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But Brigadier General Walter Rugen, Director of the Armys Future Vertical Lift Cross-Functional Team, said in an interview that the critical path in future multi-domain operations is the Armys ability to penetrate anti-access, area denial (A2AD) environments. Probably the biggest load of horseshit in the movie Top Gun.everyone had a cool callsign. The vast majority of the time, it was a play on your na "It's like strapping yourself to the roof of a car at 100mph," says the 45-year-old former helicopter pilot. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. Are there any traditions that are unique to Apache pilots? We reached out to Bell whose 360 Invictus is one of the FARA candidates. Our choppers took a beating in Vietnam. It was a year before mine disappeared altogether. The AH-64E features: Advanced digital connectivity. Prior to the 1990s, it was rare to see a female pilot at the helm of an attack helicopter. It's a way of coping. But is the Army going to replace a couple thousand Black Hawks with this? The tanks, caught by surprise, have no way of avoiding the withering assault. It's used primarily by the pilot for navigating close to the ground in darkness, but can also detect thermally active targets. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? No, you just destroyed my stuff. Multisensory cueing for enhancing orientation information during flight. But FLRAA? Defense Advancement showcases technical innovation within the defense and security sector. Army Eyes Replacing Apache With FARA As Its Kick In The Door Attack Helicopter More From Forbes Mar 1, 2023,08:34am EST Ukraines Next-Generation Has there been thought or analysis devoted to mixed operations TTP, even at this early stage? That leeway I mentioned doesn't have to be at the limitations of standards set in the PTS/ATM. So after I drank a few, we had to fly back. Caldwell JA, Caldwell JL, Crowley JS, Jones HD. In 2020, the US Army announced it was retiring its aging AH-64D Apache helicopters. Create a DA Pro account to get full website access, the weekly eBrief and exclusive event discounts. This site needs JavaScript to work properly. The plan is based on the assumption that current NATO forces could never hope to survive a full invasion thrust in a conventional head-to-head confrontation. That's the messed up humor that military guys use to pass the time. "You produce a product that allows the aviator, the combat crewman, and the Soldier on the ground, a system that allows our great Americans to come home safely and keep them out of harm's way. Even a few well-placed rifle shots could bring them down. WebWas an Apache pilot. "You can just look, see and fire. A monocle sat permanently over our right iris. Before FARA and the FARA ecosystem is our penetrating force., The Ghost of Army Aviation Reinvention Schemes. Does the company see Invictus as an A2AD striker? A way to desensitize yourself to the fact that you just went and killed people. At the flick of a button, a range of other images could also be superimposed underneath the green glow of the instrument symbology, replicating the TADS or PBVS camera images and the London Radars targets.. Ed Macy won the Military Cross for his part in a daring rescue mission in Afghanistan. Now Its Back, Replacing Russian Losses In Ukraine. The missiles can even be guided by a remote laser source, such as from a scout helicopter or a portable ground generator. Studies have documented complaints of fatigue, headaches, and visual problems associated with the use of this sighting system. The tactics, techniques and procedures of a COCOM commander [who has Apaches] hes got to figure a way to keep that capability at the forefront of any fight. I wouldn't trust them to drive and drive, or text and text, much less do the two at once. Could the Army be shielding FARA from budget pressure with its first-day doctrine? Designed from lessons learned from the Vietnam War, the Apache would go on to serve the U.S. military for decades to come. "just because you can do something doesn't mean you should. Both the TADS/PNVS system and the helmet sight were designed especially for the Apache, but are adaptable to other gunships. 1. If I'm flying multi ship, about to land, on an approach, whatever: I'm focused on that task. In a "noncritical" flight regime, 10 feet isn't much of anything. Accessibility I once filmed my face during a sortie with a video camera as an experiment. Like you take someone's beret, put it in water, and put it in the freezer so they'd have to chisle it out. According to Apache manufacturer Boeing, 1.3 million of those hours were flown during combat. But in recently fielded models of the AH-64D the ORT along with the DVO has been removed as it was rarely used. Turned out it wasn't. The Army Air Corps has 67 of the 42m machines and training each pilot costs around 3m. You cannot escape the heat. It wont be just the weapons that hang from its own pylons that FARA will use to fix and degrade the enemy he says. In his left eye, the pilot sees PNVS has a high rate of movement (120 per second) so as to accurately match the head movements of the pilot. In fact, Rugens sketch of FARA capabilities and synergies sounds very familiar to anyone acquainted with the Armys failed acquisition of the Boeing/Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche. A monocle sat permanently over our right iris. It does not matter whether it is an Apache driver, an astronaut, Matt Kenseth, or a 16 year old. The film revolved around an Apache helicopter pilot leading a mission to bring down a South American drug cartel. The Hind also is a huge machine, making it difficult to conceal, and is one of only a few combat models the Russians are known to have. The famed Huey, a utility chopper pressed into military service, performed valiantly despite its limitations, but paid a heavy price. Ed Macy's part in the rescue of an injured marine in Afghanistan in 2007 reads like the script from an action film. Read about our approach to external linking. Published: March 2, 2023. FARA will leverage other penetrating assets from missiles and UAVs to other aircraft. ", Street fighting in Bakhmut but Russia not in control, Inside the enclave surrounded by pro-Russia forces, China looks at reforms to deepen Xi's control, 'The nurses wanted me to feel guilty about my abortion, From Afghan TV fame to a US factory floor. In a few words, describe the Apache. TM: [Laughs] Yeah. On the question of whether there is any early TTP development for Apache/FARA, Col. Fortier offered no detail but did point out that the product manager for mission systems integration in his office came from the Apache product office. Light attack perhaps, assisting and coordinating with heavier assets, i.e. Some 1,100 Black Hawks and 675 Apaches are already on order by the Army. The CEO of the popular veterans clothing company Nine Line Apparel and the founder of the non-profit Nine Line Foundation, Merritt spent three years in the pilot's seat of an Apache, including a yearlong tour to Iraq between 2008 and 2009, before he left the service in 2014 following a lengthy stint as a special operations air mission commander. Gen. Walter Rugen. Terms of Use The remaining Apache helicopters will be upgraded to the AH-64E variant, sustaining the fleet through to 2040. "They thought it would be just another tour," he says. The ability to hedgehop at speeds approaching 200 mph-called nap-of-the-earth maneuvering is what enables a gunship to strike with such devastating swiftness and surprise, using natural ground features to mask it from enemy radar and antiaircraft fire. FARA is not. The aircrafts ability to operate at sea makes it integral for both the Army and Navy, as it can be transported and used in practically any environment. Rebecca Maksel is a senior associate editor at Air & Space. A weird apparition suddenly sweeps down over a mountain ridge at nearly 200 mph, belching flame from fang-like missile tubes as it zeroes in on a column of enemy battle tanks in the valley below. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the In 1954. MeSH WebHave you ever wondered what helicopter pilots carry on them? First fielded in 2005, the MTADS/PNVS saw combat when it was first deployed to Iraq in 2006, with the 1-82nd Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, the first unit equipped with the modernized sight. The cockpit allows for two crew members pilot and gunner who are able to fly the aircraft and operate its weaponry. Bookshelf Would you like email updates of new search results? I thought there'd be a huge ball of fire, but it's just like pffffft. "We have a scheduled goal of having our on-aircraft installation in November of this year with a first flight scheduled in January of 2014," Van Riper said. We dont feel the Apache has the ability to operate from the relative sanctuary that the FVL [aircraft] can. Still, this reporter reached out to the Armys FVL Cross Functional Team and to Boeing for what was to be a discussion of possible tactics, techniques and procedures for Apache/FVL. Like the Apache, it's a heavily armored tandem-seater equipped with laser-homing missiles. Flying during the day when the air conditioning breaks. While the AH-64 Apache helicopter was developed in the US by Hughes Helicopters, McDonnell Douglas and Boeing, the aircraft has been produced elsewhere. Multitasking while flying isn't like multitasking while driving. Gender influences on performance, mood and recovery sleep in fatigued aviators. HHS Vulnerability Disclosure, Help WebApache attack helicopter, but Boeing Mesa engineers looked at the F-35 helmet in studies for a new AH-64 cockpit. In this article, Dantherm explains why cooling units are essential equipment in the field, and what makes the companys rapidly 2022 Echoblue Ltd. All Rights Reserved. In 1994, General Gordon R. Sullivan, Chief of Staff of the Army, wrote: The Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche, cancelled in 2004 after the Army spent $6.9 billion trying to [+] develop and acquire it. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. That's how accurate it is. Ever wonder what it takes to become an Apache helicopter pilot? What Happens to Pilots That Defect to the U.S.? Chief Warrant Officer Three Adam Marik from the 1-101st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment and keynote speaker at the event, told the employees about his experiences flying with the system in Iraq and Afghanistan. Prince Harry has served as an Apache Helicopter Pilot/Gunner with 662 Sqd Army Air Corps, from September 2012 for four months until January 2013. It has been my experience that no, they do not move independently. I am a retired Army helicopter pilot and flew and instructed in the AH-64A Apach The Armys Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) will be the go-to attack helicopter by 2030, despite it being touted as a light-attack reconnaissance craft. It's the new Hughes AH-64 Apache, the toughest, meanest, most awesome combat helicopter ever produced. Instead, it envisions a modern equivalent of the classic divide-and-conquer tactic. Several have crashed when rotor blades sliced into tail booms due to abrupt changes in direction. In his book, Apache, Ed Macy, a former pilot with the British Army Air Corps, revealed that the flying tank requires talent and skill to successfully fly. "When MTADS was deployed to Iraq in 2006, the difference was immediate," Marik said. So what, is that like drunk backseat driving? Winning via deployment of FARA along with other assets on day one may be the FVL directors current thinking but it does not seem to have been clearly articulated by the Army in the recent past. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, MIL ATP SH-3D/G/H CH-46D CH-53D Bell206B S-76. Prince Harry has served as an Apache Helicopter Pilot/Gunner with 662 Sqd Army Air Corps, from September 2012 for four months until January 2013. Nowhere in these public communications from the Army is FARA mentioned as a penetrating strike platform, paving the way (along with other assets) for the AH-64. These would be difficult to match in a FARA package. Using a pre/post design, we assessed self-reported levels of alertness, physical, cognitive, and visual fatigue, and ocular indices of fatigue obtained using an instrument specifically designed to capture various eye responses. This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and style. It has largely been promoted as a light-attack reconnaissance helicopter, meant to work with other joint force platforms and air-launched affects, and to relieve the Apache of the mission once performed by the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior. Last month, the company announced that Morocco would buy 24 AH-64Es, becoming the 17th country to acquire the Apache. How can [pilots] best absorb information and get more out of it. With the X-Sights dual eye display, helicopter pilots have a 61 x 30-degree view, and the color display is in high resolution (in terms of pixels). Although adaptable to gunships, it is intended primarily for use on scout helicopters, enabling them to ferret out targets without being seen. Since December 1993, women have made important and noteworthy contributions as AH-64 Apache pilots. PNVS, the other half of the system, stands for Pilot Night Vision Sensor and contains an infrared imager that provides a brightly illuminated view of the terrain below at night or in heavy rain and fog. ", "That is no small feat," Hager continued. FOIA The UK's Army Air Corps is currently using four Apache helicopters in the conflict in Libya. Is Russias Only Aircraft Carrier Cursed? What science tells us about the afterlife. The majority of military aircraft are difficult to master, and the AH-64 Apache helicopter is considered one of the hardest. More like you learn to force eye dominance. Once inside the lines, the enemy is encircled, trapped, and ultimately defeated. This frees up crew members to complete other tasks and further lends itself to the Apaches accuracy and speed. I just abided by it, and luckily I never had to do it. I got hammered one time at a Delta compound in Iraq when I didn't realize that their Irish coffee was truly Irish coffee and had whiskey in it. There's math and it's complicated: projectile shift, trajectory jump, all these things come into play. At night, because we own the night. According to Boeing, there are more than 1,200 in operation across the world. I watched my master gunner, who was a crazy guy, shoot a rocket around the building. If this really is more than an Apache assistant, I dont see how that happens from a budget standpoint, a timing standpoint, a reality standpoint.. Frank Lazarra, Bells director of sales and strategy for FARA admitted struggling with the question. The majority of countries have simply opted to purchase Apaches from the US. doi: 10.1097/AUD.0000000000000289. More like you learn to force eye dominance. The film had ample helicopter dog fights, showcasing the capabilities of the US attack chopper. Again, this begged the question as to whether there has been any thinking about joint tactics, particularly if, as Rugen says, FARA will outsource lethality. Rugens answer suggests that it will be an ad hoc process. In Japan, AH-64D Apaches, designated AH-64DJP. were built under license by Fuji Heavy Industries. sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal Clare Fitzgerald is a Writer and Editor with eight years of experience in the online content sphere. In addition, it already If you did hope to attain a kind of sensor and ordinance capability like Apache has, youre not getting there with this propulsion roadmap.. Versatile Sikorsky Black Hawk is both a potent tank killer and troopship. He describes the Apache as "the world's most sophisticated hunter-killer". Together theyve accumulated over four million flight hours, 1.3 million of which have been in combat. USS Cyclops Is the Navys Last Missing Big Ship, Russias New Warhead Is an Engine of Destruction, How Drones and Sats Have Given Ukraine a Chance. This article by James Clarkoriginally appearedat Task & Purpose. Resources and manpower have improved greatly since then, says Mr Macy, who is also a strong supporter of the aircraft's use in Libya. In February 1985, Popular Mechanics got its first look at a new generation of military helicoptersones that could defend themselves in a fight. [Oftentimes] people ask me how does it feel to be the first African-American female pilot, she said. But it takes an incredible amount of situational awareness for pilots to complete these missions. As cold blooded as this may sound, it is nevertheless significant. Yep, sure is! Well, the modern, AH-1Z Supercobra (more correctly known as the Viper, but most of crewmen/Marines I work with call it a Supercobra, Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from Kings University College at Western University, her portfolio includes coverage of digital media, current affairs, history and true crime. Task & Purpose had a chance to ask Merritt what it's like to fly the Apache during a gun run, what shenanigans he and his guys got up to downrange, and about that onetimehe almost got busted for flying an attack helicopter while intoxicated. You can make an argument for FARA scout capabilities as being worth paying for. It is currently working with contractors to disassemble hundreds of deteriorating aircraft. The Target Acquisition and Designation Sights, Pilot Night Vision System ( TADS/PNVS) is the combined sensor Most guys who join the military are not in it for the money, they're there to blow things up. It displays flight and targeting information directly in front of the pilots eyes. Despite citing the Armys recent acquisition of range-extending Israeli Spike Non-Line-Of-Sight missiles for the Apache (and possibly for its MQ-9 Reaper teammate) and the success of Army trials of the standoff weapon in 2019, Rugen says the worlds best current attack helicopter wont be joining the more lightly armed and armored FARA when the fur starts flying. The other substantial difference is that the nature of the mission Not an Apache driver but we have a very similar display system in the Cobra and it's not like you become a chameleon. Thus, so the theory goes, both sides would be spared the horror of nuclear escalation. The latest engineering and technical developments straight to your inbox - join thousands of engineers who receive it. Data were contributed to this study by 53 aviators. WebThe screen displays the night vision imagery of a thermal camera (FLIR) that is located at the nose of the helicopter. Stress responses of pilots flying high-performance aircraft during aerial combat maneuvers. will come to the fight once the enemy has been softened up. Now that weve reviewed the basics, here are some facts about the AH-64 Apache helicopter. When he finished his career in 2008 he had achieved the rank of Warrant Officer First Class and was an attack aviation specialist. Hanging from every pilot's flight vest is a nylon strap attached to a carabiner. On the outside of the Apache there are handholds bolted on primari Survivability in an attack helicopter is as crucial as its weaponsif it can't take abuse, it won't live long to fight. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Adam Marik, from the 1-101st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, speaks to Lockheed Martin employees during the One Million Flight Hours celebration of the Apache Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Army set to expand use of new digital HR and talent-management system, Army preparing to expand use of new digital HR and talent-management system, TMF Board selects the Army Critical Infrastructure Cyber Protection Project for investment, U.S. Army STAND-TO! Unable to load your collection due to an error, Unable to load your delegates due to an error. They want to keep it scoped to where they can meet a timeline, have the necessary affects for 2030 with an upgradeable capability using common open access digital backbone and a modular open systems approach., We designed an aircraft that was not going to break the bank, that we thought we could do on this timelinethat could deliver and show up in the same vein as the Kiowa Warrior.. Col. Jeff Hager, project manager for the Apache Attack Helicopter, spoke at the ceremony and told the Lockheed Martin employees in attendance about the significance of this milestone. Using eyes separately is a bit of a misnomer. Putting names to archive photos, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, In photos: India's disappearing single-screen cinemas. We had high energy, lots of craziness going on, and then the rules of engagement changed So we'd go to the desert and fly around if there was nothing we needed to prosecute as a target, we'd go through the salt fields on the way back. The gun aims where the operator looks. The Army is now continuing to improve the MTADS/PNVS with the Modernized Day Sensor Assembly, or M-DSA, which will bring high-definition, colored video into the Apache cockpit for target acquisition and designation. Significant differences in all pre- and postflight ocular responses were observed. Both systems are independent, but housed together. It is an unbelievably impressive complement of weaponry, an absolute death machine.". So I dont know any other way to feel but like me.. The two announcements spurred the thought that Apache, the Armys long-touted heavyweight premier attack helicopter and its forthcoming lightweight scout (FARA) would be operating together for decades to come (the Army plans to operate AH-64 at least through 2045). Its powered by two General Electric T700 turboshaft engines, with high-mounted exhausts on each side of the fuselage. Among its upgrades are the Improved Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision System (MTADS/PNVS) and an updated Small Tactical Terminal radio that allows for communication in joint environments. "It will destroy an armoured personnel carrier and blast through any shield that Gaddafi's men have," says Mr Macy. Careers. Boeing's AH-64E Apache has been regarded as the Army's premier attack helicopter. Along with its night-vision sensor and fire control radar, it also has as thick outer armor that can withstand most enemy fire. He says pilots will be able use the Apache's low-level flying capabilities and their own judgement to destroy any threats to civilians. It also used to contain direct-view optics (DVO) which the copilot/gunner (CPG) could see through the Optical Relay Tube (ORT). As the eyes adjusted over the following weeks and months the headaches took longer to set in. As of 2005 a program was under way to upgrade the U.S. Apache fleet to the Modernized-TADS/PNVS (M-TADS/PNVS) standard, also known as Arrowhead. It entered service in 1986, seeing combat three years later. | READ MORE. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Clipboard, Search History, and several other advanced features are temporarily unavailable. In reality, there's nothing cooler than being able to respond to a request for fire, or to help the guys on the ground. Operation Deep Strike is also seen, somewhat paradoxically, as a deterrent to nuclear warfare. Comanche, the quarterback of the modern battlefield, he says is an example. Tyler Merritt: It's basically a flying tank. Ergonomics. Was an Apache pilot. The AH-64D Apache does not have a traditional HUD display like in modern fixed wings aircraft. So what sort of mixed operating tactics is the Army mulling/conceiving for Apache and its new FVL platforms? Always wanted to ask a Cobra pilot something. 8600 Rockville Pike There was a vicious firefight, a 2000lb bomb was dropped to disguise the helicopter's arrival and two marines were strapped to the side of the helicopter. WebTADS / PNVS on a Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopter. Helmet Mounted Display Systems for US Apache Pilots. Boeing director of attack helicopter modernization Paul Meyers summarized, Were really trying to get an understanding of situational awareness. Us pilots dont tend to be too shy about our awesomeness (especially with a drink or two under our belts), but you cant fool Mother Nature. We wor | Army Organic Industrial Base Modernization Implementation Plan, The U.S. Army releases a two volume book about Operation Enduring Freedom, 4th Inf. ORLANDO, Fla. (Aug. 14, 2013) -- The U.S. Army commemorated one million flight hours of the AH-64 Apache helicopter's Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor at a ceremony held at the Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control facility in Orlando, Aug. 8, 2013. To date, the Army has accepted delivery and fielded eight production lots of the M-TADS/PNVS, and is preparing to award the ninth production lot. (I may be prejudice as I am a Blackhawk pilot). Colonel Gregory Fortier, FARA Project Manager, PEO Aviation, also participated in the interview. The goals of this study were: 1) to quantify possible flight-induced fatigue in Apache aviators; and 2) to evaluate minimally intrusive neurophysiologic measures of fatigue for potential use in operational environments. Follow Task & Purpose onTwitter. West Germany's PAH-1, made by Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm, carries antitank missiles, but will soon be replaced by the PAH-2, an upgraded tandem-seat model equipped with both air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles, TADS/PNVS avionics, and a 30-mm nose cannon similar to the Apache's. Task & Purpose: Imagine you're talking to someone who's never seen a helicopter. Designed to get into trouble fast and put it down even faster, the AH-64 Apache usually comes bristling with ordnance, from an M230 chain gun firing 30mm Once a target is pinpointed by the scout's laser beam, it is handed off to a nearby attack helicopter, such as an Apache, to make the actual kill. It also mounts a The ghost of Army aviation re-invention schemes may haunt FVL Aboulafia suggests. Among her accomplishments are being the Founder of the true crime blog, Stories of the Unsolved, which garners between 400,000 and 500,000 views annually, and a contributor for John Lordans Seriously Mysterious podcast. I thought it was just flavored. Div. This is a significant tactical advantage that provides reliable situational awareness, eases the pilots workload, helps to enhance their safety and achieve success when flying their most demanding missions.. Twin turbine engines provide backup power if one engine should fail, and special sand filters in the intakes prevent clogging in desert regions, one of the problems that plagued the ill-fated attempt to rescue the U.S. hostages in Iran. Studies have documented complaints of fatigue, headaches, and visual problems associated with the use of this sighting system. Pupil size and constriction latency increased while constriction amplitude and saccadic velocity decreased. Its design has enabled it to dominate the majority of battlefield conditions; its armor can sustain a hit from 23 mm rounds, while the rotor blades are designed to continue flying when damaged. So Apache is a 4th generation aircraft, not suitable for first-day operations. If we generate that freedom of maneuver were winning. Why do you think the Apache is such a popular helicopter in the military community? "It's pretty much like saying 'pick a window' - and it'll go through it. The 2.75-inch hydra rockets. Its "pin-point precision accuracy" is ideal to reduce the civilian deaths that can sometimes occur with higher altitude bombing. PNVS can rotate +/ 90 degrees in azimuth and +20/ 45 degrees in elevation. FARA & Apache Together In All Kinds of Weather? Flying an Apache almost always meant both hands and feet doing four different things at once, he wrote. And the tradition is that whoever is the worst shot with the rocket and keep in mind that the rocket is the only one you need skill to shoot whoever is the furthest from the target, when you land, you had to drop your pants and walk back through the flightline yelling "I'm a pretty pretty princess.". sure, if the texts in question were being routed through a $100,000+ HUD Helmet thing that they have, that displayed the relevant information to one of the eyes. It is the most advanced, incorporating the latest navigation, sensor, communications, and weapons systems. The Apache had better be good because it faces stiff competition in the Russian Mi-24 Hind, an advanced-design gunship already proved effective in the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Today's helicopter gunships are counted on to provide our troops with a potent ground-support weapon in any land war to come. Can you describe how it feels, the sound, sensation, sight, etc? The reasoning goes like this: If NATO forces can repulse their attackers with conventional weapons, they would not have to resort to the use of nuclear arms, and the invaders, already severely weakened, would not dare to employ them either, fearing swift retaliation. "Less than three years ago, we celebrate the 1,000th delivery of the MTADS/PNVS," said Hager. Despite the calculated losses anticipated by NATO experts, the U.S. Army does not consider its gunships expendable, even at a kill ratio of 16 to 1 and certainly not at $10 million a throw. The TADS assembly can rotate +/ 120 degrees in azimuth, +30/80 degrees in elevation and can move independently of the PNVS. The Apache carries up to 16 laser-guided Hellfire missiles for destroying tanks or as many as 76 rockets for use on less heavily armored targets.