The Apache is a twin-engined attack helicopter developed by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing). It entered service with the US Army in 1984, and has been exported to Egypt, Greece, Israel, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. The US Army has more than 800 Apaches in service with a further 1,000 exported to other nations. The Apache was first used in combat in 1989 by the US military in Panama. It was also employed in the Gulf War and has supported low intensity and peacekeeping operations worldwide including Turkey, Bosnia and Kosovo.

Formerly known as theAH-64D Block III, in 2012, it was re-designated as the AH-64E Guardian. The Guardian has improved digital connectivity, the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System, more powerful T700-GE-701D engines with upgraded face gear transmission to handle more power, capability to control unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), full IFR capability, and improved landing gear. New composite rotor blades, which completed testing in 2004, increase cruise speed, climb rate, and payload capacity. Deliveries began in November 2011. Full-rate production was approved on October 24th, 2012. The total Army Acquisition Objective for both new build and re-manufactured AH-64Es is 812.

Changes in production lots 4 through 6 include a cognitive decision aiding system and new self-diagnostic abilities. The updated Longbow radar has an oversea capacity, potentially enabling naval strikes; an AESA radar is under consideration. It will have a L-3 Communications MUMT-X datalink in place of two older counterparts, communicating on C, D, L, and Ku frequency bands to transmit and receive data and video with all Army UAVs. Lots 5 and 6 will have Link 16 data links. The AH-64E is to be fit for maritime use. The U.S. Army expressed interest in extended-range fuel tanks for greater endurance. As of April 2020, 500 AH-64Es have been delivered.

Work on a further upgraded AH-64E, version 6.5 was initiated by the U.S. Army in 2021, and first flew in 2023.[349] The AH-64E is reported to have had problems with its electrical generation systems causing increased scrutiny.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a ROC (Taiwanese) AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopter. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Length: 8-3/4-inches
Rotor Span: 7-1/4-inches

Release Date: September 2019

Historical Account: "A New Letter Grade" - The "Guardian" Apache was approved in 2012, fifteen years after the preceding AH-64D "Longbow" upgrade, which mounted an APG-78 radar above the rotor that allowed the Apache to detect and fire at ground targets outside of the line of sight. However, this increased the Apach''s unloaded weight by 15 percent, to 11,800 pounds, without increasing the engine power to compensate.

The new AH-64E addresses this by installing a trifecta of new systems: more powerful T700-GE-701D turboshaft engines, a modern face gear transmission system, and new composite rotor blades -- increasing the AH-64E's speed from 140 to 180 miles per hour. The Guardian Apache can thus arrive on the battlefield faster and loiter overhead for longer -- 57 percent longer, according to one field commander. New hydraulic "shock strut" landing gear also improve the Guardian's crash resistance.

Another upgrade is a Manned-Unmanned Team (MUM-T) drone controller datalink enabling the Guardian's copilot to remotely control and receive data from an orbiting Army MQ-1C Grey Eagle drone. This allows the Apache crew to observe the battlefield before they've arrived -- and even to hover behind cover, waiting for a target to be identified by drone so it can make a devastating pop-up attack. The Apache crew can even assume manual control of the drones to paint targets with a laser or launch the drone's Hellfire missiles.

The latest Lot 6 batch of Guardians includes updated fire-control systems that can identify and target ships at sea, presumably to rain Hellfire missiles upon them. Clearly, this is aimed at making the Apache more relevant to any possible conflict in the Pacific -- as well as possible skirmishes in the Persian Gulf. Although plans to make a naval version of the Apache died off long ago, U.S. Army Apache units have been practicing deploying on ships at sea anyway. British Apaches have already operated successfully from the HMS Ocean amphibious assault ship during the 2011 intervention in Libya.