Autopsy of a Near Disaster (2003)

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Hippikos

snip~Actually, the original Apache was designed to hid behind terrain and bushes (Iraq mostly don't have) and snipe Russian tanks.

Originally Posted by Bruce

The Apaches perform flawlessly doing what they were designed for. ~snip~ When the Apache was designed, in circa 1974, evidently the Army wasn't planning for the operations they're seeing now.~snip~ although they made it quite capable of taking out large or small groups while "standing off".

The Apache they are flying now is very different from the original design, in capability and avionics. But it's still the same airframe in design, some strengthening, not withstanding. That type construction is not conducive to taking punishment from flak. It's an attack helicopter but it's a sniper, not a grunt. The Longbow(later version) is designed to hit their targets from 5 miles away with no visability.

Unfortunately, you can't build a helicopter like an A-10 because of weight and if they tried to use the highly effective A-10 Gatling gun, the recoil would knock a chopper right out of the air.