U.S. Army Gives Boeing $2.7B Apache Contract to Keep Helicopters Ready Until 2030
The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that the Army has awarded Boeing a firm fixed price contract valued at $2.7 billion to provide extensive post-production support for the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter fleet.
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| AH-64E Guardian. Credit: army.mil |
The Army’s Apache inventory currently stands at 824 aircraft, consisting of both AH-64D Apache Longbow and the more advanced AH-64E Guardian variants. An additional 15 helicopters are on order, and the service is pursuing a modernization plan to retire all D-models in favor of a pure fleet of E-models. The AH-64E is projected to remain in service for decades, potentially into the 2060s, with continuous upgrades to meet evolving operational requirements, including its emerging role as a mobile counter-unmanned aircraft systems platform.
The new contract is designed to sustain long-term readiness of this critical combat aviation asset through 2030. It encompasses depot-level maintenance, repair, and overhaul of major components such as airframes, transmissions, and rotor systems. The agreement also covers avionics sustainment, spares management, and technical engineering support, ensuring the fleet remains fully mission-capable.
The AH-64E Apache Guardian introduces significant advancements compared to earlier models. Among its most notable features is the integration of unmanned aerial systems, enabling crews to control drones directly from the cockpit to expand battlefield awareness.
The aircraft is powered by upgraded T700-701D engines and fitted with composite rotor blades, improving speed, climb rate, and maneuverability. Enhanced networking capabilities allow seamless data exchange with other platforms, including E-7A Wedgetail aircraft, while the Longbow radar has been upgraded to detect and classify a wider range of targets.
The helicopter’s Modular Open System Architecture ensures rapid integration of new technologies, keeping the platform adaptable to future missions. Survivability has also been improved through advanced defensive systems, and modifications to fuselage and rotor structures provide shipboard operational capability.
This award follows a separate Apache-related contract announced in November 2025, when Boeing received nearly $4.7 billion to produce new AH-64E helicopters, Longbow crew trainers, and associated equipment for foreign military customers. That procurement effort underscored the global demand for the Apache platform, while the latest agreement focuses on sustaining the U.S. Army’s existing fleet.
According to Pentagon officials, the combined effect of these contracts ensures that the Apache remains one of the Army’s most vital aviation assets. The modernization and sustainment measures are intended to guarantee operational effectiveness well into the future, maintaining the aircraft’s reputation as a versatile, lethal, and highly adaptable system for modern warfare.
Written by Henry Wan
Henry Wan is an independent defense journalist with over 14 years of experience reporting on military affairs and security issues. He has covered defense strategies, military technology, and geopolitical developments with a consistent focus on accuracy, independence, and a comprehensive understanding of global security matters.