The British Army and Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) have officially accepted the 50th AH-64E Apache helicopter at Boeing’s Mesa manufacturing facility in Arizona, US.
In 2020, the UK reached a foreign military sale (FMS) agreement with the US Government to purchase 50 AH-64Es, valued at around $2.3bn.
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Wattisham Flying Station received its initial pair of Apache aircraft in November 2020, with subsequent deliveries following thereafter.
With this new addition, the operational fleet of Apaches now stands fully established at Wattisham Flying Station in Suffolk, with the training complement now complete at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop, Hampshire.
Boeing UK, Ireland and the Nordics president Maria Laine 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 50th Apache will stay in the US for software testing, which aims to facilitate teaming with uncrewed air systems.
This helicopter is scheduled for delivery to the UK in 2026.
Boeing has upgraded the British Army’s previous D-model Apaches to the E-model configuration, integrating existing components with a new fuselage and advanced technologies.
The AH-64E model, measuring 48.16 feet (ft) in length and 15.49ft in height, represents the latest iteration of the Apache. It has a top speed more than 300kph.
It combines components from the Mk1 Apache with a new fuselage and advanced technology, designed for day and night operations in various conditions.
British Army Combat Aviation Programme colonel David Amlôt 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.”
Personnel from Boeing collaborate with the British Army to manage various components of the Apache program, encompassing both training and ongoing support.
The two-decade agreement for Extended Training and Support Services with the UK Ministry of Defence has resulted in the creation of over 300 positions at Middle Wallop and Wattisham, with this number including 15 apprenticeships for aircraft technicians.
In excess of 70 suppliers located within the UK contribute to the worldwide Apache fleet, playing a role in both the maintenance and instructional aspects of the UK’s programme.
Recently, the DE&S, announced via social media that the 45th, 46th, and 47th AH-64E Apache attack helicopters were transported from the US to the UK.
