USA Orders 13 Extra AH-64D Apache Longbows for $192.5M

AH-64D Apache Longbow The U. S. Army recently signed a $192.5 million contract with Boeing for 13 new AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters. The new helicopters, to be built in the current Block II configuration, will be provided in addition to AH-64A Apaches being remanufactured under a multi-year contract with the Army. Production will begin in early 2006 and will be performed at the Boeing facility in Mesa, AZ where Apaches have been manufactured since the program started. David Almond, Boeing Apache Block II program manager, noted that this contract bridges the way to an additional 96 remanufactured AH-64Ds for the U.S. Army, and to eventual Block III Apache Longbow helicopter production. DID has described what AH-64D Block II and Block III involved in a previous article, and we have also covered the Apache’s new integrated Arrrowhead vision sensors and targeting system.