Israel shifts back to the Apache as UAV switch fails

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) has been attempting to attain early delivery of 40 US-made Boeing AH-64E Apache combat helicopters. The development follows the failure of an attempt to prove that unmanned armed systems could be a fully capable replacement for combat helicopters.

Before the country’s war in Gaza began on 7 October 2023, the IAF had developed a service plan in which it intended to place more armed UAVs into service and gradually phase out the force’s existing fleet of AH-64As (designated Peten) and AH-64Ds (Saraf).

As the war evolved, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) found that fighting in Gaza – one of the most densely populated areas in the world – required combat helicopters.

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“The extensive use of the IAF’s armed UAVs achieved results but at the same time proved that the armed helicopter is needed in this type of fighting,” an Israeli defence source told Shephard. The source added that the IAF could ask the US to expediate the purchase of the AH-64Es.

As part of a contract to be financed by the US Foreign Military Financing (FMF) programme, the IAF will submit a list of changes to be performed in the production line aimed at enabling the IAF to equip the AH-64s with Israeli systems.

The existing fleet of Apache combat helicopters operated by the IAF has been using US-made Hellfire missiles and the long-range version of the Rafael Spike missile, the Spike NLOS (none-line-of-sight), for special missions.

The Spike NLOS has been proven as an effective combat tool for both high-intensity conflicts (HIC) and low-intensity conflicts (LIC). According to Rafael, the Spike NLOS is one of the most advanced and modern precision weapon systems in the world.

The missile can attack targets at “stand-off range with no line-of-sight”, according to Shephard Defence Insight, using the same principals as other Spike missiles with tracker lock-on and F&F abilities.

The firing of a Spike NLOS to its target is based on grid coordinates using INS/GPS navigation. The missile’s terminal flight uses electro-optical guidance and a missile seeker image transmitted to the operator via a wireless RF data link.

The target coordinates are fed either manually to the Spike NLOS system or selected from pre-defined targets or mission data bank. After launch, the missile flight is determined by its automatic navigation algorithm.

During flight, a manual scan of the target area is possible within the Field of Regard (FOR). Pointing to the target may be resumed at any time by pushing a button. Reaching a condition threshold, the missile can terminate its automatic navigation, with terminal guidance performed by using tracker lock-on or by manually steering the seeker.

According to Rafael, the Spike family of missiles have been integrated onto more than 10 different attack helicopters. The company has described the missiles as a “game changer” as they allow the helicopter to engage targets at a range of up to 30km without line-of-sight and outside of the range of enemy air defences.

The US Army late last year began to equip its AH-64E with the Rafael Spike NLOS missiles.

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