Boeing Wins $410 Million Contract Modification For UK Apache Choppers

Boeing has won a $410-million US Army foreign military sales (FMS) contract for a modification to a previous deal for 38 Apache tactical ground-support helicopters and three Longbow crew trainers to the UK.

Work will be performed in Mesa, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2023. Fiscal 2010 other funds in the amount of $201 million were obligated at the time of the award.

US Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.

The UK currently operates a modified version of the Apache Longbow; initially called the Westland WAH-64 Apache, it is designated the Apache AH1 by the British Army.

Westland built 67 WAH-64 Apaches under license from Boeing, following a competition between the Eurocopter Tiger and the Apache for the British Army's new Attack Helicopter in 1995.

Important deviations made by AgustaWestland from the US Apache variants include changing to more Rolls-Royce engines, and the addition of a folding blade assembly for use on naval ships.

On 11 July 2016, the UK Ministry of Defence confirmed a $2.3 billion order for 50 AH-64Es to be built in Mesa, Arizona. The purchase is via a FMS agreement with the US government.