The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has announced U.S. State Department contacted Boeing to provide the United Arab Emirates with 17 Apache AH-64E aircraft.
According to the statement, Boeing was awarded a $242 million modification (P00021) to foreign military sales (United Arab Emirates) contract W58RGZ-16-C-0023 for the remanufacture of eight, and procurement of nine new-build Apache AH-64E attack helicopters.
Work on the contract will be performed in Mesa, Ariz., and is expected to be finished by Feb. 28, 2023.
The new contract modification comes under a contract first awarded in March 2016, which carries a potential $7.3 billion total value.
According to the Boeing, the AH-64 Apache is the world’s most advanced multi-role combat helicopter and is used by the U.S. Army and a growing number of international defense forces. Boeing has delivered more than 2,200 Apaches to customers around the world since the aircraft entered production.
The U.S. Army Apache fleet has accumulated (as of July 2016) more than 4.2 million flight hours since the first AH-64A was delivered to the U.S. Army in January 1984.
This gunship comes with new sensors, avionics and has improved night operation capabilities. Furthermore the AH-64E helicopter can control a couple of UAVs.
This attack helicopter is operated by a crew of 2, including pilot and gunner.
There are numerous features to protect the crew and increase survivability of the helicopter. The airframe is designed to withstand hits from guns of up to 12.7 mm caliber. Rotor blades can withstand hits from 23 mm guns. A large flat-plate canopy is fitted with boran armor. Crew members are seated on crash-resistant seats.