Visiting the Apache Live-Fire Training Range

Efficient Supplemental Shooting Training Based on Pilot Ability

[Asia Economy Military Specialist Yang Nak-gyu] On the 28th, the Apache helicopter battalion of the Army Aviation Command was busy from early morning at the Biseung firing range where shooting training was underway. Before the morning sun rose, five Apache helicopters were stationed on the helipad, and maintenance personnel were moving busily among them. Three maintenance technicians began close maintenance on each Apache helicopter. They meticulously checked from zone 1 to zone 14 according to the daily inspection risk.

The maintenance technicians checked the round radar at the front of the helicopter, which looks like a soccer ball, by hand. This is an important device that acts as the pilot’s eyes during attacks using the Target Acquisition and Designation Sight / Pilot Night Vision Sensor (TADS/PNVS). Thanks to this equipment, pilots can shoot at night as if it were daytime.

The technicians removed panels from the helicopter’s surface to inspect whether any internal wires were tangled or disconnected. Because helicopters experience a lot of vibration, small screws can come loose. For this reason, they become more sensitive on days when shooting training is conducted. They also took about a cup of fuel from the auxiliary fuel tanks attached to both sides of the Apache helicopter to check for water contamination. Water can form due to condensation, which can cause engine problems.

Meanwhile, the pilot reviewed the flight log. Pilots must have basic maintenance skills because they need to identify causes in case of emergencies. The pilot checked the maintenance history by reviewing the flight log, looking over previously replaced parts and any records of defects to double-check.

After maintenance was completed, weapons began to be mounted on the helicopters. The armament personnel used only tools that do not generate static electricity, as accidents can occur from static discharge while moving rockets. Although the helicopter engines were started, creating a cold wind, the weapons were fully mounted within 10 minutes without concern.

The helicopters took off and flew over the Biseung firing range. They fired 50 rounds of cannon fire at targets 1 km ahead, sometimes firing 100 rounds consecutively. After firing in place, they advanced forward and launched 2.75-inch (70 mm) rockets directly into the targets. The thunderous noise echoed through the mountains, and a sandstorm arose from the center hit of the 80m by 80m target. The training that day was conducted in a way that reinforced parts the pilots felt they were lacking. This is why the shooting methods and number of rounds varied for each helicopter.

The Apache helicopter first proved its capabilities in 2017 during a live-fire exercise with the Hellfire air-to-ground missile. At that time, the Apaches took off from the airfield and flew about 60 km over the sea. Excluding the command and reserve aircraft, eight helicopters fired one Hellfire missile each at targets set just ahead of Jikdo Island, all hitting their targets. The Hellfire missile, with a maximum range of 8 km and penetration power exceeding 1400 mm, has been validated by the U.S. military in wars such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Each missile costs approximately 150 million KRW.

Lieutenant Colonel Jeong Rak-hong, battalion commander, said, "As North Korea’s provocations continue, the determination of the soldiers toward training is extraordinary," adding, "The tension is inevitably high because the shooting training is conducted with the mindset that Apache helicopters can be deployed at any time."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.