Apache

Just curious as to what everyone thinks of the apache, i know it is great machine, but i kind of feel that putting great research into helicoptors is a waste they seem to be very vulnerable to attacks from the ground where the A-10 i think does a much better job, im not saying that we shouldnt use any Apaches i think they add good support for Special ops missions, but do you guys think they will continue to make diferent choppers and and create alot like they did with the Apache

I would personally like them to continue to research and develop choppers like the Apache but it wont happen.

I think they will only make specialized fast light choppers for support of ground troops and spec ops. The Apache’s role will be taken over by the UAV‘s, in the future the UAV's will become more stealthy than a helicopter and be able to carry more missiles. They are also less expensive, less man hours and no life at risk. This is why the Comanche was canceled.

Gunships (helicopters) are still very important in supporting frontline troops, one thing is their ability to reload and dock quickly, another thing is their ability to provide accurate support fire for a long time, for example a A-10 firing a fixed 30mm at 500km/h is not going to be very accurate while a Apache firing a rotary 20mm at close to stationary speed is going to be more accurate. Also, apaches can keep firing its cannon while flying around the enemy at low speeds, A-10s need to turn before it can continue to strafe the enemy.

The Apache has a turret mounted 30mm cannon you must be confusing the apache with the cobra

Why choose between A-10 and Apache if you can have a platform with advantages of both?



The boeing X-50 CRW could be great inovation. It is able to hoover like a helicopter but when flying more than 120kts the rotor locks and starts producing lift like regular fixed wing. The rotor is "reaction driven" when in hoovering mode the engine output is directed to the rotor, when in fixed mode the output is directed through the jet exaust at the rear.

It should be able to reach high subonic speed (480-500kts) and have much larger range than helicopter. It should have also some stealth aspects especially in fixed wing mode. Now Boeing is testing unmanned variant, but if everything goes OK, there could be also manned variants for both Marines (Osprey escort)and Army (Apache, A-10 replacement).

WOW, that's boeing's best concept ever! I love the way it looks and I ususally hate boeing designs!

good find!

Will it have a 30mm gun?

Originally posted by GrOuNd_ZeRo
WOW, that's boeing's best concept ever! I love the way it looks and I ususally hate boeing designs!

Will it have a 30mm gun?

Probably yes, but remeber that they are still testing only small drone version. Only if it works they will begin with maned one. It is tested under designation X-50 (love the X projects). Unmanned demonstrator doesn't look so cool:

Remember, the Apache was originally designed as a tank killer, to stop the thousands of Soviet tanks that would've been going into Europe during WWIII. The Soviet strategy was to overwhelm the Western forces, should such a war ever happen, with an offensive consisting of thousands of tanks and troops and the like. During the Cold War, the Soviet number of tanks far outnumbered that of the U.S. and the Europeans. At the time, the U.S. had that clumsy-looking M60 tank, so the idea was to create some new weapons that would be able to destroy multiple Soviet tanks before going down. Hence the creation of the Abrams tank, and the Apache.

The Apache wasn't created as some big, bad fighting machine that had no real purpose.

i had no idea the apache was made to deal with the Russian tanks, I know that Russia had like 19,000 compared to the US 11,000 or something like that but does anyone have any Manpower numbers for the cold war, what was the US number of troops and the Russian Number of Troops?

this is good lol

news.sky.com...

sorry link broken