I've been a longtime advocate of using Apache AH-64 helicopter gunships on naval ships, particularly in roles like piracy suppression on otherwise lightly armed ships, like the Littoral Combat Ships.
They aren't designed for it, and ideally, there would be some minor modifications to it (similar to those for the UH-60 Blackhawk to the SH-60 Seahawk), but the Navy already uses Apache AH-64E attack helicopters for shipboard operations in the Arabian Gulf to counter surface threats. The Apache is not the biggest of helicopters and would be carrying out something close to its original mission, so enhanced corrosion resistance coatings would be the main adaptation.
Multiple other Army helicopters have been converted to Navy use in the past with fairly minor adjustments. The Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60 Seahawk (an anti-submarine/utility helicopter) is derived directly from the Army's UH-60 Black Hawk. Modifications for maritime use include folding main rotor blades, a hinged tail for shipboard storage, enhanced corrosion protection, and advanced sensor suites (radar, sonar).
The Sikorsky RH-53A/D Sea Stallion heavy lift helicopter used for mine countermeasures is derived from the Army CH-53A heavy-lift helicopter.
The Apache was designed and heavily used in environments with intense amounts of dust in deserts, and while dust isn't corrosive the way that salt-air is, many design features intended to thwart dust (sensitive equipment that is sealed against outside contaminants) are also somewhat helpful against salt-air.
When parked onboard can any of their armaments be operated defensively or are their substantial weaponry idle unless aloft? Could they be configured to be operable as a weapon platform?
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Are they designed for a salt-air environment?
They aren't designed for it, and ideally, there would be some minor modifications to it (similar to those for the UH-60 Blackhawk to the SH-60 Seahawk), but the Navy already uses Apache AH-64E attack helicopters for shipboard operations in the Arabian Gulf to counter surface threats. The Apache is not the biggest of helicopters and would be carrying out something close to its original mission, so enhanced corrosion resistance coatings would be the main adaptation.
Multiple other Army helicopters have been converted to Navy use in the past with fairly minor adjustments. The Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60 Seahawk (an anti-submarine/utility helicopter) is derived directly from the Army's UH-60 Black Hawk. Modifications for maritime use include folding main rotor blades, a hinged tail for shipboard storage, enhanced corrosion protection, and advanced sensor suites (radar, sonar).
The Sikorsky RH-53A/D Sea Stallion heavy lift helicopter used for mine countermeasures is derived from the Army CH-53A heavy-lift helicopter.
The Apache was designed and heavily used in environments with intense amounts of dust in deserts, and while dust isn't corrosive the way that salt-air is, many design features intended to thwart dust (sensitive equipment that is sealed against outside contaminants) are also somewhat helpful against salt-air.
When parked onboard can any of their armaments be operated defensively or are their substantial weaponry idle unless aloft? Could they be configured to be operable as a weapon platform?
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