Boeing-produced U.S. Army Apache Helicopter Fleet Passes Two Million Flight Hour Mark

Credit / Copyright: The Boeing Company / Boeingmedia. Used with Permission

Nearly one-third of all flight hours have occurred in the past four years, including almost 700,000 hours since the war on terror began following the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Apache helicopters continue to fly hundreds of hours a month in Iraq and Afghanistan in support of peacekeeping operations.

The summary data, compiled from U.S. Army Apache deployments around the world, indicates the combat helicopter fleet reached the two million flight hour milestone in late 2005. Currently, the U.S. Army's total combined flight time for the fleet is more than 2.1 million hours.

Neither the number of combat hours logged by U.S. Army Apaches nor the total number of flight hours for all Apache helicopters worldwide has been released.

Eleven nations either fly or have selected AH-64 Apache helicopters. Nearly 1,100 Apaches, in either the AH-64A or AH-64D configuration, are in service around the world.

AH-64A Apaches, which first entered service with the U.S. Army in 1984, have logged more than 1.6 million flight hours. AH-64D Apaches have logged more than 400,000 flight hours.

"Achieving this remarkable milestone demonstrates the outstanding skills and commitment by U.S. Army soldiers in demanding conditions and challenging environments around the world," said Al Winn, Boeing vice president of Apache programs. "We're proud to provide and support this unmatched combat aircraft for the defense of freedom."

Boeing introduced the AH-64D Apache Longbow, the newest member of the Apache family, in 1997. It features fully integrated avionics and weapons plus a state-of-the-art modem that transmits real-time, secure digitized battlefield information to air and ground forces. It can rapidly detect, classify, prioritize and engage stationary or moving opposition targets at standoff ranges in nearly all weather environments.

AH-64A / D Apache

The multi-mission AH-64D Apache Longbow is the next-generation version of original AH-64A Apache. With its fire-control radar, the aircraft is known as the AH-64D Apache Longbow. Without the radar, the combat-proven aircraft is called the AH-64D Apache. The AH-64 Apache has been developed since its inception using incremental technology insertions at regular intervals to ensure that the world's most capable multi-role combat helicopter meets the needs of the warfighter today and in the future. Credit / Copyright: The Boeing Company / Boeingmedia. Used with Permission

Between 1984 and 1997, Boeing produced 937 AH-64As for the U.S. Army, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The combat-proven AH-64A is still in service and includes the following features:

• Two high-performance turboshaft engines and maximum cruise speed of 284 kph

• Laser, infrared, and other systems (including target acquisition designation sight/pilot night vision sensor) to locate, track, and attack targets

• A combination of laser-guided precision Hellfire missiles, 70mm rockets, and a 30mm automatic cannon with up to 1,200 high-explosive, dual-purpose ammunition rounds

AH-64D Apache and AH-64D Apache Longbow

The combat-proven AH-64D Apache and AH-64D Apache Longbow share the following history and characteristics:

• Testing in the late 1990s, delivery in 1997, in production for the U.S. Army and several international customers

• Selection by the U.S. Army, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, The Netherlands, Republic of Singapore, and United Kingdom (as the AH Mk1

• Ability to assimilate advancements in digital connectivity, sensors, weapon systems, advanced training devices, and maintenance support systems

Apache Longbow Enhancements

The radar-equipped AH-64D Apache Longbow features numerous enhanced capabilities, including:

• Longer-range weapons accuracy and all-weather/night fighting

• Detection of objects (moving or stationary) without being detected

• Classification and threat-prioritization of up to 128 targets in less than a minute

• Integrated sensors, networking, and digital communications for situational awareness, management of the combat arena in real time, and digital transmission of images and target locations to joint operations battlefield commanders

Source / Credit: The Boeing Company / Boeingmedia