{"product_id":"the-general-staff-and-the-helicopter-british-army-helicopter-projects-and-weapons-project-tech-profiles-by-chris-gibson","title":"The General Staff and the Helicopter: British Army Helicopter Projects and Weapons (Project Tech Profiles) by Chris Gibson","description":"\u003cp\u003eSince 1918 and the formation of the RAF, the British Army has sought its own dedicated close support capability. This finally entered the Army Air Corps (AAC) order of battle in 2005 with the arrival of the WAH-6D Apache Longbow. The AAC had been arming its helicopters since the service's establishment in its modern form in 1957, albeit with handheld weapons in Skeeters.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe arrival of the Scout saw heavier weapons, including guided weapons, but it was the Lynx and its TOWs that gave the British Army the means to halt the Soviet Horde. Meanwhile, across Europe, the helicopter builders sought an attack helicopter - a 'gunship'- as an alternative to the US Apache with the Fokker\/VFW\/Westland P.277, Agusta A129, Eurocopter Tiger, Westland WG.44, WG.45 and WG.46 types.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe General Staff and the Helicopter examines these alternatives to the Apache from the British Army's perspective, drawing on previously unpublished material from Government and company archives to describe how the AAC's doctrine changed from the agile, small and stealthy Agusta A129 and WG.44 of GST.3971 to the large and tough Apache of SR(A).428. The resulting procurement process was a foregone conclusion but saw the Cobra Venom, LHX, Mangusta, Rooivalk and Tiger up against the General Staff's favourite; Westland's WAH-64D Apache.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLavishly illustrated with many previously unpublished photographs and drawings, The General Staff and the Helicopter tells the story of how the British Army acquired the most formidable close support helicopter on earth.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Book Express","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43229750624330,"sku":"6158h","price":68.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0618\/9101\/8826\/files\/6158h.jpg?v=1768277645","url":"https:\/\/www.bookexpress.nz\/products\/the-general-staff-and-the-helicopter-british-army-helicopter-projects-and-weapons-project-tech-profiles-by-chris-gibson","provider":"Book Express","version":"1.0","type":"link"}