Japanese Apache AH-64D

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By: target - 6th December 2005 at 17:02

Can anybody tell me if any Apaches have been delivered to the Japanese Forces?

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By: Stormeagle - 6th December 2005 at 17:14 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

I don't believe so. Cobras yes. Apaches NO.

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By: Distiller - 6th December 2005 at 21:11 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Well, there was this programme called AH-X to replace the hundred or so AH-1S in 1999, and then in summer 2001 the AH-64D was selected over the AH-1Z. Not sure there was ever a contract signed, anyway there sure were no deliveries.

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By: turboshaft - 6th December 2005 at 21:51 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

First two aircraft due to be delivered in Q1 2006. The JGSDF was originally planning to buy 55 aircraft, but the usual cost inflation may limit this to no more than 13 (6 under contract & 7 more in 5YP). Given the slow pace of the OH-1 program KHI has probably also been lobbying hard for additional work, so expect to see the LOAH-X project revived soon...

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By: Dubya - 7th December 2005 at 00:21 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

First two aircraft due to be delivered in Q1 2006. The JGSDF was originally planning to buy 55 aircraft, but the usual cost inflation may limit this to no more than 13 (6 under contract & 7 more in 5YP). Given the slow pace of the OH-1 program KHI has probably also been lobbying hard for additional work, so expect to see the LOAH-X project revived soon...

So the Japanese are going to replace 100-odd AH-1's with 13 Apache's?? Hell you might as well scrap the attack helo component with so few numbers. 13 attack helos is nothing more than a token force.

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By: ruud.deurenberg - 7th December 2005 at 00:38 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Two AH-64D (c/n JP001 and JP002) for the JASDF are in the production line at Mesa, while 8 AH-64D will be produced at Fuji Heavy Industries. A further 40 to 45 wil be ordered in the future.

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By: Jollyrogers - 7th December 2005 at 01:43 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Are the JSDF still pursuing the purchase of AH-64s? I read somewhere the proposal was dropped due to the need to relieve the funds to 'Higher Priority Need (aka Jap participation to US missile defence programme)'?

So is the purchase still ongoing or was it cancelled? :confused:

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By: turboshaft - 7th December 2005 at 01:58 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

There were supposed be buying 55, but latest suggestions are that the AH-64D will be kept as a silver bullet (only a dozen or so), with the bulk of the Cobras replaced by something smaller (LOAH-X, probably an OH-1 derivative). So we're back to the original premise of a high-low mix. A case of changing funding priorities, just as you state.

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By: Don Chan - 21st December 2005 at 03:42 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

(I stand, eh, sit corrected.)

http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2005/q4/051220a_nr.html

"Boeing Delivers First Apache Longbow Helicopter for Japan"

ST. LOUIS, Dec. 20, 2005 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has delivered the first AH-64D Apache Longbow multi-role combat helicopter for the Japanese government to Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI), the Japanese aerospace company teamed with Boeing to produce the Apache Longbow in Japan.

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By: Don Chan - 21st December 2005 at 13:58 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

http://homepage1.nifty.com/KWAT/list/jgsdf/ah-64.htm
http://homepage2.nifty.com/yoyotoru/jgsdf64d.html
http://www2g.biglobe.ne.jp/~aviation/rikuji.html

On 2001.08.27, JGSDF announced AH-64D as successor of AH-1S. Instead of AH-1Z.
On 2004.12.15, at Boeing Mesa, first flight of JGSDF AH-64D #1.
Delivery: two in 2005, two in 2006, two in 2007, two in 2008. Total 60.

http://www.futaba.ne.jp/~ishiguro/AH-64D=JGSDF.htm
http://www.hasegawa-model.co.jp/02.11/09352.html

JGSDF AH-64D 1:48 model kit by Hasegawa...

http://natto.2ch.net/jsdf/kako/998/998909264.html

Sample 2ch thread about JGSDF AH-64D.

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By: Don Chan - 20th January 2006 at 06:17 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

"Boeing Delivers First Apache Longbow Helicopter for Japan"

Can't seem to find an on-line photo of the JGSDF AH-64D.
Only photos of the Hasegawa model kit.
Help?

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By: skyrider - 26th January 2006 at 11:28 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

the picture showed the Longbow radar installed. I thought the plan was buy non-radar equipped AH64D (like those of the Dutch) and decide what to do with the radar later. Anybody can comment on this.

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By: Efrain H. - 26th January 2006 at 17:52 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

A few more:

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By: Dinger - 26th January 2006 at 19:08 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Is the Japanese designation "AH-64DJ" or "AH-64DJP"? The Boeing press release lists it as a DJP, but I'm wondering if that's a typo.

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By: Don Chan - 27th January 2006 at 10:08 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Agreed. The Boeing Japan and Boeing USA official sites
http://www.boeing.com/ids/armysystems/news/2005/q4/051220a_nr.html
http://www.boeing.jp/2005/051220.html
designate it as "AH-64DJP" Apache Longbow.
OTOH, the Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru) official site doesn't seem to mention it yet?

BTW, the AH-64A Flight Manual is available at
http://www.eflightmanuals.com/detail/itemList.asp?page=4&cID=29
for USD 49.95.

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By: Don Chan - 2nd February 2006 at 03:07 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

For comparison, the Mitsui Bussan Aerospace official site still has a 19-page PDF file in Japanese at
http://www.mb-aero.net/contents/pdf/ah-1z.pdf
that comprehensively proclaims the AH-1Z is better and cheaper than the AH-64D for the AH-X competition.

(My free legit English version Adobe Reader couldn't read PDF files in Japanese: the pages appeared blank, so I dumped it, downloaded from the Adobe site the free legit Jap version, and installed it.)

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By: PLA-MKII - 2nd February 2006 at 15:48 - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

For comparison, the Mitsui Bussan Aerospace official site still has a 19-page PDF file in Japanese at
http://www.mb-aero.net/contents/pdf/ah-1z.pdf
that comprehensively proclaims the AH-1Z is better and cheaper than the AH-64D for the AH-X competition.

(My free legit English version Adobe Reader couldn't read PDF files in Japanese: the pages appeared blank, so I dumped it, downloaded from the Adobe site the free legit Jap version, and installed it.)

Thumbs up to the AH-1Z :)