APACHES AT READY

摘要

This week's Farnborough air show will host a major event in one of the British Army's most important procurements of recent decades when the service accepts the last of its 67 Boeing/Westland Apache AH1 attack helicopters during a ceremony on 21 July. While army officials stress the milestone is a small step on the road to the UK's Apache fleet being declared fully operational in 2007, the acceptance is one of the final markers to be passed before the type achieves initial operating capability (IOC) late next month. Scheduled to take place on 31 August, the IOC declaration will mark the combat availability of the army's first four-aircraft Apache unit at its Dishforth base, a formation capable of operational deployment within a 90-day notice period. Aircraft assigned to this unit will also form part of the army's first eight-strong squadron, which will stand up at Dishforth in October. A second squadron will be declared ready at the site before mid-2005, with the two squadrons forming the army's 9 Regiment; the first of three 16-aircraft formations to be equipped with the Apache AH1. The other two attack helicopter regiments will be formed at Wattisham by 2007.