Apache attack helicopters are those helicopters which can support our troops on the ground and are well known as ‘attack’ helicopters.

Out of a UK fleet of 67…..how many are currently in Afghanistan?

This will shock you…….8! …….. yes…EIGHT!

No wonder the Defence Select Committee released a powerful report slamming the Government this am.  The Select Cttee Chairman James Arbuthnot said: “It seems to us that operational commanders in the field today are unable to undertake potentially valuable operations because of the lack of helicopters for transportation around the theatre of operations. We are also concerned that operational commanders find they have to use ground transport, when helicopter lift would be preferred, both for the outcome and for the protection of our forces.”

No further words needed.

Would less lives have been lost if more helicopters were in service in Afghanistan?  Well many soldiers have died whilst in convoy from planted roadside bombs…of course this boils down to transport helicopters rather than attack helicopters.  ‘Lift’ helicopter stats are harder to come by, especially those in service in Afghanistan!

It is fascinating to read about the size and scope of the British overall helicopter fleet, (obviously total figures).    http://tiny.cc/4ypvV   How many of these are in Afghanistan is the question!

Current Platform Numbers and Out of Service Dates (OSD)

Aircraft type / markMoD Departmental FleetEffective FleetNon-Effective FleetCurrent Planned OSDsComments
Agusta 10944NIL2009It is expected these aircraft will be replaced during 2009.
Apache6767NIL2030MoD expects to have to invest further in this aircraft (e.g. to address obsolescence and meet emerging requirements) during the next decade, in order to sustain its service life up to 2030.
Chinook Mk 23434NIL2015 (2040)MoD expects to have to invest further in these aircraft (e.g. to address obsolescence, to meet emerging requirements and to extend the date of their retirement to 2040) during the next decade, although no investment decisions have yet been made.
Chinook Mk 2a66NIL2025 (2040)
Gazelle91 5635(see note 1)2012Where there is an enduring requirement for the capability currently provided by Gazelle, MoD is exploring arrangements based on leased aircraft.
Lynx Mk 33429(see note 2)52013It is expected that these aircraft will be replaced by the maritime variant of Future Lynx from 2015.
Lynx Mk 8343312015
Lynx Mk 78474102013It is expected that these aircraft will be replaced by the battlefield variant of Future Lynx from 2014.
Lynx Mk 9242222013
Merlin Mk 14242(see note 3)NIL2029MoD is currently preparing to upgrade 30 (see note 4) of these aircraft through the Merlin Mk1 Capability Sustainment Programme.
Merlin Mk 32222NIL2030MoD expects to have to invest further in this aircraft (e.g. to address obsolescence and meet emerging requirements) during the next decade, in order to sustain its service life up to 2030.
Merlin Mk 3a66NIL2030
Puma43349(see note 5)2012(2022+)MoD expects to have to invest further in this aircraft to extend its out of service date. The Department anticipates that the planned upgrade will extend the service life of Puma to 2022 or beyond. The capability provided by these aircraft will be replaced by the Future Medium Helicopter Programme.
Sea King Mk 3/3a2525NIL2017It is expected that the capability provided by these aircraft will be replaced by a joint PFI service with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Sea King Mk 43737NIL2012 (2018) MoD expects to have to invest further in this aircraft to extend the planned date of their retirement to 2018, whereupon it is expected that the capability provided by these aircraft will be replaced by the Future Medium Helicopter Programme.
Sea King Mk 6c55NIL2010 
Sea King Mk 51515NIL2017It is expected that the capability provided by these aircraft will be replaced by a joint PFI service with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Sea King Mk 71313NIL2018 (2022)MoD expects to have to invest further in this aircraft to extend the planned date of their retirement to 2022.

 

To understand how each helicopter is classified: 

a. Support Helicopters – required in both maritime and battlefield environments, this capability relates to the movement of personnel and equipment. MoD’s Support Helicopter fleet is categorised according to the aircraft’s Maximum All Up Mass (MAUM) in either Light, Medium Lift or Heavy Lift classes. While there is no universal definition of the boundaries between these classes, the Department routinely defines the Medium class as being between about 7 tonnes and 16 tonnes MAUM.i. Heavy Lift – the only helicopter in the MoD’s inventory capable of providing this capability in either the battlefield or maritime domain is the Chinook

ii. Medium Lift – In the maritime domain, this role can be performed by the Merlin Mk1 and the Sea King Mks 4 and 6. In the battlefield domain, this role is currently met by the Merlin Mk 3/3a, the Sea King Mk 4 and Puma

iii. Light – In the maritime domain this role is currently performed by the Lynx Mks 3 and 8. In the battlefield domain it is performed by the Lynx Mks 7 and 9

b. Find and Attack – required in both the maritime and battlefield domains, the Find function relates to the ability to locate enemy or friendly forces. In the battlefield domain it is most often referred to as armed reconnaissance, while in the maritime domain it is known as armed maritime patrol. The Attack function is also required in both domains and relates to the ability to then prosecute the target. Anti-Surface Warfare and Anti-Submarine Warfare both fall under the Find and Attack function. In the maritime domain, MoD’s Find and Attack helicopters are the Lynx Mks 3 and 8, the Merlin Mk 1 and the Sea King Mk 7, in the battlefield domain they are the Apache, the Gazelle and the Lynx Mks 7 and 9.

c. Search and Rescue – this provides a peacetime capability to extract personnel to safety. It is a capability that can be delivered in both sea and land environments, but it is important to note that the UK does not have a dedicated Combat Search and Rescue capability. The MoD’s UK-based Search and Rescue helicopters are the Sea King Mks 3/3a and 5.

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