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An Evolving Role
 Both categories reveal the flexibility that is called for in attack helicopters as they are tasked with both the anti-armour role as well as battlefield support. However, the emphasis placed on guided weapons has revealed the importance given to stealth and surprise in helicopter warfare technology. Future development in weapons for the new Longbow program will focus even greater attention on this latter consideration. The goal is to provide the AH-64D with total battlefield awareness and security while at the same time producing demoralizing confusion to its enemies.
AGM-114 Hellfire
 However, a new technology originally developed by Texas Instruments during the Vietnam war was opening an entirely new world in missile guidance technology: laser guided weapons.
Soon after the AAH finalists had been selected, the focus on TOW had switched to a new weapon which reflected the emerging guidance technology, the AGM-114 Hellfire (HELicopter-Launched FIRE-and-forget missile). Once it's left the launch rail, this missile homes in on the reflected radiation from a target, which has been illuminated by a separate laser designator.
Today, the most predominant Hellfire in service today with the Apache is the AGM-114C. This is an upgraded version featuring Improved Low-Visibility (ILV) detection autopilot, and a low-smoke motor to reduce detection. The newest Hellfire in production is the AGM-114K Hellfire II. The K-version has been completely redesigned, featuring a digital autopilot and an improved warhead to meet today's advances in armour technology. It is believed that the range of the Hellfire II is in excess of 8km. These newest features will most likely be included in the Longbow Hellfire, to be designated AGM-114L. The specifics of this version development are not yet available. Hydra 70 Rocket System
 Upon exit from the launcher, the fins spring outward to aid in stability. Wingspan is 186mm when deployed. The maximum range is approximately 2.5km.
The Hydra 70 name denotes any warhead attached to the Mk66 rocket motor. Utilising the same rocket motor reduces a number of logistical nightmares that can exist deep in the field. There are a variety of warheads that are avialable for use with the Mk66. As a result, the rocket can be tailored to suit a number of purposes.
M229 HE
M261 HE MPSM
M255E1
M257
The cylindrical launchers typically carry 19 rockets in a honeycomb pattern. They are light so as not induce heavy weight penalties once all of the rockets have been launched, yet they are durable enough to allow them to be used multiple times. In addition, their construction is simple enough and their cost inexpensive enough to be jettisoned without concern. AH-64 Ordnance Loads
M230E1 Chain Cannon®
 Should the aircraft be forced down and the landing structure collapses, the gun is designed to fold into this space so as not to enter the crew compartment.
The chain gun is electrically driven and steered. Elevation is provided via a single hydraulic actuator located on the gun's centerline just forward of the pivot point. Should the gun lose power, it is spring loaded to return to its natural position with the barrel angled up slightly. Thus, it can collapse cleanly into its crumple-zone in an emergency. The chain gun name is derived from the way that ammunition is supplied to the weapon. To reduce jamming, the ammunition feed mechanism utilises an electrically-driven one-piece chain to feed the linkless shells into the gun. Thus, the operation of the gun does not require that a round be fired in order for the next to be chambered. Misfired rounds are driven through by the chain to make way for the next round. The feed chute is a rectangular loop passing through the center of the mounting bracket, and attaching to either side of the gun. Ammunition travels down the starboard side of the chute while the spent casings are passed up the port side to be returned to the magazine. Rate of fire for the M230 is 600-650 rounds per minute, the spool-up time to acheive this rate being a brief 0.2 seconds. 1200 rounds are carried in the magazine-pack above the gun. Each round takes approximately 2 seconds to travel 1000m. However, as the shell's energy dissipates, it takes some 12.2 seconds to cover 3000m.
The ammunition typically used by the M230 is the 30mm M789 HEDP (high explosive dual-purpose). Each shell contains 21.5g of explosive charge sealed in a shaped-charge liner. The liner is designed to collapse into an armour-piercing jet of molten metal, capable of penetrating more than 2 inches of armour. The shell is also designed to fragment into shrapnel, deadly to unprotected targets, out to a distance of over 10 feet. The ammunition is cased in aluminum rather than the typical brass as it reduces the weight of the ammunition load by half. The ammunition is loaded into the Apache using a motorised loader by ground-support personnel. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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