The US Army awarded Boeing a US$247m (A$251m) contract on October 22 to begin Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) of the AH-64D Apache Block III attack helicopter.
This initial contract covering eight aircraft, will see the new the AH-64D receive enhanced 1500kW T700-701D engines, composite main rotor blades, a new split-torque face gear transmission, the modernised target acquisition detection system/pilot night vision system (MTADS/PNVS), and enhanced networked datalinks and communications.
The US Army currently has a requirement for 690 Block III Apaches, and despite using new build fuselages when full rate production commences, the Block IIIs will be ‘remanufactured’ from current AH-64Ds.
