AH-64D Apache Longbow Helicopters Weapons Load & Gunnery

The AH-64D Apache Longbow is a heavily armed and highly capable attack helicopter used primarily by the U.S. Army and various allied nations. Here’s a detailed overview of its weapons loadout and gunnery systems:

 AH-64D Apache Longbow Weapons Loadout

1. M230 Chain Gun

• Type: 30mm automatic cannon

• Rate of Fire: ~625 rounds per minute

• Effective Range: ~1,500 to 3,000 meters

• Ammunition: High-Explosive Dual-Purpose (HEDP) and Target Practice (TP)

• Ammo Load: ~1,200 rounds

• Mounting: Chin-turret under the nose, slaved to the pilot or co-pilot/gunner’s helmet (IHADSS system)

2. AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles

• Type: Air-to-Ground Missile

• Guidance:

  • Laser-guided (Hellfire II)

  • Radar-guided (Longbow Hellfire) – Can engage targets in all weather and through smoke/fog

• Range: Up to 8 km (5 miles)

• Warheads:

  • Shaped-charge for armored targets

  • Blast-fragmentation or thermobaric for soft targets/buildings

• Loadout: Up to 16 missiles (4 pylons, 4 per pylon)

3. Hydra 70 Rockets

• Type: 2.75″ (70 mm) unguided rockets

• Variants: High-explosive, smoke, illumination, flechette, and APKWS (laser-guided) versions

• Pods: Typically carried in 7-shot or 19-shot rocket pods (e.g., M261)

• Loadout: Up to 76 rockets (usually 4 x M261 19-tube pods)

 Gunnery & Fire Control Systems

Target Acquisition and Designation:

• TADS/PNVS (Target Acquisition and Designation Sight / Pilot Night Vision Sensor):

  • Forward-looking infrared (FLIR), day TV, laser rangefinder/designator

• FCR (Fire Control Radar) – Specific to the Longbow variant:

  • Mounted above the main rotor

  • 360° radar capable of tracking multiple targets simultaneously

  • Enables “fire and forget” capabilities with radar-guided Hellfire missiles

Helmet-Mounted Display:

• IHADSS (Integrated Helmet and Display Sighting System)

  • Pilots can aim weapons just by looking at the target

  • Gun and sensors can be slaved to helmet movements

Typical Loadout Configurations

 Anti-Armor Loadout:

• 16 Hellfire missiles

• 1,200 rounds of 30mm

• No rockets or minimal Hydra load

 Close Air Support (CAS) Loadout:

• 8 Hellfires

• 38–76 Hydra rockets (2-4 pods)

• 1,200 rounds of 30mm

 Mixed Loadout:

• 12 Hellfires

• 38 Hydras (2 x 19-shot pods)

• Full 30mm load