US Offers Philippines Apache, Viper as Attack Helicopter Options

The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Philippines of six  AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, 200 Hellfire Missiles and related equipment for an estimated $1.5 billion.

The package will come fully equipped with lethal weapons that includes 200 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles; 12 M36E9 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles 300, 1,700 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) 200 FIM-92H Stinger missiles and eighteen Stinger air-to-air launchers.

The State Department also approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Philippines of six AH-1Z Viper attack icopters and related equipment for an estimated cost of $450 million. The weapons package include six AGM-114 Hellfire II missiles and 26 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS)

However, The Philippines is considering either the AH-64E or the AH-1Z and a final decision will depend upon which the customer, a Pentagon statement said.

While the Apache is made by Boeing, the AH-1Z are a product of Bell Helicopter. Both companies are authorised to enter into negotiations with the Philipines government

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale Thursday.