Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Boeing a multibillion-dollar contract to manufacture AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters for three international customers Egypt, Kuwait, and Poland further strengthening the global footprint of one of the world’s most widely used and battle-proven attack helicopters.
Announced on 25 November, the Foreign Military Sales agreement is valued at USD 4.69 billion and encompasses the production of an undisclosed number of new-build AH-64E helicopters. The contract also covers crew training systems, spare parts, and a range of associated components essential for long-term fleet sustainment. Manufacturing work will take place at Boeing’s facility in Mesa, Arizona, and is scheduled to continue through 30 May 2032, underscoring the scale and complexity of the combined procurement.
The deal follows a previous award issued in July 2023, which focused on remanufacturing older AH-64D airframes into the advanced AH-64E configuration for Egypt and Kuwait, while also including new-production helicopters for Kuwait. The latest contract appears to supplement those earlier commitments, although the U.S. government has not disclosed how many airframes for each country fall under the new agreement.
Egypt, one of the largest Apache operators outside the United States, was cleared in 2018 to acquire 10 new-build AH-64E helicopters. These aircraft will operate alongside 43 AH-64D models currently being upgraded from earlier-generation AH-64A variants, bringing Egypt’s future fleet to a total of 53 AH-64Es. It remains unclear how many of the helicopters included in the new contract are destined for Cairo, but the order is expected to continue Egypt’s long-term modernization of its attack helicopter forces.
Kuwait has been pursuing a similar path. In January 2021, the country received U.S. approval to procure eight new AH-64E helicopters and upgrade 16 existing AH-64Ds, creating a future fleet of 24 AH-64Es. With some of these aircraft already covered under the 2023 contract, the number assigned to Kuwait in the latest award has not been publicly confirmed.
Poland represents the largest and most ambitious of the three customer programs. Warsaw is set to acquire 96 AH-64E helicopters as part of a sweeping effort to modernize its armed forces in response to regional security threats. Ahead of deliveries, Poland has leased eight AH-64D helicopters from the U.S. Army for training purposes, allowing pilots and crews to begin transitioning to the Apache platform. While Poland’s total program is valued at roughly USD 10 billion, only a segment of that investment appears in the newly announced contract, with additional agreements expected as production ramps up.
The AH-64E, the latest variant of the Apache family, incorporates upgraded engines, improved sensors, advanced weapons integration, enhanced networking capabilities, and increased survivability. The model has become a preferred option for nations seeking a modern, all-weather attack helicopter suitable for high-intensity operations.
The new contract underscores both sustained international demand for the Apache and the United States’ continued role as a leading supplier of advanced military aviation systems to allied nations. With work stretching into the next decade, Boeing’s Mesa facility will remain central to the global proliferation of the AH-64E.
