.

leadership chaNges for u.s. army apache

U.S. Army Apache project Manager col. Derek paquette and Training and Doctrine command capability Manager for reconnaissance and Attack col. Mark hayes have retired from U.S. Army service, each after honorably serving in the nations military force for more than 20 years. These colonels led the Ah-64 Apache program for three years, doing the heavy lifting necessary to get the Apache Block iii program through the approvals within Army and Secretary of Defense leadership, said gary Bishop, Boeing director of Apache production programs and U.S. Army programs. Their efforts will ensure that the resources are available to drive the program toward success. During their visits to the Boeing facility in Mesa, Ariz., paquette and hayes consistently expressed to teammates building the Apaches their commitment to providing the best equipment for the benefit of the soldiers on the ground. Both colonels were dedicated to delivering helicopters with the capabilities necessary to protect the troops on the ground and deliver agile lethality in battle. vice president of Apache programs Al Winn said to the colonels, All of us representing Team Apache wish you the very best as you pursue your future endeavors.

Jules maddon, apache manufacturing/ordnance technician, boeing, mesa, ariz.

i currently work in final assembly in position 8, where we install the components in cockpits, fairings, upper controls, actuators, upper windows and more. My specialty is fairing work, which is composite; most of the fairings on the Apache are either Kevlar or carbon. our current project is remanufacturing A-model aircraft to D models. i never get tired of watching the Apache fly. We were featured on the national geographic Tv show Ultimate Factories about a year ago it was great! My proudest moments, though, are when the pilots come in to visit. They tell us stories of their time in iraq or Afghanistan, how much they love our aircraft and how safe they feel flying them.

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Ah-64D ApAche

The value of welcome home ceremoNies

BY gArY BiShop

During the first gulf War, the Boeing (then McDonnell Douglas) Apache team in Mesa, Ariz., began a tradition of welcoming back units returning from conflict. That tradition continued with the beginning of conflict in Afghanistan and iraq and continues today for U.S. Army units and for those of several international partners.
There are three main purposes for these welcome home ceremonies. First, we thank each soldier in an Apache unit and the unit as a whole for their contribution to the global War on Terrorism using the Apache aircraft. Second, we present a combat pin and combat Apache poster to each soldier who flew, maintained or supported an Apache unit in combat. These small tokens of appreciation are a visible reminder to all that the soldier wearing or displaying them has sacrificed, endured hardship and showed the world what it means to be a soldier. A miniature version of the combat pin is also presented so that the soldier can give it to a loved one because they too served in their unique way. Third, we participate in a lessons learned session with the commanders, staff, crews, maintainers and support personnel. We listen to their briefings, stories, concerns and recommendations. This invaluable session provides feedback for us, for the Training and Doctrine command capability Manager for reconnaissance and Attack and for the U.S. Army Apache project manager. This feedback drives requirements that can lead to any needed materiel solutions. We have made a number of changes to the aircraft hardware and software based on the feedback.
Boeing DirecTor oF ApAche proDUcTion progrAMS AnD U.S. ArMY progrAMS gArY BiShop iS one oF SeverAl Boeing ApAche leADerS repreSenTing The progrAM, BUSineSS DevelopMenT, SUpporT, engineering AnD MoDerniZATion Who hAve conTinUeD The TrADiTion oF MeeTing WiTh eAch ApAche BATTAlion AS iT reTUrnS FroM DeploYMenT inTo hArMS WAY. TheSe WelcoMe hoMe evenTS hAve A poSiTive iMpAcT on everYone Who pArTicipATeS AnD on ThoSe Who lATer heAr The inForMATion relATeD AnD The STorieS ShAreD.

A welcome home ceremony is about Boeing people remembering precisely why we build and support the Apache and how it affects the soldiers lives. Aviation and maintenance crews have been deployed to Afghanistan and to iraq in most cases more than once since late 2001. Boeing is proud to support all of our great aviation heroes and those of our international partners. These soldiers are living military values loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.

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The boeing company

integrated Defense Systems
5000 e. McDowell road Mesa, AZ 85215

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Boeing is a trademark of Boeing Management company. copyright 2008 Boeing. All rights reserved. SMD08-140821