Kuwait approved for AH-64E sale

The US government has approved the sale of 24 Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters to Kuwait for an estimated USD4 billion.

Kuwait is set to become the 18th and latest customer for the AH-64E Apache Guardian, with approval for 24 helicopters announced on 29 December 2020. (Janes/Kelvin Wong)

Announced on 29 December 2020, the proposed sale comprises eight new build and 16 remanufactured AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters, as well as equipment, spares, weapons, simulators, and support. Kuwait has also expressed an interest in a Technical Assistance Fielding Team (TAFT) to provide in-country pilot and maintenance training.

“The proposed sale of the AH-64E Apache helicopters will supplement and improve Kuwait's capability to meet current and future threats by enhancing Kuwait’s close air support, armed reconnaissance, and anti-tank warfare mission capabilities,” the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in its approval notification.

Kuwait’s request for the latest variant AH-64E comes some 19 years after the Gulf state signed for the purchase of 16 AH-64D Block 1 helicopters in 2002 (deliveries commenced in 2007). For the remanufacturing process, the expensive systems and sensors that are common to both, such as the Modernized Target Acquisition and Designation Sight/AN/AAQ-11 Pilot Night Vision Sensor (MTADS/PNVS), will be cross-decked into new airframes.