Boeing Delivers Final AH-64E Apache Helicopter to British Army

Boeing has delivered the final AH-64E Apache attack helicopter to the British Army as part of a contract signed in 2016.

The system, which is the 50th aircraft of the program, was handed over to the military at Boeing’s facility in Arizona and will then be transferred to Suffolk in 2026 after completing additional evaluations.

It will deploy alongside active Apaches at Wattisham Flying Station and the training fleet at the British Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop, Hampshire.

“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,” British Army Combat Aviation Program’s Col. David Amlôt stated.

‘Significant Achievement’

London’s now-complete AH-64Es, procured for 1.7 billion pounds ($2.2 billion), combines parts of the British Army’s D-model Apache in service for over 20 years with a new fuselage and next-generation avionics, allowing improved all-day operations in any weather conditions.

The military tested the AH-64E for frontline missions in 2023 and declared its operational capability the same year.

“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,” Boeing UK President Maria Laine remarked at the ceremony in Arizona.

“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 AH-64E Apache Airframe

Boeing’s 59-foot (18-meter) AH-64E system is armed with a chain gun, laser-guided missiles, and unguided rockets.

It is equipped with twin General Electric turboshaft engines with approximately 1,900 horsepower each.

The aircraft has a range of over 1,000 nautical miles (1,151 miles/1,852 kilometers), a service ceiling of 21,000 feet (6,401 meters), and a top speed of 186 miles (299 kilometers) per hour.