apache AH-64D Longbow question

JWest,

The AH-64D comes both with and without the radar.  About 1 in 3 actually have the APG-78 while all are actually capable of carrying it.  From what I've been told (Glider, back me up on this one!) there aren't any flying with the radars on now.  Basically, its 700lbs of dead weight, since finding insurgents with a radar is pretty much useless. 

Here's a pic of the radar and mount:

And one with the mount but no radar

and finally, one with no radar fitted

We kept the radars installed for the first month or so, but after that they sat in a conex.  Just a couple weeks ago we were directed to put at least one per company back on, for reasons I'm not completely clear about, although I have my notions.  They're coming back off about as quickly.  So, yes, you could put the radar on it, but it would not be typical of how we're using them, at least in 3ID, for OIF III.

I don't know what other units have been doing, but I doubt they'd keep theirs either.  The problem isn't finding vehicles, but finding the ones with bad guys in them.

Thank you guys- great info and pics!  OK, I will leave it off.  Is there some sort of cover or cap I should be scratch building then?  It appears that way in  picture #2 but I can't see the top portion clearly

Okay, this will take a few edits for me to get this thing to show up, but here it is.

MBT70 wrote:

I just gotta chime in for a moment with a cautionary note ... be careful how much you talk about aircraft configurations in an operational theater.  Even if it's not classified, it gives the bad guys little pieces of the big puzzle to put it on a public forum.  I'm not trying to be a dick ... just very protective of our folks' security ......

You're absolutely right, of course, but in this case, there's no hiding whether that thing is installed or not.  If I have any doubts about what info I can put out, I just won't.  After all, the life I save might be mine.

No worries, Bob.  All of this info is unclassified stuff that you can pretty much find if you know where to look.  I don't think Glider'd send us stuff that'd put his butt on the line even more than it already is!  The pics I posted are all available online and the current configurations of our birds in-country is pretty much obvious when you see em!  Still, I see your point. 

glider wrote:

Okay, this will take a few edits for me to get this thing to show up, but here it is.

Thank you so much!  This looks easier to scratch than the top on picture number 2 in your first post.  I will be doing mine without the mount.