US Army orders more AH-64Es from Boeing

The US Army Contracting Command has contracted Boeing to remanufacture an additional 12 AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters into the AH-64E Apache Guardian configuration.

AH-64E lands aboard USS Peleliu [US Army/Chief Warrant Officer 3 Mark Leung]
A US Army-operated Boeing AH-64E Apache Longbow attack helicopter prepares to land aboard the US Navy's amphibious assault ship, USS Peleliu (LHA-5), during deck landing qualifications in July 2014. These trials took place as the vessel was taking part in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. US Army/Chief Warrant Officer 3 Mark Leung

The US$32.56m deal – awarded on June 17 and financed using Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) US Army aircraft procurement funding – is a modification to an earlier contract to incorporate a directed change order for the remanufacture of 12 AH-64Ds to AH-64E standard. It also includes six part numbers for the type’s tail rotor blades. Work will be carried out at Boeing’s main production facility in Mesa, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of October 1, 2024.

AirForces Intelligence data states that the US Army maintains a fleet of 771 Apache attack helicopters, comprising 440 AH-64Ds and 331 AH-64Es. The former entered service with the army’s aviation branch in March 1997, while the newer AH-64E variant began operations in January 2013.