Press Releases
DynCorp Wins Contract to Maintain Kuwaiti Apache Aircraft AH-64D
Israeli Air Force AH-64D “Saraf”
DynCorp International (NYSE:DCP) has won a contract of the United States Army Aviation Missile Command (AMCOM) to support the Kuwait Air Force (KAF) with a Maintenance Augmentation Team (MAT) for its Apache AH-64D aircraft fleet. The firm-fixed-price contract is estimated at about $11.2 million for the first two years and will increase to more than $16 million if an option year is exercised to extend the contract through December 31, 2011.
DynCorp International will assist the Kuwait Air Force to achieve an operational rate of 75 percent for its Apache fleet. Responsibilities will include flight-test support, organizational and intermediate-level maintenance, quality-assurance support, application of engineering change modifications, aircraft reassembly, ground-support equipment operation and maintenance, program support, and sustainment of shop operations and procedures.
All work will be performed in Kuwait. DynCorp International currently maintains a fleet of F/A-18 aircraft for the Kuwait Air Force under contract with the United States Navy.
About DynCorp International
DynCorp International is a provider of specialized mission-critical services to civilian and military government agencies worldwide, and operates major programs in law enforcement training and support, security services, base operations, aviation services, contingency operations, and logistics support. DynCorp International is headquartered in Falls Church, Va.
About AH-64D
The advanced model, the AH-64D Apache Longbow, is equipped with an improved sensor suite and weapon systems. The key improvement over the A-variant is the AN/APG-78 Longbow dome installed over the main rotor which houses a millimeter-wave Fire Control Radar (FCR) target acquisition system as well as the Radar Frequency Interferometer (RFI). The elevated position of the radome allows detection and (arcing) missile engagement of targets even when the helicopter itself is concealed by an obstacle (e.g. terrain, trees or buildings). Further, a radio modem integrated with the sensor suite allows a D-variant Apache to share targeting data with other AH-64Ds that do not have a line-of-sight to the target. In this manner a group of Apaches can engage multiple targets but only reveal the radome of one D-variant Apache. Apaches that include all of the improvements of the Longbow Apache, with the exception of the Fire Control Radar are still designated as “AH-64D Apache Longbows”, as the radome is removable and interchangeable between aircraft.
The aircraft was updated with more powerful T700-GE-701C engines, and a fully-integrated cockpit. The forward fuselage of the aircraft was expanded to accommodate new systems. In addition, the aircraft receives improved survivability, communications, and navigation capabilities. Most existing capabilities of the AH-64A Apache are retained.
The first of the upgraded Block II Apaches was delivered to the US Army in February 2003. Block II includes upgrades to the digital communications systems to improve communications within the ‘tactical internet’.
Block III improvements, slated for 2008 onwards, include increasing digitization, the joint tactical radio system, enhanced engines and drive systems, capability to control UAVs, new composite rotor blade and landing gear upgrades. The new blades, which successfully completed flight testing in May 2004, increase the Apache’s cruise speed, climb rate and payload capability. The Block III System Development and Demonstration (SDD) contract was awarded to Boeing in July 2006.
Tags: AH-64D 
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