Army finishes assembling Apache choppers
ROC Central News Agency
2013/11/06 19:25:12
Taipei, Nov. 6 (CNA) The Army has finished assembling the country's first six AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, purchased from the United States, Army Command Headquarters said Wednesday.
Four of the six choppers have already been flown to the Aviation and Special Forces Command in Tainan, southern Taiwan, said Wu Tien-an, planning director at Army Command Headquarters. He added that the remaining two will make the flight the following day.
The AH-64E is of higher quality than China's latest WZ-10 attack helicopter, although China has more helicopters than Taiwan, said Wu.
The model E is currently the most advanced model of the AH-64 Apache and will greatly improve the military's mobility and firepower, according to the Ministry of National Defense.
Equipped with AN/APG-78 Longbow Fire Control Radar, the U.S.-made helicopter is good for both land and sea-based operations.
The six aircraft are part of an order of 30 that Taiwan bought for NT$59.31 billion (US$2.01 billion) under a deal announced in 2008 by then-U.S. President George W. Bush.
The total budget also includes logistics, training and construction of a barracks area, the ministry said.
Taiwan will be the first country apart from the U.S. to deploy this type of helicopter when they become operational in April 2014 at air bases in northern Taiwan. The U.S. Army took delivery of its first AH-64Es at the end of 2011.
A second batch of Apaches is scheduled to be delivered to Taiwan in late December, with the full order to be completed in five batches by the end of 2014, according to the military.
(By James Lee)
ENDITEM/J
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