First Indonesian Apache Guardian Helicopter Undergoing Flight Tests: Report

Indonesian Army’s first Boeing Apache helicopter is reportedly undergoing flight tests in the US.

According to the report by Quwa, the photos of AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopter, undergoing tests in an unspecified location, have emerged online.

US defence secretary Chuck Hagel announced the sale of eight Apaches, valued at $1.4 billion, to Indonesia in August 2013. The deal also includes 140 AGM-114R3 Hellfire-II anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM), spare engines, electronic subsystems, training, spare parts, simulators and other requisite support items. The value of the major defence equipment appears to be $500 million.

In January 2015, Boeing was formally awarded a $296 million order to manufacture the AH-64Es with an expected completion date by February 2018.

Boeing officials were reported to have said during the Indo Defence 2016 exhibition in Jakarta that flight tests were expected in June 2017 and deliveries of the eight helicopters are expected to be completed by the end of 2017.