Time Travel 04: I Fight the US in the Middle East

During the Vietnam War, the UH-1 utility helicopter and the AH-1 attack helicopter played a significant role. The Americans recognized the advanced nature of these weapons and decided to continue their efforts to develop an even more modern attack helicopter.

After a competitive bidding process, Hughes Helicopter's design project was approved by the U.S. Army and was officially designated AH-64 in 1976. From then on, the Apache helicopter began its glorious life!

In 1985, Hughes and McDonnell Douglas merged, and in 1997, Boeing acquired McDonnell Douglas. Therefore, the production of this helicopter was officially brought under Boeing's control.

This 10-ton class helicopter weighs only 5.2 tons. With 375 gallons, or 1420 liters of internal fuel, it has a combat radius of 480 kilometers and can carry three to four tons of external munitions!

In practice, in order to reserve enough power, the external load is generally limited to around 2.8 tons or less. Even so, it can carry sixteen anti-tank missiles and fly with insane power!

Of course, in urban warfare, the outer missiles are usually replaced with rocket launchers, which can cover attacks on multiple targets.

Looking at the East, the Dolphin helicopter is only four tons in size, with a weight of two tons, one ton of internal fuel, and a maximum of one ton of external load. It can generally only carry four anti-tank missiles!

As the US military entered the city, helicopters were flying overhead! After the Mahdi Army intercepted the supply convoy, the helicopter formation returned and hovered over Sadr City. Due to low fuel levels and limited range, this batch of helicopters had returned half an hour earlier, and they were replaced by only one Apache helicopter.

According to everyone's speculation, the Mahdi Army only takes action at night. The other helicopters need to conserve their energy and wait to take turns at night. For now, it is enough to keep one helicopter in the air to deal with emergencies.

Who would have thought...

Rewind a few minutes.

A small courtyard nearby.

"Brother Azam, let us handle this!" Amr-Erwan Ibrahim said. "You're just a sniper, after all..."

"Whether you're using the SVD or the Arrow-2, it's still sniping. Are you... confident you can take it down in one go? We only have one chance!"

"Alright. We're prepared, and if... barring any unforeseen circumstances, you'll definitely be able to take down Apache!"

Azam nodded and picked up the portable anti-aircraft missile from the unpacked box.

In 1958, the United States first developed the Redeye portable missile. Not to be outdone, the Russians officially put the 9K32, nicknamed Arrow-2, into service in 1966.

NATO, as is customary, named it SAM-7, nicknamed the Holy Grail.

The early Arrow-2 technology was outdated, only capable of tail-chase attacks, and was susceptible to interference from infrared decoys, the sun, and other sources. The Russians quickly improved it and developed the Arrow-2B, which enhanced its anti-jamming capabilities and increased its range to 4200 meters.

In the early years, Saddam Hussein's army was equipped with this kind of weapon, which was considered advanced in the 1980s, but now that it's the new century, this equipment is outdated!

Taking down the Apache with it won't be easy, but... it's still better than using an RPG!

The Black Hawk Down incident is real, but it was pure luck. The maximum range of 300 meters put the shooter in danger as well. Although Azam was confident in his military skills, he could not afford to be in danger.

Ultimately, this battle is being fought for the Mahdi Army; we can contribute, but there's no need to risk our lives.

With this thought in mind, Azam climbed the stairs and gently peeked out from the top floor.

At that moment, a booming sound came from afar and grew closer in the sky.

Inside the Apache helicopter, co-pilot and gunner Martinez was at the front, his eyes fixed on the data transmitted from TADS.

The one with a large pumpkin on top of its rotor is the Longbow Apache, also known as the AH-64D. It is equipped with a millimeter-wave radar antenna, which can sense everything around it.

However, there are not many of these aircraft. The conventional Apache relies on the AN/ASQ-170 Target Acquisition System (TADS) in the nose for detection, and at night, it relies on the AN/AAQ-11 Pilot Night Vision System.

TADS is also a representative of American high technology. It has five parts: laser rangefinder and calibrator, forward-looking infrared system (FLIR), gunner's dedicated optical direct sight, daytime television camera and laser calibrator.

The entire device is installed inside the rotating turret of the dual-axis stabilization system, allowing for easy targeting regardless of the helicopter's high-G maneuvers, but...

Since it is mounted on the nose, it has the best forward visibility. After passing the front hemisphere, the visibility will be blocked by the fuselage, just like the airborne radar of a fighter jet, which has a large blind spot!

Of course, pilots can also look to both sides to make visual aiming, but this will distract them and can easily lead to accidents when flying at very low altitudes.

The pilot, Garcia, in the rear cockpit was also focused on the front, not worried that the Mahdi army was capable of attacking him. After all, the helicopter had been flying over the city all day without encountering any accidents.

If the Mahdi Army has the capability to attack armed helicopters, why didn't they act sooner?

It's definitely a tactical reason; they're exploiting this time difference!

Seeing the Apache helicopter fly overhead, Azam quickly climbed upstairs and hoisted the launcher onto his shoulder.

Activate the battery, start the seeker, and aim the optical sight at the Apache helicopter's engine exhaust nozzle...

Beep, beep!

A familiar voice came through the headphones, and the lock was complete!

Pull the trigger!

Whoosh!

A burst of intense heat erupted from behind the launch tube as the launch engine ignited, propelling the missile forward!

At 0.05 seconds, the takeoff engine ran out of fuel, and the missile flew out of the launch tube at a speed of 30 meters per second. The four tail fins unfolded. Because the tail fins and the longitudinal axis of the missile are at a certain angle, the missile began to rotate as it continued to fly forward. It also relied on its spin to maintain stability!

0.3 seconds after launch, a burst of intense heat suddenly erupted from the missile's tail! The main engine ignited, and the missile accelerated rapidly!

430 meters per second!

Having just reached maximum speed, the missile is already close to its target!

boom!

The fragmentation warhead exploded! A blazing fireball instantly engulfed the left engine!

Upon hearing the explosion, Martinez's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly looked to the side.

"Enemy at eight o'clock!"

Nonsense, of course they're the enemy!

Without a second thought, Garcia raised the master torque lever to its maximum, and the T-700-GE-701 engine instantly unleashed 1940 horsepower in an emergency power output!

Under normal circumstances, the engine can output 1662 horsepower, which can be increased to 1800 horsepower during takeoff for up to half an hour. In case of danger, it can be further increased to emergency output mode and can maintain this state for 2.5 minutes!

Even with only one engine remaining, it can still manage to leave the battlefield; the Apache helicopter has a very strong battlefield survivability!

Wait! Why is the fire alarm on the fuel tank lit up?