Summary:
The helicopter has demonstrated in the combat role to be a great benefit in the battlefield. Throughout history, helicopters has been modified to support several missions such as supply, close air support, medical extraction, surveillance, extraction and infiltration of armed forces members. The apache helicopter has proven to be a major asset in the US Army in combat. Since its first flight in 1975, the apache has shown its versatility and capability in the combat field.
II. Problems:
The Apache Helicopter has presented reliability problems in the combat role. In Operation Desert Storm, the Apache helicopter demonstrated their combat skills but it had limited role due to its logistical support problems. The US Army has addressed problems such as “the tail rotor swash plate, shaft- driven compressor, main rotor strap pack, main rotor blades, 30 millimeter gun, and target acquisition and designation site were examples of key components that were experiencing frequent failures and adversely affecting availability” (United States General Accounting Office, 1991, p. 4). These problems affect the reliability of the aircraft and it hinders the capability to perform the mission and provide air support to the ground troops.
III. Significance of the problem:
The Apache Helicopter has suffered
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several component failures that affect their reliability in combat. The aircraft’s mission is to provide air support and “conducts rear, close, and shaping missions including deep precision strike. Conducts distributed operations, precision strikes against locatable targets, and provides armed reconnaissance when required in day, night, obscured battlefield and adverse weather”(Anonymous, 2015 para.1). The Apache has shown problems with several components of the helicopter and it hinders the mission capability by being grounded for maintenance or to perform inspections on the aircraft. Apache’s numerous complex components required many corrective and preventive maintenance actions. Maintenance units could not keep up with the Apache’s unexpectedly high work load because they were too small and were not allowed to work on the Apache full time and because the test equipment not performed as expected. IV. Developing Alternatives Actions: The Apache helicopter was introduced to the US ARMY, it has demonstrated its war fighter abilities in different missions in which the Apache has been part of the helicopter performance has been upgraded through times with different variants making the Apache a more lethal and more useful helicopter in the battlefield. a. Advantages: The Apache Helicopter has been modified to meet with the challenges that could face in the battlefield. Its superb skills in combat have demonstrated that the apache helicopter is a vital asset in the US Army. By performing preventive maintenance, inspecting components that are normally known to failure within a specified flying hours, doing pre-flight inspections and in replacing or overhauling parts during a specified time, it increases the reliability of the helicopter and prevents of having a mishap during flight especially when the helicopter is engaged in combat. b.
Disadvantages: The helicopter industry is advancing at an accelerated rate. With programs like the future vertical lift program, the V-22 program and new variations of helicopters such as the S 97 from Sikorsky Helicopters it hinders the development of the Apache and it makes the helicopter industry insecure. Performing routine, preventive maintenance and inspecting and overhauling components it can be time consuming and it affects the capability and the percentages of mission capable aircraft when they are in a combat zone. It is crucial to provide the support and to maintain a fleet of helicopters mission capable aircraft in order to perform a successful
mission. V. Recommendations: The Apache Helicopter in the combat role has been continuously proven to be a major resource in the Army. It has exhibited its superb capability on combat but as technology advances every day, next generation helicopters programs should be funded. Technologies such as future vertical lift programs, next generation helicopters such as S97 helicopter and tilt rotor systems. VI. Reference: Military.com (2015) Retrieved from: http://www.military.com/equipment/ah-64-apache-longbow#close United States General Accounting Office (1991) APACHE HELICOPTER Reliability of Key Components yet to Be Fully Demonstrated Retrieved from: http://www.gao.gov/assets/220/215122.pdf
In 2008 I served as an AH-64D Maintenance Test Pilot /Battalion Maintenance Officer in Delta Company 4-227TH Aviation Regiment in Camp Taji, Iraq. Delta Company was responsible for supervising Dyna Corp. Contractors at Camp Taji were conducting all AH-64 scheduled phase maintenance in theater. While there, the company ran into challenges meeting phase deadlines assigned by the Brigade Aviation Maintenance Officer due to the amount of flight time being flown and manpower assigned to complete phases.
In 1968, the United States Army activated the 123rd Aviation Battalion, creating a remarkable unit that was comprised of several Army assets. The design of the battalion revolutionized how assets could be combined to complete many missions by mixing infantry, signal, aviation, and support units. The 123rd’s mission ranged from was to collect intelligence, deliver supplies, insert and extract infantrymen, and provide air support. In addition to their primary mission they also participated in medical evacuation, an invaluable asset on the battlefields of Vietnam.
In Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Iraqi forces fired 93 Scud missiles at coalition forces in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Israel. (Rostker) Air Defense Artillery (ADA) played an immensely significant role in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm with units from 11th Brigade Air Defense Artillery and the 32d Air Defense Command rapidly deploying into theater. The effectiveness of the units and their roles in fighting this war proved that Air Defense Artillery was critical to the success of the campaign. Although Patriot Batteries placed strategically throughout Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Israel played a tremendous tactical role in these wars, High-Medium Air Defense (HIMAD) was not the only type of surface to air missile system in place to protect ground forces and valuable military assets. Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) units also deployed with the air defense units. These weapon systems, integrated with ground forces, provided air defense to dominate against aircraft and Tactical Ballistic Missiles (TBM) on the front lines.
Operations forces and UAV’s has been a key role in operations to counteract al-Qaeda lead
In all US wars throughout history, the US Army Infantryman has played a crucial role in the success or failure of every battle. Typically, in any major battle when a country has stood toe to toe with the Army Infantryman, they have failed. The 173rd Airborne Brigade during the Vietnam War was no exception. The 173rd Infantryman accounted for more kills on the battlefield in Operation Hump than any other US asset.1 In this paper, we’ll review the 173rd Airborne Brigades mission, objectives, situation and outcome of their success in Operation Hump.
“The US army used many different types of helicopters like the HU-1A. It had a T53-6-5 motor, which put out 700 horsepower and could hold up to 8,500 pounds. It was used as a transport and medical vehicle that was equipped with a 30 mm”. Bishop) “The US also used Agent Orange to kill the trees and plants in the area so it would be easier to spot the enemy from the air and the ground.” (History.com)
The United States launched an operation known as Operation Desert Shield, also known as the Persian Gulf War, in August of 1990 in response to Saddam Hussein’s order to the Iraqi forces to take over Kuwait. President George Herbert Walker Bush made the decision to send American troops to Saudi Arabia to form an international coalition that would eventually turn into an operation known as Operation Desert Storm. The United States Army had not witnessed an event of such international and Homefront importation since the Cold War.
Air Force Special Operations The United States of America is a powerful and well known force throughout the world. It has become a superpower of nations in just about three hundred years, being one of the newest nations in existence today. Its military reaches out into several countries in the globe and holds a presence as a peacekeeper and wielder of democracy. Of the US military’s five branches, the Air Force is the ruler of the skies, keeping control of the earth’s aerospace. Without the Air Force Special Operations, the military could not complete operations as effectively or efficiently as it potentially could.
If one had to choose a single event in history that had the greatest impact on airmobile assault, without question it would have to be Operation Chopper. On December 11, 1962, the United States aircraft carrier, USNS Card, docked in Saigon with 32 U.S. Army CH-21 helicopters and 400 men in support of Operation Chopper (Tolson, 1973). Approximately 12 days later, these same CH-21 helicopters airlifted over a 1,000 South Vietnamese paratroopers to a suspected Viet Cong
As a result of Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait on August 2nd 1990, Operation Desert shield was implemented by the United States on August 7th. Trying to deter Iraq from advancing farther into the country the U.S. began staging troops, equipment and other supplies needed to sustain a military in war time. Moving resources by air and sea the American armed forces presence was made known in the region with resources being staged in the allied countries of Saudi Arabia These later we mobilized initiating operation Desert Storm on January 17th 1991 at 3am Arabia Time when the first tanks rolled across the Saudi border, this conflict would continue until the official cease fire would take effect on April 11th of the same year (Operation). During the 10 month time span of the Persian Gulf War I, Military Sealift Command had conducted the largest modern sealift operation of war materials of the American military. The ability for the United States to mobilize and sustain during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm displays America’s national security goals of forward power projection, maritime supremacy and the effective planning of their sealift strategy.
In 1957, the army began developing a new fighting force based on the helicopter. ...
This plan turned out to become the largest helicopter evacuation in American history and lasted less than forty eight hours. It consisted of sixteen Sikorsky CH-53 “Sea Stallions”, sixteen Boeing CH-46 “Frogs”, four Bell AH-1J “Snakes”, and two Bell UH-1E “Hueys” and became officially designated as Provisional Marine Air Group Thirty-nine (MAG-39), with other assets from 3rd Air Division, nineteen different Wings, and three Squadrons. Operation Frequent Wind was the last official American Operation in the Vietnam War.
The Strengths and Weaknesses of Joint Warfare Armed with numerous studies, and intensive public hearings, Congress mandated far-reaching changes in DOD organization and responsibilities under the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986. This landmark legislation significantly expanded the authority and responsibility of the chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. Included in this expanded authority and responsibility was the requirement for the chairman to develop a doctrine for the joint employment of armed forces. As operations Urgent Fury, Just Cause, and Desert Storm have vividly demonstrated, the realities of armed conflict in today's world make the integration of individual service capabilities a matter of success or failure, life or death. Furthermore, the operation Desert One demonstrated the need for a strengthened Joint Warfare Doctrine and the consequent change in Joint Warfare Employment.
Tice, Brian P. (1991). Unmanned Aerial Vehicles – The Force Multiplier of the 1990s. Airpower Journal.
...intainer. Our work has a major effect in the efficiency of the helicopter. Pilots, troops, and flight crews’ lives are in our hands. Causing harm to anyone by not doing my job correctly is not something that I would want to live with on my back. This is why we need to ensure we are complying with book standards to provide best quality of work in the safest way possible.