Boeing Co, ST. LOUIS: The government of Israel accepted its first three AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters yesterday from the United States Department of Defense in a ceremony held in Israel.
Key Israeli government and military leaders, as well as representatives from the U.S. Army, Boeing and the international Apache team attended the ceremony.
The Israel Air Force, which has operated Boeing AH-64A Apaches since the early 1990s, is modernizing its fleet through a combination of AH-64A upgrades and new-build Apache Longbow combat helicopters. The Israel Air Force designation for the aircraft is the AH-64D-I Apache.
While the aircraft were purchased through a U.S. Army foreign military sales agreement, some of the modifications to are being completed through a direct commercial sale agreement signed in 2000. The process enables Boeing to make several undefined changes directly with the Israel Air Force.
The exact numbers and configurations of the Apache Longbow aircraft that will be delivered over the next several years under the contract have not been released. The aircraft were flown from Mesa, Ariz., where they are produced by Boeing, to Israel aboard a transport aircraft. Israel is one of 11 nations flying Apache helicopters and one of nine to have ordered or received the multi-mission next-generation AH-64D helicopter.
The Apache Longbow features fully integrated avionics and weapons plus a state-of-the-art modem transmitting real-time, secure digitized battlefield information to air and ground forces. It can rapidly detect, classify, prioritize and engage stationary or moving opposition targets at standoff ranges in nearly all weather environments.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $30.5 billion business. It provides network-centric system solutions to its global military, government, and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems; the world's largest military aircraft manufacturer; the world's largest satellite manufacturer and a leading provider of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense; NASA's largest contractor; and a global leader in sustainment solutions and launch services.
