This is a wise step for Australia in terms of deterrence as much as I don't trust Boeing or my government, it is has been pretty strange seeing some countries look at the Apache like it is outdated when it is probably one of the most successfully forward thinking weapon systems from the Cold War especially with the longbow radars and it has only become more relevant as an integrated central node to coordinate air defense against things such as mass drone waves.
If you are Australian and are looking at the Ukraine war nervously and thinking about what kinds of military deterrence are actually effective, resilient and adaptable, this is it. This replaces the Tiger gunship helicopter in Australia's inventory and it is difficult to understate how much more capable of a system the Apache is then the Tiger, the stats show a major difference but it is much bigger than that, it is about an entire approach to combined arms military operations.
The US Army’s AH-64E Apache has also integrated the Spike missile system, in addition to the existing joint air-to-ground missiles, which feature laser and radar seekers. These missiles will eventually replace the Hellfire in US operations. The Apache’s advanced sensors and systems, such as the Longbow fire-control radar, enable it to acquire targets at more than double the range of the ARH Tiger. Its capability is further enhanced by data-sharing links like Link 16, which allows for seamless communication with other helicopters and ground units.
While exact sensor capabilities remain classified, it is known that the Apache can detect targets at distances beyond its firing range. The US Army utilises a formation-based approach to manage the vast amount of data generated during missions. A typical formation involves four Apaches, with mixed configurations of Longbow radars and upper-receivers. “Longbow radar aircraft can share their targets, then the troop leader can assign them between the flight to attack,” one Australian Army is quoted as saying to the MoD. “It’s an adrenaline rush to be in a four-ship formation with four aircraft firing simultaneously.”
yeah Boeing sketches me out, they didn't really make this entire system though, they bought it so I am not really sure how much they can enshittify it in the way Boeing has its other stuff.
2
whiwake @lemmy.cafe - 2mon
Anyone who knows its faults would be killed for leaking them
3
Hanrahan - 2mon
These will never be used in anger in Australia, they will never be used for national defence. Anyone with supply lines long enough to land actual forces in Australia won't have an issue with these, we also have zero militia and would be overwhelmed in weeks. Our best defence is hostile terrain, and vast land mass. When they find Dezi Freeman they should give him a job to train volunteer militia forces.
We have near zero logistial base (munitions and the ability to move it) eg Ukraine would have lost long ago if not for its trains. We have roads you can't move an Abrahams down and a wet season that makes much of the north of the nation impassable.
Theres no looking to Ukraine, we're at the arse end of the world, we don't have a border you can amass forces at and walk across. The only countries with conventional resources and forces big enough to do anything significant are China and the US. We can do zero against either. The only other nation is perhaps Indonesia and they don't have the logistics.
I'd suggest rhe US is the greater danger but they're already here with bases and we do as they tell us, so they have no need.
These are perfomative, used for training in Aus and perhaps deployment overseas to support the US invading wherever it wants.
Neary all of our defence spending is inappropriate, designed for last century and a made up boghie man that doesn't exist. As ex Admiral Barrie.and other senior ex military have pointed out many times, Climate Change is coming like a locomotive down the tracks and we're completely ignoring it, to the point of actively making it worse. We even now live in a new biosphere that's not the same as the old world.
We'd be better served creating a civil defence force and ditching most of traditional armed forces.
supersquirrel in news
Australia receives first two Boeing AH-64E Apaches as local industry prepares for 230 jobs
https://defence-industry.eu/australia-receives-first-two-boeing-ah-64e-apaches-as-local-industry-prepares-for-230-jobs/This is a wise step for Australia in terms of deterrence as much as I don't trust Boeing or my government, it is has been pretty strange seeing some countries look at the Apache like it is outdated when it is probably one of the most successfully forward thinking weapon systems from the Cold War especially with the longbow radars and it has only become more relevant as an integrated central node to coordinate air defense against things such as mass drone waves.
If you are Australian and are looking at the Ukraine war nervously and thinking about what kinds of military deterrence are actually effective, resilient and adaptable, this is it. This replaces the Tiger gunship helicopter in Australia's inventory and it is difficult to understate how much more capable of a system the Apache is then the Tiger, the stats show a major difference but it is much bigger than that, it is about an entire approach to combined arms military operations.
https://www.army-technology.com/news/australia-prepares-for-ah-64e-apache-helicopter-arrival/?cf-view
BOEING KILLED JOHN BARNETT
yeah Boeing sketches me out, they didn't really make this entire system though, they bought it so I am not really sure how much they can enshittify it in the way Boeing has its other stuff.
Anyone who knows its faults would be killed for leaking them
These will never be used in anger in Australia, they will never be used for national defence. Anyone with supply lines long enough to land actual forces in Australia won't have an issue with these, we also have zero militia and would be overwhelmed in weeks. Our best defence is hostile terrain, and vast land mass. When they find Dezi Freeman they should give him a job to train volunteer militia forces.
We have near zero logistial base (munitions and the ability to move it) eg Ukraine would have lost long ago if not for its trains. We have roads you can't move an Abrahams down and a wet season that makes much of the north of the nation impassable.
Theres no looking to Ukraine, we're at the arse end of the world, we don't have a border you can amass forces at and walk across. The only countries with conventional resources and forces big enough to do anything significant are China and the US. We can do zero against either. The only other nation is perhaps Indonesia and they don't have the logistics.
I'd suggest rhe US is the greater danger but they're already here with bases and we do as they tell us, so they have no need.
These are perfomative, used for training in Aus and perhaps deployment overseas to support the US invading wherever it wants.
Neary all of our defence spending is inappropriate, designed for last century and a made up boghie man that doesn't exist. As ex Admiral Barrie.and other senior ex military have pointed out many times, Climate Change is coming like a locomotive down the tracks and we're completely ignoring it, to the point of actively making it worse. We even now live in a new biosphere that's not the same as the old world.
We'd be better served creating a civil defence force and ditching most of traditional armed forces.