LAND 4503 AH-64E Guardian
LAND 4503 – Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter Replacement
On May 9, 2022 the Commonwealth of Australia’s decided to proceed with the acquisition of 29 AH-64E Apache helicopters, in addition to training and sustainment support capabilities. Boeing is focussed on delivering the Australian Apache from 2025 to support the Commonwealth’s target of initial operating capability in late 2026.
Some 22 Tiger ARHs were ordered in 2001 under Project Air 87 Phase 2 to replace Bell 206B-1 Kiowas and UH-1H Iroquois ‘Bushranger’ gunships. It was subsequently recognized that the Tiger was a program that was developmental rather than off-the shelf, as initially envisioned, leading to increased exposure to schedule, cost and capability risks. But original plans for a comprehensive midlife upgrade under AIR 87 Phase 3 ARH Capability Assurance Program (ARH CAP) were scuttled in 2014, with an eye to replacing the Tiger in the mid-2020s.
In mid-2019 Australia initiated the search for a replacement of its Airbus Helicopters Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH). A Request for Information (RFI) was issued by the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG) on 01 July 2019, seeking 29 attack helicopters under Project LAND 4503. It stipulated that the new platform should be a ‘proven and mature, off-the-shelf’ system to ‘deliver armed reconnaissance efforts in close and deep contested battlespace.’ While the cost of the acquisition was not mentioned, previous estimates indicated that AU$5-6 billion would be spent on the program.
On 17 March 2023 Boeing announced it had signed a contract with the U.S. Army and international customers, including Australia, to build 184 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. The $1.9 billion contract value will bring the total funded value to $2.1 billion and can increase to more than $3.8 billion with future contracts. The U.S. Army will receive 115 remanufactured Apaches, with an additional 15 Apaches to be procured as options, ensuring significant savings to taxpayers. The additional 54 aircraft will be delivered to partner nations as part of Foreign Military Sales.
In the Commonwealth of Australia's LAND 4503 program, there was only one attack reconnaissance helicopter that can offer the Australian Defence Force the capability, cost, and schedule certainty it requires - the Boeing AH-64E Apache. The AH-64E Apache advanced and fully-integrated capabilities are combat proven by more than 1.2 million combat flight hours in service with the U.S. Army and a global fleet of more than 1200 helicopters across 16 countries. The Apache is the most tested, proven attack helicopter flying today, with more than 4.6 million flight hours by the U.S. Army alone.
The only platform that met all of the Australian Army's expected LAND 4503 program requirements without modification, the AH-64E Apache offers proven Link 16 networking and Manned Unmanned Teaming Unmanned Aerial System integration capability.
The Australian Army’s armed reconnaissance capability will be strengthened with the selection of Boeing Apache Guardian to replace Army’s Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH). Under the Land 4503 program, the Commonwealth sought 29 helicopters to replace its current armed reconnaissance helicopter fleet. Project 4503 was the replacement of Tiger helicopter, a mature reliable, proven platform that will meet the capability requirements of 4503. That had been the subject of requests for information from industry where multiple suppliers provided extensive information.
In December 2011, the final EC665 Tiger ARH was delivered to the Australian Army. On 08 July 2019 Defence issued a Request for Information (RfI) for a platform to replace the Army’s Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters (ARH) under Land 4503. Designed to “deliver armed reconnaissance efforts in close and deep contested battlespace”, LAND 4503 will acquire a manned, proven, mature and off-the-shelf armed helicopter fleet that replaces the current Armed Reconnaissance capability provided by the Army Battlefield Aviation program. The new capability will integrate with the Land, Air and Maritime networks.
Under the LAND 4503 program, Defence’s Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG) RFI was for acquisitionof 29 airframes – with 24 to be based at a single location, and a further five for training. The RFI called for an initial operational capability (IOC) of one squadron of 12 aircraft in 2026, and a fully operational capability (FOC) to follow two years later in 2028. The concept of operations outlined in the RFI documentation include the ability to deploy a troop of four aircraft at thepoint of IOC, with the other eight aircraft split between continued force generation and build-up training.Once FOC is achieved, the Australian Army would be capable of “generating multiple concurrent deployed forces ofup to squadron [12 aircraft] size,” supported by a training system of up to five aircraft. Procurement is reducing riskwith a “proven and mature, off-the-shelf” system to “deliver armed reconnaissance efforts in close and deepcontested battlespace”.
Only the AH-1Z attack helicopter, Boeing AH-60E Guardian and perhaps a known outsider; the ARH Tigre Mk3 were on offer.
The bottom line for the Austlian Army was that Tiger did generate sufficient hours to meet Defence's current needs, and it did demonstrate, finally, acceptable levels of performance in a number of areas. However, it didn't achieve the level of flying hours or the capability that was envisaged at acquisition. But also reliability, along with support and supply chain performances, remained problematic. The weaknesses in the supply chain, long-term sustainability and decreasing capability edge in a very congested battlefield led the government itself to reassess the life of the Tiger for the ADF. As foreshadowed in the 2016 white paper, and as confirmed in the Defence strategic update, the Army will operate the Tiger until it's replaced in the mid-2020s. That is a very deliberate government decision.
A letter signed by Germany, France and Spain, whose defence forces use the Tiger helicopters, urged Australia not to replace them. The meant there were likely two clear options available – the Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian and the Bell AH-1Z Viper.
The question is the capability that needed out of the platform to meet the requirements of 4503. In its current configuration the Tiger won't meet that, so it would need significant upgrade costs. The analysis was that there would not be a significant saving in extending it out on a like-for-like basis to 2040.
European nations were yet to decide whether they will go to a program called Tiger 3, which is a significant upgrade to Tiger 3, which would be in place well after the Euro decision for this program. One of the lessons Australia had learned out of helicopter procurements was to procure mature, off-the-shelf, in service with a demonstrated supply and support system. Those are some of the prime requirements of the program, to make sure that the Army did't have another developmental airframe with the same problem set. That was the requirement for whatever replaces Tiger—mature, off-the-shelf, proven, in service with a like military, with a proven support system.
Airbus submitted an offer, albeit unsolicited, to upgrade the current 22 Tigers and supply an additional seven H145M light attack special forces helicopters for what they argued would cost taxpayers $2 billion less than a fleet of aircraft on new platforms. provide that. The Defence Ministry Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group did a completely independent assessment of it, led by a retired two-star air force officer, to make sure that it was assessed completely separately from 4503. It was treated with all the probity of a normal tender.
A detailed assessment of that program was that looked at like capability for like capability, that $2 billion saving doesn't exist. If Australia just did the modest upgrades to the platform and acquired the 145s, looked at that in isolation, was not the budget number to deliver a capability. Out of that assessment the Ministry rejected that proposal on the basis that it didn't change the decision process to go forward with LAND 4503, which is the Tiger replacement. The unsolicited proposal was not for the same requirement is 4503. It was for a lesser requirement. It wasn't to meet the full capability of the replacement program.
The AH-64E Apache advanced and fully-integrated capabilities are combat proven by more than 1.2 million combat flight hours in service with the U.S. Army and a global fleet of more than 1200 helicopters across 16 countries. It's the most tested, proven attack helicopter flying today, with more than 4.6 million flight hours by the U.S. Army alone. Mission availability rate is greater than 82%.
It is the only platform that meets all of the Australian Army's expected LAND 4503 program needs without modification. "No additional development is needed for the Apache to fulfill the program requirements," said T.J. Jamison, Vertical Lift International global sales and marketing senior manager, Boeing Defense, Space and Security, "which is something that our competitors cannot say. And with development comes cost, possible schedule impacts, and other unknowns that can prevent this vital capability from delivering on Army's timeline."
Future certainty will be supported through a low-risk transition from initial services provided as part of the acquisition process to in-country sustainment balanced with the Apache’s proven global support system. To achieve this, Boeing is sought expressions of interest from Australian small and medium enterprises across 43 capabilities to support future programs like LAND 4503 and its existing programs including the CH-47 Chinook and Helicopter Aircrew Training System.
Boeing sought expressions of interest from Australian small and medium enterprises across 43 capabilities to support future programs like LAND 4503 and its existing programs including the CH-47 Chinook and Helicopter Aircrew Training System. "There are opportunities for local suppliers across our rotorcraft programs here in Australia as well as back into the U.S.", says Steve Lovaszy, capture team lead, Boeing Defence Australia. "More than 130 companies have registered, and it is our intention to help them grow and facilitate opportunities in global supply chains."
“Boeing will continue to expand its industry capability and supply chain in Australia by selecting Australian suppliers to support this critical program,” said Boeing Defence Australia Managing Director Scott Carpendale. “Our Australian industry strategy includes delivering sovereign in-service support for Apache as Boeing Defence Australia has successfully done for the CH-47 Chinook, F/A-18 Super Hornet, EA-18 Growler and P-8A Poseidon. Further, we will offer additional opportunities for Australian industry including a contract to produce crew doors for the Australian Apaches, as well as all new Apache aircraft orders for the life of the program.”
Boeing will hire Australian companies to supply parts for its AH-64E Apache Suppliers will provide components for new Apaches including Australia’s future fleet of 29 Apaches. Australian companies Cablex and Thomas Global Systems respectively will manufacture cabling, and design and manufacture cockpit avionics components for the global fleet of Apaches. For the Australian fleet of Apaches, four companies – Cablex, Ferra, Axiom Precision Manufacturing and Mincham – were selected to supply wire harnesses, electrical panels, vertical spar box, machined parts, fairings and composites.
“By partnering with the Australian government and investing in local businesses including small-and-medium enterprises, this agreement will help create jobs, develop Australia’s aerospace and manufacturing capability, and grow the local economy,” said Kathleen Jolivette, vice president and general manager of Boeing Vertical Lift.
The Apache's foreign military sale process would provide cost certainty through the agreement between the U.S. Government and Australia. Australia would benefit from U.S. Government funded future upgrades as well as efficiencies in its mature sustainment and supply chain arrangements. "There's some misperception that because of the world-leading capability of this aircraft, there's an incredible acquisition cost. That is completely untrue. In fact, we have won recent down-select decisions based on price against competitors," says TJ. "If cost were really an issue, I can't imagine that Apache would be as successful as it is globally in contrast to other helicopters in the market."
The U.S. Army Modernization Program includes improvements to aircraft performance, interoperability, weapons, sensors and aircraft survivability. Each operator country, including Australia once the Apaches are delivered, is part of Team Apache where they have the opportunity to collaborate with the U.S. Army and other international operators to help guide future modernisation efforts. "The simple fact is that the AH-64E Apache saves lives and protects soldiers," said Jamison. "I know this from personal experience: everyone is safer – whether they're in other aircraft or boots on the ground – when Apache is flying. That's a certainty."
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