US Army’s Apache V6 can reliably hunt drones using existing sensors, weapons, show testshttps://interestingengineering.com/military/us-armys-apache-v6-reliably-hunt-dronesThe United States Army is reportedly testing whether its venerable AH-64E Apache (Version 6) is capable of anti-drone warfare. Normally tasked with killing tanks, for the Apache to remain relevant in an ever-more drone-saturated battlefield, such tests are critical to assess its potential.
And, according to reports, the Apache did not disappoint. In testing, the Apache shot down 13 out of 14 drones, which is a remarkably high success rate.
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Teaching an old dog new tricks
The tests involved using Apache helicopters‘ existing toolkit of weapons, from close-in-and-dirty guns to long-range missile systems. For the latter, test Apache’s were armed with its Joint Air-to-Ground missiles (JAGM) and Hellfire missiles, all controlled using its Longbow radar system.
They were also armed with their medium-range Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) laser-guided 2.76-inch (70mm) rockets. These are much cheaper than missiles and proved surprisingly effective, making them perfect for knocking out relatively cheap drones.
The test also reviewed the Apache’s iconic 1.18-inch (30mm) chain gun using high-explosive rounds. This is the “last-ditch” layer if a drone gets very close.
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It also features “Link 16” networking, which enables it to share and receive targeting information. The V6 also comes with L3 Harris’ advanced manned–unmanned teaming called MUMT-X.
All this kit means the Apache V6 is well placed to be able to detect drones at range, and receive drone tracks from ground radars, Marines, Navy ships, or other helicopters. All this while being able to send its own sensor data back to everyone else.
This makes a valuable “node” in a kill web on the battlefield. Not bad for a chopper flown in the mid-1970s.
Ukraine has been finding that the retired by Germany Flakpanzer Gepard, a mobile radar-controlled double 35 mm cannon, has been very useful in anti-drone efforts.
The problem with using jet aircraft, such as an F-16, is that they fly so fast that the time their 20 mm cannon are in range is very brief, and the debris from a destroyed drone is a danger to the jet. As for missiles, a missile costs 10X-100X what the drone costs, not a great $$ trade-off (though saving a multi-million $$$$ something or other or saving lives is worth the cost of the missile).