Boeing to build 17 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters for U.S. and Israel in contracts worth $818.7 million

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala., 6 Feb. 2011.Military helicopter designers at the Boeing Co. Defense, Space & Security segment in Mesa, Ariz., will build 17 new AH-64 Apache attack helicopters -- 14 for the U.S. Army and three for the country of Israel -- under terms of two contracts announced Friday worth a total of $81.9 million.Boeing won a $69.9 million contract to provide 14 new-build AH-64D Longbow Apache war replacement attack helicopters, and a $12 million contract to provide three Apache helicopters for the country of Israel. The contracts, announced Friday, are from the U.S. Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, Ala.The AH-64D Apache Longbow version has helicopter avionics that include digital communications, glass cockpit, sensor suite, and millimeter-wave fire control radar target acquisition avionics that enable the attack helicopters to communicate digitally with other aircraft and ground forces, and to share that information almost instantly.The raised position of the radome of the AN/APG-78 Longbow millimeter-wave fire control radar target acquisition system and the radar frequency interferometer installed over the Apache's main rotor enables detection and launching of missiles at targets when the helicopter is hidden by terrain, trees, or buildings.

A radio modem integrated with the sensor suite enables a AH-64D to share targeting data with other Apache Longbow helicopters, and helps groups of these attack helicopters to attack targets and fight as teams.

Boeing will do the work in Mesa, Ariz., and should be finished with the 14 helicopters for the U.S. Army by the end of 2012, and should be finished with the three helicopters for Israel by mid-2012.

For more information contact Boeing Defense, Space & Security online at www.boeing.com/bds, or Redstone Arsenal at www.garrison.redstone.army.mil.