AH-64 Vs Air-Defence

I hope this was not posted earlier in the forum. This is from another forum, posted by a Polish member. I’m quoting his post on the past exercise to see the value AH-64 presents in a highly competing battle ground in the future and its cost-effectiveness.

In the exercise, quoted, the aim was to destroy AD units and US deployed their frontline AH-64A to spearhead the sanitation work. The result was
1) Normal case – 2 x SA-8 destroyed with a loss of over 30 x AH-64A
2) Restricted case – 4-6 x SA-8 destroyed with a loss of 16 x AH-64A

You know – my friend take a part on VictorStrike2000 and 2001 in Drawsko Pomorskie trening center in Poland.

During this trening fight (whit using MILES system) american regiment Ah-64A + OH-58 Kiowa where coopereting whit MLRS battery. The target was polish air defence using non-downgraded SA-8M Gecko (now Sting” SA-8P Sting ADMS Air Defence Missile System) And what? And US fools lose whole AH-64 regiment during polish AA ambush. And thanks to not using radars in long mode (only short for directing) and very quick change of position Sa-8 lost only 2 complex for MLRS battery fire. Quite low when we consider the fact that US army “lost” in this MILES battle more then 30 Ah-64…

In next year “battle” where repeated – This time with ridiculous restrictions for Sa-8Gecko battery (fire range limited to max 2km, no using radars, 2times shorter time for MLRS battery countrfire) and what? ~4-6 Sa-8 lost and… 16 Ah-64 “killed” in this MILES battle.

And in both cases Ah-64 regiment whit MLRS COOPERATION was not able to destroy the target (mechanizated batalion). The Sa-8P not guilty Ah-64 regiment near target area. The Ah-64 was not able to using weapons because there was not able event to approach near target.

The key was using terrein for ambush and using non advanced posoration system (ex: microwave on jeep, or a small motor connected to the radio station). This, and well-trained Sa-8 crews was enought to “destroy” Ah-64 regiment during first battle, and stop during second. In both cases the target was not destroyed becouse Ah-64 regiment was not able to attack near target area.

And old Sa-8 is not Tor… It’s not only example when even polish slighty downgraded WarPac AA was better then US army image…An there was more suprises – ex the same time to “Fire task” fo MLRS battery and… polish BM-21 GRAD battery (using Topaz system).

The helo might have evolved from what it was in 2001, but unlike the Mi-24/35, they are lightly armoured (?) and due to it being delicate, even small arms have been able to damage the machine in Iraq.

India is going to be the latest customer for the AH-64 and will be getting 22 Apache AH-64D for an estimated cost of $1.4 billion. i.e an average of $63.64 million/unit, making it even costlier than IAFs current Su-30MKI.

What differentiate the Indian condition from that of prior deployment of AH-64 is that, unlike the earlier 2nd & 3rd rate opponents the helo was employed against, the two adversaries against whom IAF is likely to employ the AH-64 is Pakistan & China, both of whom are well-trained professional militaries. In the western front (Pakistan), there are two areas – desert/plains & to the north-western sector (Kashimr), with full of terrain that can help in laying ambush. The Eastern front is low on plains and is primarily rich for laying ambush on any airborne attacker.

An argument often said against the current gunship Mi-35 in Indian service (by the media/’experts’) is that it cannot be used in high places and was a useless purchase. So many were hoping to see the AH-64Ds to be employed at high altitude due to its superiority over the Mi-24. But the real performance envelop says it will only be operating where Mi-24/35s used to operate and not at high altitude theater.

So considering the Polish experience, what chance does AH-64Ds have in a modern day battle ground and what chance that it can get ambushed?
Since itz cost is very high, even loosing a couple of these will be a severe dent on pocket.