Renaissance of the Iraqi Armed Forces continues: the U.S Department of Defence Security co-operation Agency has notified Congress of a possible sale to Iraq of 24 AH-64E Apache Longbow helicopters.
The gunship helicopters won’t come alone.
Included in the deal, according to the press release, are “56 T700-GE-701D Engines, 27 AN/ASQ-170 Modernized Target Acquisition and Designation Sight, 27 AN/AAR-11 Modernized Pilot Night Vision Sensors, 12 AN/APG-78 Fire Control Radars with Radar Electronics Unit (LONGBOW component), 28 AN/AAR-57(V)7 Common Missile Warning Systems, 28 AN/AVR-2B Laser Detecting Sets, 28 AN/APR-39A(V)4 or APR-39C(V)2 Radar Signal Detecting Sets, 28 AN/ALQ-136A(V)5 Radar Jammers, 52 AN/AVS-6, 90 Apache Aviator Integrated Helmets, 60 HELLFIRE Missile Launchers, and 480 AGM-114R HELLFIRE Missiles.”
Also included in the potential deal according to the release are “AN/APR-48 Modernized Radar Frequency Interferometers, AN/APX-117 Identification Friend-or-Foe Transponders, Embedded Global Positioning Systems with Inertial Navigation with Multi Mode Receiver, MXF-4027 UHF/VHF Radios, 30mm Automatic Chain Guns, Aircraft Ground Power Units, 2.75 in Hydra Rockets, 30mm rounds, M211 and M212 Advanced Infrared Countermeasure Munitions flares, spare and repair parts, support equipment, publications and technical data, personnel training and training equipment, site surveys, U.S. government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services, design and construction, and other related elements of logistics support.”
All worth a cool $4.8 billion!
The proposed sale must have been brought about due to the difficulties encountered by Iraqi forces in dealing with heavily armed insurgents that took over Falluja earlier this month.
Richard Clements for TheAviationist.com
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another Military Joke like the KSA ..look out the Iraqi toys Collection
http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/west-asia-africa/46129-iraqs-seen-major-arms-buyer-2020-a.html
But still they suffering to take back Faullujah and Many Citires from the Al qaida Control
200 millions for one chopper…
More than a F-35 =)
Nah. It’s all this:
60 HELLFIRE Missile Launchers, and 480 AGM-114R HELLFIRE Missiles.”Aircraft Ground Power Units, 2.75 in Hydra Rockets, 30mm rounds, M211
and M212 Advanced Infrared Countermeasure Munitions flares, spare and
repair parts, support equipment, publications and technical data,
personnel training and training equipment, site surveys, U.S. government
and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services,
design and construction, and other related elements of logistics
support.
That’s just the equipment the AH64 carries and its ground card. It’s only 20 round of Hellfires for each helo. At say 20 million per bird, a pretty reasonable guess since the AH64D cost 18 million 5 years ago, 20 x 24 birds is 480 million. There is no way that “support” and the ammunition could cost an entire decimal place, ten times what the aircraft cost – even for jets for their entire lifetime of use including fuel costs, that’s pushing it, 10x the original price. Somebody just made a mistake in multiplication in the article, as 4.8 billion is suspiciously close to 480 billion don’t you think? I could see Iraq getting them for 18 or 19 million plus perhaps another 1 or 2 million for the ammunition and flares and some spare parts. A single Hellfire missile costs under 100$k, around 75$k right now, so I can’t see how that much ammunition listed could cost 4.3 billion on its own. No way.
There’s no mistake in the article. You’re looking at flyaway costs, and this is a cradle to grave program. “Flyaway cost” is not a purchase price.
The cost is over $50 million per bird once the avionics and weapons systems are installed. Add on lifecycle support and maintenance, and a $200 million average is right in the ball park. Maybe a little steep, but it sounds like they’re building new air fields and everything.
It’s the same math that lets the hacks over at Danger Room continually call the F-35 a “trillion dollar plane”. That trillion dollars includes procurement, operation, and maintenance of the entire fleet through 2050.
So you’re telling me that the US Army price listed at 20$ million is just what they are paying for the airframes? Then the US Army has to pay on top of that for avionics, weapons, defensive systems, everything else etc? Does that also mean when sources state that say a Block 52 F16 is 45 Million, that is is airframe only? If so, I had no idea that it was just for that, is that what you mean by “fly away” cost, just an engine and the airframe? So in reality an F16 Block 52 would actually cost more like double the listed price, do I have that correct, because that’s what you’re saying the AH64 deal is working like. That’s insane money if you ask me, 200 million each for only 24 Helos, the US Army had half that shot up in a single day in Iraq, damaged almost beyond repair and some even plain destroyed. A lot of money for not a lot of weapons if you ask me.
What he’s saying is that cost is for airframes, armament, training, service, upgrades, and other updates for the lifetime of the purchased helicopters.
4.8 billion for 24 fly-away, armed, not state-of-the-art choppers!?
200million USD is the fly-away price tag (included training and weapons) of the last batch of F15K sold to RoKAF. And the slam eagle is top-notch bisonic bomber and fighter. Same price for each apaches? If true it’s absurd, it resembles the WWI reparations winners imposed to losing Germany in the Thirties…
Warfare gear is expensive, but it is real, it’s no paid by fantastizilliondollars..
Its a total rip off, and didn’t iraqis bought Mi-28 and Mi-35s? why do they need another type of gunship?
Actually I’d like to know the reasoning of having multiple types of gunship, not to mention from opposite blocks. A while ago I read Indonesia is also working on Apache deal while already having Mi-35s. I wonder if there’s anything justifying the additional training and logistical burden other than political reasons.
So damn expensive!