Boeing will build 184 AH-64E Apaches for the U.S. Army and foreign customers, including the first Apaches for Australia. This $1.9 billion award brings the total current funded value of the contract to $2.1 billion and has the potential to increase to more than $3.8 billion with future obligations.

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Boeing AH-64E Apache (Picture source: U.S. Army/Sgt. 1st Class Andrew McClure, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade)

“We are enhancing the U.S. Army’s attack fleet, while supporting additional partner nations and welcoming our newest Apache customer, the Australian Army,” said Christina Upah, vice president of Attack Helicopter Programs and senior Boeing Mesa site executive. “This contract highlights the need for Apaches worldwide.”

The U.S. Army will receive 115 remanufactured Apaches, with an additional 15 Apaches to be procured as options, ensuring significant savings to taxpayers. The additional 54 aircraft will be delivered to partner nations as part of Foreign Military Sales. This award comes on the heels of the U.S. Army’s Apache fleet surpassing five million flight hours, a milestone proving the AH-64 is the most capable, reliable and versatile attack helicopter.

"This multi-year contract is critical for the warfighter and the entire Apache team," said Col. John (Jay) Maher, U.S. Army Apache project manager. "It demonstrates the Army's commitment to continue putting unmatched capability into the hands of our nation’s finest, while providing stability and predictability for the outstanding citizens and companies that pour their talent into producing the best attack helicopter in the world."

Boeing Global Services will continue to deliver training devices, spare provisions, support and test equipment kits, depot support, field engineering and technical manuals. Major advantages in the technical publication area allow for a streamlined process approach to re-use data which reduces operational and sustainment costs.

Under the first multi-year contract, signed in 2017, Boeing delivered 244 remanufactured Apaches to the Army and 24 new-build aircraft to an international customer. The AH-64E, built at the Boeing site in Mesa, Ariz., is the most advanced multirole combat helicopter in the world. There are more than 1,275 Apaches currently in operation around the world.

From the AH-64A in 1984 to today’s AH-64E Version 6 (v6), one thing about the Apache hasn’t changed: its reputation as the world’s most advanced and proven attack helicopter. With more than 1,200 aircraft in operation accumulating over 4 million flight hours, 1.3 million of which have been in combat, the AH-64 Apache represents the backbone of the U.S. Army attack helicopter fleet and a growing number of international defense forces.

With the AH-64E in production until at least 2028, the Apache will serve the U.S. Army and its partner nations as the world’s primary attack helicopter into the 2060s. As Boeing and the U.S. Army continue to invest in next-generation technologies, the Apache brings affordable Modular Open Systems Architecture capability to serve as a centerpiece in the Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) battlefield for decades to come.

Official announcement by the U.S. Department of Defense

The Boeing Co., Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $1,946,212,323 modification (PZ0002) to contract W58RGZ-21-C-0015 for the Apache AH-64E full-rate production. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed in Mesa, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2027. Fiscal 2023 Foreign Military Sales (Australia and Egypt) funds, and fiscal 2023 aircraft procurement, Army funds in the amount of $1,946,212,322 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.