AH-64 Apache
The Boeing AH-64 Apache has been the US Army's attack helicopter since 1984, designed under the 1972 Advanced Attack Helicopter program to kill armored formations at night and in weather, the requirement that produced its 30 mm chain gun, Hellfire missiles and nose-mounted sensors. More than 2,700 have been delivered from the Mesa, Arizona, line.
Poland's August 2024 signature for 96 AH-64Es, the largest Apache export contract to date, turned the program's export decade into its production guarantee, with the line contracted into the 2030s. The current AH-64E Guardian standard serves the US Army and more than 17 other nations, most remanufactured from AH-64D airframes, a rebuild model that keeps unit costs below new production.
AH-64 Apache at a glance
Today's Apache fleet is defined by the AH-64D Longbow generation and the current AH-64E, which most operators are buying new or converting to.
Variant comparison
| Specification | AH-64D Longbow | AH-64E Guardian |
|---|---|---|
| Configuration | Longbow fire-control radar generation | Current production standard, T700-701D engines |
| Primary operator | Legacy fleets worldwide | US Army and 17+ nations |
| Status | Being remanufactured to AH-64E | In production into the 2030s |
Most AH-64Es are remanufactured from D-models on Boeing's Mesa line, and new orders, led by Poland's 96-aircraft buy and Australia's fleet, keep Apache production running into the 2030s.
Full specifications
Latest AH-64 Apache coverage from AeroTime
Operators
Frequently asked questions
More than 2,700 have been delivered since 1984, making the Apache Boeing's most-produced military aircraft.
The current Guardian standard, with more powerful T700-701D engines, composite rotor blades, improved drive systems and the ability to control uncrewed aircraft.
The US Army leads a list of more than 17 nations including the UK, Israel, the Netherlands, Greece, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, India, South Korea, Australia and Poland.