The British Army has acquired its 50th and final Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopter, the UK Ministry of Defence announced on 6 March. The delivery completes the new fleet of the world’s most advanced attack helicopter.
The Apache was delivered to the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) at Boeing’s production site in Arizona, USA and was procured through a GBP 1.7 billion Foreign Military Sale with the US Government.
The operational fleet for the UK is now fully operational at the Army’s Wattisham Flying Station in Suffolk, and the training fleet has been completed at the Army Aviation Centre located in Middle Wallop, Hampshire.
The AH-64E integrates components from the Mk1 (D-model) Apache, which has been in service with the British Army for over twenty years, along with a newly designed fuselage and advanced technology. It is engineered to perform missions both during the day and at night, across various weather conditions and environments.
With a maximum speed exceeding 300 kilometers per hour, its upgraded engines, sensors, radar, and optical and thermal imaging systems allow the aircraft to operate at higher speeds and engage targets at extended ranges. Additionally, the AH-64E features reduced sensor-to-shooter time and enhanced tactical maneuverability.
Its radar system can passively geolocate threats without revealing the aircraft’s location, capable of detecting over 1,000 targets, classifying 256, and prioritizing the top 16 within seconds. The aircraft is equipped to neutralize land, maritime, and aerial targets using 30mm automatic cannon fire, wing-mounted 70mm Hydra or Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System rockets, as well as Hellfire and Joint Air to Ground Missiles.
The newly established fleet achieved operational readiness for the Army in 2023 and has already demonstrated its capabilities during various exercises and missions worldwide. From the frigid Arctic tundra to the arid landscapes of Jordan, it has been instrumental in NATO operations, notably participating in Exercises Swift Response and Steadfast Defender in 2024.
Mark Langrill, DE&S Director Rotary Wing and Uncrewed Air Systems stated: “We are incredibly proud to accept such a cutting-edge capability, and to receive the final airframe of the British Army fleet. The Apache programme is being delivered by a team drawn from across DE&S, industry and our British Army colleagues, all of whom share a common goal to bring the most up-to-date version of this battle-winning aircraft into service while creating and supporting jobs and skills in the UK.”
Colonel David Amlôt MBE, from British Army’s Combat Aviation Programme, said: “Battle-tested and modernised, AH-64E Apache is a fully integrated weapon system designed to fight multi-domain operations in highly contested, complex battlespaces, and in the harshest environments from the desert to the Arctic.”
“Through this procurement, we will see an increased interoperability with our NATO and allied partners, with an expected 19 nations operating the Apache by the end of the decade, further strengthening our collective deterrence.”
Maria Laine, President of Boeing UK, Ireland and the Nordics, said: “Delivering the 50th E-model Apache to the British Army marks a significant achievement in Boeing’s enduring alliance with the UK, a relationship that spans more than 80 years. I am immensely proud of our global team for their dedication in delivering and supporting this advanced Apache fleet, a vital capability that will bolster UK national security for decades to come.”
The UK Apache programme not only enhances operational capabilities but also contributes to the UK Government’s growth strategy by sustaining over 300 jobs at Boeing Defence UK. Additionally, the global market for Apache positively impacts 75 UK companies, including 33 small to medium-sized enterprises.
