A10 Thunderbolt 2 or AH-64D Apache Longbow

SMAPLionHeart SG

It would have already been spotted by our border patrol.
or even if it swims over , at 10-12 km/hour.

The amount of noise and the size of it already will alert our SPIKE/MILAN guys.

SpecOps87 SG

Its not that I’m saying the Hydras are unable to penetrate the armour of a MBT or any light tanks. But I do have my reservations about it. As being fired at a tank and a truck/jeep is totally diff. from firing at a tank.

Shotgun SG

Hellfire's also comes in different flavors.

There are infra-red guided ones, (i think), laser guided ones, and radar guided ones. Of which, the radar guided ones is most favored cos of the longbow radar. In urban context, 1 apache d with longbow, can peep over a building with its radar, paint and designate for a 2nd apache w/o longbow to launch.

As for the hydra question. Even if it doesn't kill the tank, it can still pop a track. A popped track is as good as a dead tank.

spencer99 SG

The recent performance of the Apaches in Iraq seems to suggest that attack copters might not perform 100% as per promise....

Which is why the US cancelled the RAH-66 Comache also.

LazerLordz SG

I would say that is due to the terrain more than the abilities of the chopper itself.The choppers need visibility and terrain to hide..and I think the jungle environment may be quite alright for our Apaches.

Lance_han SG

u willing to bet your puny hide on tat, jackass? Rolling Eyes

sgFish SG

HARMs are useless against shoulder fired MANPADS...

Shotgun SG

But Manpads are useless against targets at medium altitudes.

The commanche was cancelled not because it was useless. But that the US DOD felt that there was no need for it due to the development of UCAVs. Why send an expensive stealth helicopter, and its crew into harm's way when u can just send a couple of UCAV's armed with Hellfires?

As for the US Army's Other requirement; the useage of Attack Helos as a Calvary force, the current Apache D does the job well already. With the support of Longbow equipped Apaches, there really isn't a need for an expensive stealth helicopter that isn't really stealthed when its carrying the payload the Apache carries.

Btw, Manpads probably get their targetting info from surveillance radars too. U take those out (with HARMs) , the manpads will have a longer reaction time.

Btw, the callsign for HARMs is "Magnum" is that correct? I'm a bit out of date on that.

SpecOps87 SG

Yep, seems that MANPADS are the biggest threats to all sorts of choppers. But seriously speaking, I would choose the A-10 due to its ability to loiter above the battlefield,its slow speed,its huge payload and its nut-bustin Avenger gun.

Shotgun SG

Well, I guess its really 2 different roles of 2 highly capable tank busters.

The A-10 is really well suited for its role of Close Air Support, staying on Station, raining Mavericks, Cluster bombs and 30mm DU rounds from above.

But when u really need to plug a gap, slow down an advancing armored column, ambushes. Zip to the where the enemy is, loose more than a dozen hellfires on the vehicles while hovering behind a mound, or even below tree top level. Not much u can do unless u've got some air support to flush the choppers out.

Even so, apache's can be armed with Sidewinders... JUST IN CASE. =D

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