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Boeing AH-64 Apache

Boeing · Attack Helicopter · USA · Cold War (1970–1991)

Boeing AH-64 Apache — Attack Helicopter
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The Boeing AH-64 Apache is an American twin-engine, four-blade attack helicopter designed by Hughes Helicopters (acquired by McDonnell Douglas in 1984; now Boeing) and produced from 1983 to the present. Some 2,500 airframes have been built across multiple variants for 18 nations, making the Apache the principal Western attack helicopter and the dominant platform of its class since its 1986 service entry with the U.S. Army.

Initial fielding of the AH-64A occurred on 26 January 1984, with IOC declared in April 1986. The aircraft emerged from the U.S. Army's Advanced Attack Helicopter (AAH) competition (1972-1976), which Hughes won over Bell with the YAH-64 prototype. Two General Electric T700-GE-700 turboshafts (1,690 shp each on the AH-64A; 2,000 shp T700-GE-701D on later variants) drive the four-blade main rotor and tail rotor. The crew of two sits in tandem, with the pilot in the rear cockpit and co-pilot/gunner in front. Maximum gross weight reaches 23,000 lb on the AH-64D Longbow, and the stub-wing pylons can carry up to 16 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, four 19-tube 70mm rocket pods, or mixed loads. A 30mm M230 chain gun under the chin (1,200 rpm rate of fire, 1,200 rounds carried) is fixed in azimuth and slaved to the gunner's helmet sight — the Integrated Helmet and Display Sighting System (IHADSS).

Entering service in 1997, the AH-64D Apache Longbow added the AN/APG-78 Longbow millimetre-wave fire-control radar in a mast-mounted radome above the main rotor, allowing engagement of multiple targets simultaneously through obscurants (smoke, dust, fog) and beyond visual range. Longbow can detect and prioritise up to 256 targets within 8 km, transmit target lists to other Apaches via Link 16, and engage with fire-and-forget radar-guided AGM-114L Hellfire variants. The current AH-64E Apache Guardian (entering service 2012) introduced uprated engines, composite rotor blades, increased payload, a new cockpit, links to UAVs for manned-unmanned teaming, and improved survivability.

Apaches have flown in essentially every major U.S. ground combat operation since 1989: Operation Just Cause (Panama 1989, first AH-64A combat use), Desert Storm (1991, large-scale deep-strike employment), Allied Force (Kosovo 1999), Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan 2001-present), Iraqi Freedom (2003-2011), and ongoing CENTCOM and Indo-Pacific deterrence missions. Foreign operators include Saudi Arabia (88), Egypt (60), UAE (60), Israel (40), Greece (29), Japan (15), the United Kingdom (Apache AH.1 / AH.2 — 50 each), the Netherlands (29), Singapore (20), and South Korea (36). Around 1,300 Apaches remain in active service worldwide in 2026, with production at Boeing's Mesa, Arizona facility continuing at roughly 50 airframes per year.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The AH-64 Apache is the U.S. Army's main attack helicopter. It's a flying tank — armored, fast, and bristling with weapons. The Apache is about 48 feet long, taller than a school bus, with two pilots sitting one above the other in a long narrow cockpit.

The Apache's job is to destroy enemy tanks and protect ground troops. It can hover behind a tree line, scan with its powerful sensors, then pop up and fire missiles at targets miles away.

Apaches carry up to 16 Hellfire missiles, plus rockets and a 30mm chain gun under the nose. The gun is controlled by the pilot's helmet — wherever the pilot looks, the gun points. With a special visor that shows night-vision and computer information, Apache pilots can see in pitch dark and fight at night.

Boeing has built almost 3,000 Apaches since 1984. The U.S. Army has the most, but Apaches also fly for the United Kingdom, Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Japan, South Korea, India, and others. The Apache is the most-used attack helicopter in the world.

Apaches have flown in combat in Iraq (1991 and 2003), Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, and many other places. They are tough — Apaches have flown home with one engine gone, the tail rotor missing, or huge holes in the wings. Today the newest model (AH-64E Guardian) can control drones from its cockpit, sharing video and target information with smaller unmanned aircraft flying nearby.

Fun Facts

  • The AH-64 Apache's nose gun is controlled by the pilot's helmet — wherever the pilot looks, the gun points.
  • An Apache can carry up to 16 Hellfire missiles, 76 rockets, and 1,200 cannon shells all at once.
  • The Apache uses a sensor called Longbow radar that lets it find and destroy targets even in heavy rain or fog.
  • Apaches can fly home with one engine missing, the tail rotor gone, or huge holes in the wings — they are very tough.
  • About 3,000 Apaches have been built since 1984 — making it the most-built attack helicopter ever.
  • The newest Apache (AH-64E Guardian) can control drones flying nearby — letting one pilot fight with a whole drone team.
  • Apache crews are two-person teams: one pilot flies, the other (sitting in front) controls the weapons and sensors.

Kids’ Questions

Why two pilots one above the other?

Most helicopters have pilots sitting side by side, but the Apache has them in tandem — one behind the other. This lets Boeing make the Apache's body super narrow (less than 4 feet wide), so the helicopter is harder to hit. The front pilot is the gunner/weapons officer, controlling the missiles, gun, and sensors. The pilot behind sits a few inches higher, with a clear view over the gunner's head, and actually flies the helicopter. Both have flight controls — if one is hit, the other can take over instantly.

How does the helmet-aimed gun work?

The Apache's chin-mounted 30mm gun is connected to small sensors in the pilot's helmet (called the Integrated Helmet and Display Sighting System). When the pilot turns his head, the helmet's position sensors detect the movement, and the gun rotates to match — wherever the pilot is looking, the gun is pointing. The pilot also sees a green crosshair in his right eye, showing exactly where the gun will fire. This way the pilot doesn't have to take his eyes off the target to aim.

Variants

AH-64A Apache
Original variant with T700-GE-700 engines (1,690 shp) and basic fire-control. Around 810 built 1983-1996; most upgraded to AH-64D / AH-64E or retired.
AH-64D Apache Longbow
Upgrade adding the AN/APG-78 mast-mounted millimetre-wave radar, fire-and-forget AGM-114L Hellfire integration, and a new avionics suite. Around 580 built or converted (U.S. Army plus export). Operated by U.S. Army, UK, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Egypt and others.
AH-64E Apache Guardian
Current production variant (2012-present) with T700-GE-701D engines (2,000 shp), improved transmission, composite rotor blades, links to MQ-1C Gray Eagle / RQ-7B Shadow UAVs for manned-unmanned teaming, and a new cockpit. Around 700 built and production continues. Operated by U.S. Army, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Korea, Japan, India and others.
WAH-64 (UK Apache)
British Army version of the AH-64D, powered by Rolls-Royce / Turbomeca RTM 322 engines and fitted with UK-specific equipment. Westland-built under licence; 50 produced. Replaced by AH-64E Apache Guardian (Apache AH Mk.2) procurement from 2018.
AH-64S Sea Apache (proposed)
Maritime / naval variant proposed for the U.S. Marine Corps and other naval operators. Not produced. AH-64E airframes have been used in limited maritime training but no dedicated naval variant exists.

Notable Operators

United States Army
Largest operator with around 700 AH-64D / AH-64E airframes in 2026, replacing the legacy AH-1 Cobra. Flown by Army Combat Aviation Brigades and deployed worldwide for ground combat and contingency operations. Backbone of U.S. Army attack aviation.
Foreign export operators
Saudi Arabia (88 AH-64D / AH-64E), UAE (60 AH-64D / AH-64E), Egypt (60 AH-64A / AH-64D), Israel (40 AH-64A / AH-64D), Korea (36 AH-64E), Greece (29 AH-64A / AH-64D), Netherlands (29 AH-64D → AH-64E), Singapore (20 AH-64D), Japan (15 AH-64D), India (22 AH-64E), Indonesia (8 AH-64E), Morocco (24 ordered), Australia (29 AH-64E from 2025).
United Kingdom
50 WAH-64 (Westland-built AH-64D variant) operated 2004-2024; replaced by 50 AH-64E Apache AH Mk.2 (delivered 2020-2025). British Army Air Corps Joint Helicopter Command operates the Apache.
Production / future
Production at Boeing's Mesa, Arizona facility continues at roughly 50 airframes per year. Major outstanding orders include Australia (29), Morocco (24), India (additional 6), and U.S. Army re-manufacturing (AH-64D → AH-64E conversions).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Apache's main weapon?

The 30mm M230 Bushmaster chain gun under the chin — fixed in azimuth and slaved to the gunner's helmet sight (IHADSS) for rapid target acquisition and engagement. It carries 1,200 rounds at 1,200 rpm and is effective against light armour, soft-skinned vehicles and personnel out to around 3 km. Larger targets are engaged with up to 16 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles (5 km range) or 70mm Hydra rockets (4 km, area-effect).

What does the Longbow radar do?

The AN/APG-78 Longbow is a mast-mounted millimetre-wave (35 GHz) fire-control radar that detects and tracks ground targets at ranges up to 8 km, including through obscurants like smoke, dust, fog and rain. It can identify target type (tank, APC, truck, helicopter, building) and assign target priority automatically. Tracks are passed to the gunner's display and to other Apaches in the formation via Link 16. Longbow lets the Apache engage with fire-and-forget AGM-114L Hellfire variants — the helicopter can immediately re-mask after launch, dramatically improving survivability.

How does the Apache compare to the Russian Mi-24?

Both are dedicated attack helicopters but with very different design philosophies. The Mi-24 Hind is much larger and carries 8 paratroopers in a small compartment behind the pilot / gunner — it is essentially an attack-helicopter / armed-transport hybrid. The Apache is a pure attack platform that carries no troops. It also offers more sophisticated fire-control (AN/APG-78 Longbow radar, IHADSS helmet sight, manned-unmanned teaming), better armament integration and superior survivability features. The Mi-24 carries more raw armament per airframe but lacks the Apache's precision in engagement.

How does the Apache compare to the Bell AH-1 Cobra?

The Apache replaces the Cobra in U.S. Army service. AH-1 Cobra variants — including the AH-1F and the AH-1Z Viper for USMC — are smaller, single-engine helicopters with simpler fire-control. The Apache is twin-engine for better survivability, carries a fire-control radar and integrated helmet sight, supports manned-unmanned teaming with UAVs, and achieves higher in-service availability rates. The U.S. Army retired all AH-1 Cobras by 2001 in favour of the Apache; the U.S. Marine Corps continues to operate the AH-1Z Viper.

How many Apaches have been lost in combat?

Around 50 across all operators since 1989, mostly in Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen operations. The heaviest single loss saw 33 AH-64A airframes hit during the unsuccessful 24 March 2003 deep-strike on Karbala, Iraq, after which Apache deep-strike doctrine was rewritten. Losses to enemy fire in counter-insurgency work have been rare — the Apache's combination of armour, IR signature reduction and refined tactics has made it a survivable platform in the COIN environment.

What is manned-unmanned teaming?

It refers to the AH-64E Apache Guardian's ability to control and receive video / sensor data from U.S. Army UAVs — specifically the MQ-1C Gray Eagle and the RQ-7B Shadow. The Apache's pilot can task the UAV to scout ahead, identify targets at long range (UAV stand-off can be 50 km from the Apache), and coordinate Hellfire engagement. Pairing UAV ISR with Apache firepower is one of the most effective U.S. Army aerial-attack pairings. Manned-unmanned teaming is also fielded by other AH-64E operators including Korea, Japan and the UK.

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