The AH-64 Apache is the world’s most advanced, combat-proven attack helicopter and an indispensable asset on the evolving battlefield. Defeating today’s threats and continuously transforming for tomorrow, approximately 1,300 aircraft are in operation with 19 nations around the globe today.
Boeing continues to advance the AH-64E Apache as the “quarterback of the battlefield,” extending its sensing and reach across a Family of Systems while integrating the latest data sharing capabilities, Launched Effects and emerging counter-UAS solutions to make the aircraft more lethal, survivable and interoperable.
Working closely with the U.S. Army and across industry to evolve the aircraft for today and tomorrow’s fight, we’re embracing an Open Systems Approach (OSA) to take the aircraft’s battlefield dominance to the next level connecting any sensor to any shooter in the future command and control network.
Connecting Any Sensor to Any Shooter in the Future C2 Network
What’s new? Boeing’s OSA on the AH-64E Apache Version 6.5 (v6.5) will allow the aircraft to become a critical enabler of the Army’s future command and control network through the seamless integration of new communications and sensors.
Together with Raft, we have successfully demonstrated how we can bi-directionally share data cleanly and seamlessly into the Apache cockpit and to the Joint Force, allowing the Apache to plug into any future command and control network.
Boeing continues to prove that the Apache’s OSA is ready for rapid innovation, allowing us to integrate new mission capabilities rapidly and seamlessly. Working with Raft, we’re able to demonstrate how we can bring the Joint Force’s Common Operating picture into the Apache cockpit – and share its sensor data to the Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) network.
As the Army develops its NGC2 network, we’re taking the Apache’s capabilities to the next level as the quarterback of the battlefield by rapidly and seamlessly integrating new capabilities to increase its lethality, survivability and interoperability.
Why it matters: Building the Army’s future C2 network requires close collaboration between government and industry, as well as within industry to deliver the decision advantage to Soldiers. We’re doing this to enable the Army to be able to connect any sensor to any shooter, and we did it through open systems, at speed, in a matter of months.
The bottom line: “We believe fostering a collaborative ecosystem where we partner with companies like Raft to integrate technologies will enhance our capabilities on our enduring platforms to keep our warfighters ahead of evolving global threats,” said Scott “Frag” Jobe, Business Development for Boeing’s Phantom Works division. “This strategic collaboration is the latest example of Boeing’s commitment to open systems, agility and a Family of Systems approach.”
What’s next: Embracing open systems is the key to enabling NGC2. Boeing continues exploring possible expansion into other areas of its portfolio to enable Joint Warfighter Integration.
Unlocking the Next Step of Launched Effects Integration
What’s new? Apache Launched Effects development is expanding the platform’s reach, sensing, and lethality while enabling crews to control autonomous systems directly from the cockpit.
Recently, we conducted a demo in our Mesa lab leveraging our Apache Version 6.5 OSA to successfully integrate a Launched Effects (LE) capability. Building on the work we did last year to integrate LE solutions from two industry partners, we took our efforts to the next level with “hardware in the loop” – physical equipment representative of what the Army is using to integrate new capabilities.
Why it matters: Boeing’s v6.5 OSA on Apache enables the rapid and seamless integration of new capabilities like LEs and C-UAS in an intuitive, low-workload manner without the addition of tablets or changing the mission software.
The bottom line: This latest successful demo further validates that the Apache is ready for LE integration, providing a decisive advantage to ground commanders, helping to protect soldiers, and enhancing the Army’s sensing capabilities and lethality in complex environments.
What’s next: “Boeing continues to engage the U.S. Army, international customers and industry partners to understand their evolving needs and provide new capabilities at speed,” said TJ Jamison, Boeing’s director of Business Development for Attack Helicopter Programs. “We plan to continue building on this latest success with additional efforts in the works demonstrating greater levels of integration.”
Putting Apache Interoperability to the Test
What’s new? In May, we demonstrated the interoperability of the AH-64E Apache with its v6.5 OSA during the U.S. Army’s Right to Integrate (R2I) hackathon at Fort Carson, known as “Operation Jail Break.” Boeing rapidly and successfully integrated Apache software with the Integrated Battle Command System – Maneuver (IBCS-M) and shared its Application Programming Interface (API) for warfighters to use, as well as supported a live exercise that included real equipment in the loop.
Why it matters: Many traditional defense systems are federated, meaning they were not designed with interoperability ― the seamless exchange of information across platforms ― in mind and that operators often have to serve as the human interface between separate systems to accomplish their missions. When seconds matter to the warfighter, response times in a federated environment are simply too slow.
The bottom line: While one of the primary goals of Operation Jailbreak was for industry to ‘jailbreak,’ or hack, their own systems to achieve this, Boeing proved that the Apache’s open systems interfaces already provided the interoperability the warfighters desired without any further ‘jailbreaking.’
What’s next: Building on the success of Operation Jailbreak, Boeing intends to support additional Army hackathon sprints in the future, expanding scope and further demonstrating OSA capabilities.
To learn more about how Boeing is advancing the Apache’s capabilities to support the Army’s future needs, click here.