Aerial Warfare

US State Department Approves Sale of 96 AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopters to Poland

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US State Department Approves Sale of 96 AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopters to Poland
US State Department Approves Sale of 96 AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopters to Poland

The U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Poland of AH-64E Apache Helicopters and related equipment for an estimated cost of $12.0 billion. The Government of Poland has requested to buy 96 AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopters; 210 T700-GE 701D engines (192 installed, 18 spares); 97 AN/ASQ-170 Modernized Target Acquisition and Designation Sight/AN/AAR-11 Modernized Pilot Night Vision Sensors (M-TADS/PNVS); 37 AN/APG-78 Fire Control Radars (FCR) Mast Mounted Assembly (MMA); 37 Longbow Fire Control Radar (FCR) Radar Electronic Units (REU); 96 AN/APR-48B Modernized Radar Frequency Interferometers (MRFI); 102 AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems (CMWS); 204 AN/ARC-231A, with RT-1987 Receiver Transmitters, Very High Frequency/Ultra High Frequency (VHF/UHF) radio; 1,844 AGM-114R2 Hellfire Missiles; 96 M36E8 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM); 460 AGM-179A Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles (JAGM); 508 Stinger 92K Block I Missiles; and 7,650 WGU-59/B Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS-II) Guidance Sections (GS).

Also included are Radar Signal Detecting Sets; Laser Detecting Sets; Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponders; Improved Data Modems; Small Tactical Terminals; Improved Countermeasure Dispensing Systems (ICMD); Automatic Direction Finders; Doppler Radar Velocity Sensors; Radar Altimeter Common Cores (RACC); Tactical Air Navigation Set (TACAN); Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers; Simple Key Loader; Advanced Weapon System Automatic Machine Guns; rocket launchers; missile launchers; rockets; ammunition; Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUMT) Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Receiver; MUMT Air-Air-Ground kits; training devices; communication systems; helmets; simulators; generators; aircrew survivability equipment; transportation and organization equipment; spare and repair parts; support equipment; tools and test equipment; technical data and publications; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance; technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of program and logistical support.

U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Armored Division, supporting the 4th Infantry Division, take part in Griffin Claw at Powidz, Poland, March 15, 2023.
U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Armored Division, supporting the 4th Infantry Division, take part in Griffin Claw at Powidz, Poland, March 15, 2023. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Agustín Montañez).

The Boeing AH-64 Apache is an American twin-turboshaft attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear arrangement and a tandem cockpit for a crew of two. The Apache began as the Model 77 developed by Hughes Helicopters for the United States Army’s Advanced Attack Helicopter program to replace the AH-1 Cobra. After acquiring Hughes Helicopters in 1984, McDonnell Douglas continued AH-64 production and development. It features a nose-mounted sensor suite for target acquisition and night vision systems. It is armed with a 30 mm (1.18 in) M230 chain gun carried between the main landing gear, under the aircraft’s forward fuselage, and four hardpoints mounted on stub-wing pylons for carrying armament and stores, typically a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and Hydra 70 rocket pods. The AH-64 has significant systems redundancy to improve combat survivability. Production has been continued by Boeing Defense, Space & Security, with over 2,400 AH-64s being produced by 2020.

Poland choose the Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian to fulfil the Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND) Kruk (Raven) requirement to replace the army’s ageing Mil Mi-24 ‘Hind’ attack helicopters. Poland is in the midst of a helicopter recapitalisation effort to replace its Warsaw Pact-era inventory, with the recent emphasis having been on acquiring the Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk as a new special forces type to replace its ageing Mil Mi-8/17 ‘Hip’ platforms, as well as Leonardo AW101 Merlin anti-submarine warfare helicopters to replace the Mil Mi-14 ‘Haze. Poland was interested in 96 helicopters — six squadrons worth. It is believed all of Poland’s Apaches will be newly manufactured, because there is no Apache in the boneyard, and in Mesa Boeing produce 80-100 aircraft per year.The only potential problem could be only global supply chain moving forward.

US State Department Approves Sale of 96 AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopters to Poland
U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Armored Division, supporting the 4th Infantry Division, take part in Griffin Claw at Powidz, Poland, March 15, 2023. As part of the exercise, AH-64D Apache helicopters conducted movement to contact and security operations along with polish joint terminal attack controllers. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Agustín Montañez).
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