British Army to receive fourth Boeing Apache CrewTrainer
Image courtesy Boeing
With three simulators already at British Army bases in the UK - two at Middle Wallop and one at Wattisham - the Longbow Crew Trainers are playing a key role in transitioning crews to the new Apache variant enabling pilot conversion to type, conversion to role and refresher training. The fourth device will be based at Wattisham Flying Station.
“We are delighted to be on contract with Boeing for the provision of a fourth Longbow Crew Trainer to support aircrew training at Wattisham Flying Station,” said Lieutenant Colonel Andy Williams, programme director for the Attack Helicopter Capability Sustainment Programme. “Once delivered and upgraded to a common standard with our existing devices in 2025, it will expand our ability to train aircrew in the synthetic environment enabling multi-aircraft sorties and mission rehearsals.”
The uplift in training devices will offer a significant capability advantage to the British Army, and allow crews to fly paired training sorties at both UK Apache operating bases.
“Boeing has a long and proud history of delivering military training across rotary and fixed-wing platforms,” said Mark Griffiths, director vertical lift, Boeing Defence UK. “We will continue to work closely with the British Army to help develop the highest caliber of Apache pilots, aircrew and maintainers, enabled by the latest technology, bespoke training course design and the experience of our tri-service instructors.”
Boeing also provides long-term support services for the British Army’s fleet of AH-64E Apache helicopters. The agreement, which runs until 2040, will create more than 200 jobs at Army Aviation Centre Middle Wallop and Wattisham Flying Station, plus dozens more with suppliers across the UK.
Boeing’s military training footprint extends nationwide: from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, where aircrew and maintenance training is delivered for the UK’s fleet of nine P8-A Poseidon aircraft, to the C-17 International Training Centre in Farnborough, and the Chinook Maintenance School at RAF Odiham.
