Army Aviation

The Apache Longbow helicopter program needs to be reassessed because the helicopter does not meet two key user requirements. First, the Army's 227 radar-equipped Apache Longbow helicopters will be too heavy to achieve the required 450 feet per minute in the combat mission configuration when carrying a full fuel load and 12 missiles. As a result, the helicopters will lack the maneuverability and agility needed to operate successfully in combat. The Army's plans to modify the helicopter will add weight, aggravating the problem. Second, the Apache Longbow lacks a radio that will allow it to transfer target data between helicopters when concealed or not in the line of sight. Unresolved technical issues have delayed the radio's development. More importantly, the Army plans to install the non-line-of-sight radio on only half of the Apache Longbow helicopter fleet. The 50-percent reduction in planned radio procurement quantities will (1) reduce the Apache Longbow's lethality because of the inability to transfer target data between helicopters and (2) decrease the Apache Longbow's survivability because of its greater exposure to hostile forces.

GAO noted that: (1) the Apache Longbow program needs to be reassessed because the helicopter does not meet two key user requirements; (2) the Army's 227 radar-equipped Apache Longbow helicopters will be too heavy to achieve the validated VROC requirement of 450 feet per minute in the combat mission configuration when carrying the required 12 Longbow Hellfire missiles and a full fuel load; (3) as a result, the helicopters will not have acceptable levels of maneuverability and agility to successfully operate in combat; (4) even though the Apache Longbow is reported to have significantly greater overall capability than the original Apache, its VROC and corresponding maneuverability will be less than that of the original Apache; (5) Army plans to modify the system will add weight and therefore exacerbate this problem; (6) the impact of weight on the ability of non-radar-equipped Apache Longbow helicopters to achieve VROC performance requirements is even greater because of the less-powerful engines used in these helicopters; (7) at initial operational capability, the Apache Longbow will not have a radio that will allow it to transfer target data between helicopters when concealed or not in the line of sight; (8) unresolved technical issues have delayed the radio's development; (9) the Army plans to install the non-line-of-sight radio on only one-half of the total Apache Longbow helicopter fleet; and (10) the lack of this capability throughout the fleet results in an overall reduction in lethality due to the inability to transfer target data between Apache Longbow helicopters and decreased survivability caused by the greater exposure to hostile forces.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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