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McDonnell Douglas AH-64D APACHE LONGBOW gallery 2

Javier
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Singapore ordered its first 8 AH-64Ds (on the image) in 1999, and later in August 2001 expanded the order with another 12 aircraft. They received the first of them in mid-May 2001, completing the delivery of the first 8 Apaches in 2002. The second batch of 12 helicopters began delivery in January 2006. In February 2006, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) deployed the first 3 Apache Longbows to Sembawang Air Base after a three and a half year training period in Arizona, USA. In this period the Apache completed more than 8,000 flight hours without having had any accidents. At the end of 2023 all Apaches were still in service.
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Israel is another of the largest AH-64D operators, having placed the first order for its acquisition in 2000. The order was for 48 aircraft, but after various problems shown by the United States authorities, this quantity was not approved and the program It had to be carried out in different phases. In 2000, a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LoO&A) was announced for the transformation of 12 AH-64A Peten into AH-64D Apache Longbow or AH-64D-I Sharaf (on the image), according to the Israeli name, a number that was reduced to 9 in a new LoO&A issued in 2001. This second LoO&A contemplated the purchase of 8 new AH-64Ds plus the conversion of 1 AH-64A.
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The Israeli Air Force (IAF) considered having at least 18 AH-64D Sharaf (on the image) to justify the activation of a squadron and bid hard to obtain it. In 2003 the transformation of another 3 AH-64A was added to the contract, and in 2004 the transformation of another 6 AH-64A was added. As is usual in Israeli weapons, the Israeli Sharaf would carry certain indigenous equipment, although these helicopters are structurally similar and have the same engines as the American AH-64D Apache Longbow. Integration tests of the Israeli systems were carried out on one of the first remanufactured AH-64D-I and began in February 2004. In August, 4 Hellfire missiles were launched, (Kardom according to the Israeli designation), without the systems Israeli forces caused interference, which demonstrated their correct integration into the AH-64D platform.
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Among the main Israeli equipments installed on the AH-64D-I Sharaf (on the image), it was an integrated Elisra self-protection system composed of a laser alerter, radar alerter, incoming missile alerter and electronic countermeasures. This system is a derivative of the one carried by the F-16I Sufa fighter-bomber, which in turn is a derivative of the one installed on the F-15I Ra’am fighter. The other Israeli systems were: a Helbit HeliCom command and control system, that was superimposed on a digital terrain map presenter, a Rafael data link, an Elta satellite communications system (SATCOM) and a Rokar chaff and flare dispensers.
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Finally, in April 2005 the first Israeli AH-64D left the Boeing’s assembly line and in 2007 the IAF was able to complete its squadron of AH-64D-I Sharaf and they could quickly see the differences with the previous AH-64A Peten. The 18 Sharaf (on the image) formed the “Hornet Squadron” based in Ram-On, Ta’anakh region. According to an IAF commander, thanks to its new sensors, the Sharaf can explore an area of about 100 km2 in just 12 seconds, while the Peten took about an hour to do the same job. In 2009, Israel requested the sale of another 6 AH-64Ds, but the sale was blocked by the United States. Recently, the IAF integrated Israeli Spike anti-tank missiles for use from its AH-64 helicopters. There are currently 21 Sharafs in service, and it is assumed that they will be used extensively in the Israel–Hamas war beginning in October 2023.
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In September 2000 Egypt signed a letter of offer and acceptance to modernize 35 AH-64A to the D variant for a cost of 400 million dollars, but was only able to do so partially, without Longbow radar due to the refusal of the U.S. government to export that technology to this country. However, in 2009 the Egyptian Government requested the sale of 12 fully equipped AH-64D Block IIs (on the image) for an estimated cost of $820 million, a request that was accepted without restrictions on this occasion. At the end of 2018, Egypt requested the sale of a batch of 10 new AH-64E Guardians along with numerous electronic equipment, Hellfire missiles and 30mm guns for a cost of $1.0 billion. The current fleet of AH-64Ds in service is 45 units.
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The Egyptian helicopters had their baptism of fire in August 2012, when they attacked positions of jihadist armed militants in North Sinai in response to a series of attacks against several military checkpoints that left five security officers and one civilian wounded. Unfortunately, in September 2015, an Egyptian AH-64D Longbow Apache (on the image) caused a very serious incident when it attacked a convoy of foreign tourists in the Western Desert, killing 8 Mexican tourists and 4 Egyptian guides and injuring 10 more people. According to the Egyptian government, the tourists entered a restricted area and were mistaken for jihadist militants even though the tour vehicles were marked with logos from a travel company and were accompanied by a member of the Egyptian tourist police.
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In September 2002, Kuwait requested the sale of 16 AH-64Ds for the Air Force (on the image). Along with the helicopters, Longbow fire control radars, Hellfire missiles, training services, spare parts and maintenance support have also been acquired for a cost of 900 million dollars. The first of them was delivered in August 2005, and in March 2007 the first 6 helicopters were officially presented by the Kuwait Air Force. Currently, all 16 Apache Longbow helicopters were still in service. In September 2003, the Government of Greece requested the sale of 12 AH-64D Apache Longbow to reinforce its fleet of 20 AH-64A. The first AH-64DHA, according to Boeing designation, was delivered in January 2007. Currently, the Greek Army Aviation maintains 9 AH-64DHA in service.
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Japan also placed an initial order for 50 AH-64Ds for the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) in 2001, which would be manufactured under license by Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI). The Japanese helicopter was designated the AH-64DJP Apache Longbow (on the image) and the first was delivered by Boeing to FHI in late December 2005, subsequently delivered by Fuji to the Japanese government in mid-March 2006. These helicopters had a unique configuration with the ability to launch air-to-air Stinger missiles. Unexpectedly, in September 2007, the Japanese Government decided to stop the Apache program when only 13 helicopters had been built due to the high cost. Due to this cancellation, FHI was compensated, as it had built a new plant for the production of this helicopter. In February 2018, one of them suffered an accident in which both crew members died. Japan currently has 10 AH-64DJPs in service.
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Saudi Arabia also began plans to upgrade its AH-64A to the D variant in 2006 for a cost of $400 million. Additionally, in 2008, the sale of 12 new AH-64D Apache Longbow (on the image) was approved. These helicopters have actively participated in Operation Scorched Earth in support of Yemeni Forces against Houthi insurgents, which began in August 2009. In 2015, the Saudi Apaches were again deployed during the military operation carried out in Yemen by a coalition of Arab countries against the Houthis rebels and Yemeni Army soldiers loyal to former president Saleh.
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Between 2015 and 2019, the Saudi Arabian Army Aviation lost at least 9 Apache helicopters, of which at least 3 were due to enemy fire. Since 2020, it is likely that the missions previously carried out by the AH-64 helicopters are being carried out by drones since there is no news of accidents or shootdowns. At the end of 2023, 4 AH-64D Apache Longbow (on the image) remained active.
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United Arab Emirates requested the modernization of all its AH-64A to the Apache Longbow variant in 2008. These United Arab Emirates Air Force (UAEAF) helicopters participated in the Yemeni Civil War that began in 2015, and in October 2017 one of them was lost after an accident. Following a request for 37 new AH-64E Apache Guardians in 2016, 28 AH-64D Longbows (on the image) will be converted to this model.

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