영국군, AH-64E에서 통제하는 Mule UAV 통합 계획

[위종민]

영국군이 다양한 페이로드를 탑재 가능하고, AH-64E에서 최대 6기 통제 가능한 Mule이란 UAV를 아파치에 체계통합하는 내용을 연구중이네요. 영국 육군 참모차장 데이비드 이스트먼 중장이 1월 21일 열린 DefenceIQ의 IAV 2025 컨퍼런스에서 해당 개념을 발표했다고 합니다. 기사엔 UAV에 대한 내용은 실려있지 않고, 간단히 검색해보아도 AH-64E와 연동되는 Mule이란 이름의 UAV는 걸리는 게 없네요. 

British Army exploring uncrewed “mules” to boost Apache lethality - Army Technology

British Army exploring uncrewed “mules” to boost Apache lethality

With up to six “mules”, each carrying multiple payloads, the networked AH-64E Apache would be more capable than its predecessors.

Richard ThomasJanuary 21, 2025

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The British Army’s concept has its new AH-64E Apache gunships has uncrewed teaming at its core. Credit: UK MoD/Crown copyright

The British Army is looking to integrate uncrewed “mules” with its new AH-64E Apache attack helicopters in a bid to provide new lethality, sensor, and protection capabilities for platform on the battlefields of the future.

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Detailing the concept at DefenceIQ’s International Armoured Vehicle (IAV 2025) conference on 21 January, Lt Gen David Eastman, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, British Army, said the service was exploring ways to integrate the mules, effectively uncrewed platforms, with the Apache gunship.

The aspiration is to see the Apache helicopters acting as C2 nodes, controlling a flight of drones to various duties, depending on payload. Up to six “mules” could be assigned to each helicopter.

Eastman said the British Army was “exploring options to pair mules with Apache”, with each mule potentially carrying electronic warfare or radar detection systems, strike weapons, or indeed acting as a physical decoy for the parent platform.

In practice, the plan is not dissimilar to the notion of manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) concept being developed for fixed wing aircraft, with sixth-generation fighters thought likely to operate alongside one or more ‘Loyal Wingmen’ – drones under direct control of operators at the tactical level.

Much of the networking will be possible thanks to a new C2/sensor node positioned above the Apache’s rotors, which will enable direct control of the mules by the helicopter crew.

New UK Apache fleet broadly running to plan

By August 2024, the British Army had received 41 remanufactured AH-64E Apache helicopters from Boeing, out of 50 contracted.

Delivering his presentation to delegates at IAV 2025, Eastman stated that the British Army had 44 Apache gunships, indicating that just six remained to be delivered.

It was originally planned that all aircraft would be delivered by the end of 2024, but this will now extend into the first half of 2025 at the earliest, and possibly beyond.

While more capable than the D model, the acquisition of the AH-64E will see a reduction in fleet size, dropping from 66 to 50 airframes. In May 2024 it was reported that the acquisition of 50 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters from the US appeared to be running to budget.