THE GULF WAR: The Battle Front : AH-64 Apache Helicopter
The AH-64 Apache helicopter, an attack copter, carries laser-guided anti-tank missiles and night vision sights. It is designed to lurk behind trees and ridges, to pick off tanks three miles away. But the flat and arid waste of the desert doesn’t offer many hiding places. Some specialists are concerned about the level of maintenance required by the craft.
Crew: Pilot and co-pilot/weapons operator Maximum cruising speed: 184 m.p.h. Armaments: 30-mm gun: fires 625 round per minute, carries up to 1,200 rounds; 8 laser-guided Hellfire missiles; 36 aerial rockets, 18 per launcher. Tracking and night vision systems: Camera target detection and tracking system, laser range finder and target designator. Information is displayed inside of pilots’ and co-pilots’ helmets.
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