The AH-64E Apache Longbow. (Boeing)
On 17 March, the US Army ordered 115 remanufactured AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and placed options for an additional 15, as well as orders for 54 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers, for USD1.9 billion.
The US remanufacture will upgrade the AH-64Ds to the AH-64E version 6 (v6) standard. The AH-64 v6 entered US Army service in 2021.
The FMS sales are to Australia and Egypt, according to the US Department of Defense (DoD) contract announcement. The official breakdown was not immediately available, but Australia announced in 2022 that it would order the 29 AH-64s to replace its Eurocopter EC665 Tigers, and Egypt has contracted 25 sets of sensors for remanufactured Apaches.
The AH-64 v6 provides improved capabilities over previous models, including the ability to target small ships and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), longer-range sensors, and Link 16 datalinks.
Deliveries from the contract will commence in 2024, Boeing told Janes . The helicopters will be built at Boeing's facility in Mesa, Arizona.
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