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The UK Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) has revealed that three additional Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters have been delivered to the British Army, although original timelines for the completion of the programme could slip to the right.
Citing an article written for its own Desider digital magazine, DE&S, which is an arm of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), revealed that the latest batch of three AH-6Es to the UK brings the British Army’s fleet up to 41 aircraft of an eventual 50-strong force.
DE&S stated the new aircraft were undergoing acceptance checks with 656 Sqn of 4 Regiment Army Air Corps at Wattisham Flying Station, with the fleet on course to be fully operational by 2026.
However, DE&S had originally stated that all 50 aircraft were due to be delivered in 2024 under a $2.3bn Foreign Military Sale (FMS) with the US government, but with the most recent arrivals nine airframes are still outstanding and appear unlikely to be handed over by the end of the year.
By February 2024, 38 airframes had been delivered ahead of the arrival of the final dozen AH-64Es by the end of the year, but with the latest delivery the first since then, time is running out to keep to the planned schedule.
British Army attack helicopter fleet drops numerically
The 50 AH-64E Apaches that will form the British Army’s frontline combat attack helicopter capability for the foreseeable future are part new-build, part refurbished and remanufactured AH-64Ds already in UK service, with older airframes being cannibalised for parts.
While more capable than the D model, the acquisition of the AH-64E will see a reduction in fleet size, dropping from 66 to 50 airframes.
In May 2024 it was reported that the acquisition of 50 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters from the US appeared to be running to budget.
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Detailing the initial procurement cost of the UK Apache FMS, the then UK Defence Procurement Minister James Cartlidge stated on 17 May that the current forecast was £1.793bn ($2.3bn) against an approval of £1.999bn. This was broadly on track with the figures outlined in the earlier FMS agreement between the UK and US.
In addition, the long-term training and support for the British Army’s future AH-64E, which will be supplied by Boeing Defence UK through the current five-year Long-Term Training and Support Contract has a value of £341.2m, not including actual operating costs of the platform, which are accounted for separately.
This sees a change in sustainment provision, with the older Mk1 ‘D’ model Apaches being maintained by Leonardo until they leave service.
According to GlobalData intelligence the British Army retains around 20 Apache Mk1 variants in service, originally procured between 2001 and 2007, which are due to leave service by the end of the 2024.
