A second batch of six AH-64E Apache attack helicopters will arrive in Taiwan on Thursday as scheduled, a military source said Wednesday.
The U.S.-made helicopters will be shipped to a harbor in the southern city of Kaohsiung and later sent to an Army Aviation Special Forces base in neighboring Tainan City to be assembled there, the source told CNA.
Taiwan took delivery of the first batch of six Apache choppers in early November, all of which have been grounded for safety checks since mid-December after Taiwan was notified of a malfunction in a helicopter of the same model used by the U.S. Army.
However, no problems were found in the six helicopters already in Taiwan, the source said.
On Dec. 17, Taiwan's Army was notified of a main transmission failure in an AH-64E Apache helicopter being used by the U.S. military. The source said it was the first such problem encountered in the new Apache helicopter.
For safety concerns, Taiwan's Army has since grounded all of its Apache helicopters pending a full investigation by the U.S. into the cause of the malfunction.
"We have not received any further information from the U.S. on the cause of the problem," the source said.
The newly delivered choppers, therefore, will also be grounded for safety checks after their arrival, the source said.
In the meantime, "our pilots can use simulated aircraft for their training," the official said.
Delivery of the third, fourth and fifth batches of Apache helicopters is scheduled for March, May and July, respectively, the source said.
The U.S. and Taiwan are the only two countries that use the latest model of Apache helicopters.
These 30 AH-64E Apaches have been ordered by Taiwan under a $2bn deal from the US in 2008, to help supplement the national army's ageing AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopter fleet.
ReplyDeleteNicknamed Guardian, the Boeing AH-64E is a heavily armed helicopter featuring powerful, fuel-efficient T700-GE-701D engines, enhanced rotor blade technology and electronics, as well as improved aircraft handling, performance and agility at higher altitudes. The helicopter also features a joint tactical radio system, electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensors to improve pilots' situational awareness and an oversea capacity, enabling potential strikes on smaller ships.
Boeing adds control of unmanned aircraft to the Apache helicopter's impressive capabilities. Using "eye-in-the-sky" technology, the Apache Guardian, the world's most advanced combat helicopter, is now even more effective in keeping soldiers safe.
Check out this video which explains the capabilities of Apache AH-64E http://www.army-technology.com/videos/2368738939001.html
Thanks for your contribution.
Delete