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Further Reading

AH-64 Apache Foreign Military Sales

Export contracts for the Apache attack helicopter totaled 213 (116 AH-64A and 97 AH-64D) by July 1995 to international customers including Egypt, Greece, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The last of 821 (excluding prototypes) AH-64As were delivered to the US Army on 30 April 1996. Manufacture of the AH-64A variant terminated with the completion of 937th aircraft for Egypt, in November 1996.

As of early 1997 eight nations, including the United States, had selected the Apache for their defense needs. The Netherlands and the United Kingdom were the first two international customers to select the AH-64D for their armed services. In all, more than 1,000 Apaches have been ordered by customers worldwide.

In September 1997 the Government of Kuwait requested the purchase of 16 AH-64D Apache attack helicopters, 384 HELLFIRE missiles (including 24 training and 50 dummy missiles), two spare HELLFIRE launchers, four spare T-700 GE engines, one spare Target Acquisition Designation Sight system, spare and repair parts, support equipment, tools and test sets, ammunition, 10,916 Hydra 70 rockets, chaff, Integrated Helmet and Display Sight System (IHADSS), 30mm cartridges, electronic equipment test facility spares, publications, US maintenance of selective repairable material, personnel training and training equipment, Quality Assurance Team (QAT) and Technical Assistance Fielding Team (TAFT), U.S. Government and contractor engineering and technical services, facility design and construction and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost was $800 million.

In June 1998 the Department of Defense announced the possible sale to the Government of Singapore of eight AH-64D Apache attack helicopters (excluding AH-64D Longbow FCR), 216 HELLFIRE II laser guided missiles (including 16 training and eight dummy missiles), four spare HELLFIRE launchers, two spare T-700-GE-701C engines, and two spare TADS Systems. Also included in the possible sale were 9,120 Hydra 70 rockets, spare and repair parts, communications equipment, support equipment, tools and test sets, chaff dispensers, IHDSS, 30mm cartridges, electronic equipment test facility spares, publications, personnel training and training equipment, US Government and contractor technical support and other related elements of logistics support. The notification did not contain the AH-64D Longbow FCR. The estimated cost was $620 million.

In October 1999 the Government of Israel requested a possible sale for remanufacture of 24 AH-64A Apache helicopters to AH-64D model aircraft, 12 AN/APG-78 AH-64D Longbow FCR, 12 APR-48A RFI, 56 T-700-GE-701C engines, 24 TADS/PNVS, 480 AGM-114L-3 HELLFIRE II laser guided missiles, spare and repair parts, support equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, US Government and contractor technical support and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost was $508 million. Israel, which already has Apache helicopters in its inventory, would have no difficulty absorbing these helicopters.

In September 2000 the government of Israel requested a possible sale of eight AH-64D Apache attack helicopters, 10 AN/APG-78 AH-64D Longbow FCR, configuration of 70 M272 Hellfire missile launchers to M299 Hellfire missile launchers, spare and repair parts, communications equipment, support equipment, tools and test sets, chaff dispensers, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, US government and contractor technical support and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost was $509 million.

In November 2000 the Department of the Army announced the decision to base AH-64D Apache Helicopters belonging to the Government of Singapore at Silverbell Army Heliport, Marana, Arizona. The Government of Singapore had purchased eight of the Apache Longbow helicopters. As part of the sale, the helicopters had to remain in the continental United States until 2008. All Army organizations having or scheduled to receive the Apache Longbow helicopters were considered as potential training hosts with Singapore's Peace Vanguard Detachment. However, based upon air space concerns, the competition for training ranges and the high Operations Tempo (OPTEMPO) of Army Divisions, the selection of Silverbell and the training affiliation with the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 285th Attack Helicopter Battalion was deemed the most efficient and desirable.

In December 2001 Boeing signed a foreign military sales (FMS) agreement with the US government to upgrade 35 Egyptian AH-64A Apache helicopters into next-generation AH-64D Apaches. Egypt initially announced its intention in late 2000 to remanufacture its Apache fleet. The US Army authorized Boeing to begin procuring long-lead items earlier in 2001. Deliveries to Egypt were scheduled to begin in 2003. The FMS contract for the Egyptian Army Apaches, which included associated spares and ground support equipment, was valued at approximately $400 million, including the aircraft, ordnance, spares, training and support. Egypt is one of 10 nations that had by then selected the Apache for their armed forces.

In June 2002 it was reported that Taiwan had obtained support from the US Department of Defense for its proposed acquisition of 30 AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters at a reported cost of $1.29 billion, with delivery expected within three years.