The sale of 96 AH-64E attack helicopters to Poland is worth about 12 billion USD.
The U.S. State Department has cleared the potential sale of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and related equipment to Poland, as part of a deal worth about 12B USD, the DSCA (Defense Security Cooperation Agency) notified the U.S. Congress on Aug. 21, 2023.
As usual, the approval, that comes almost one year after the Polish MoD sent an LOR (Letter of Request) to the US, regarding the potential procurement of 96 AH-64E Apache Guardians for the Army aviation units, does not mean that a contract has been signed or that negotiations have concluded.
The approved package includes also 1,844 AGM-114R2 Hellfire Missiles, 460 AGM-179A Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles (JAGMs); 506 Stinger 92K Block I Missiles; and 7,650 WGU-59/B Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS-II) Guidance Sections (GS).
Here’s the full detail:
The Government of Poland has requested to buy ninety-six (96) AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopters; two hundred ten (210) T700-GE 701D engines (192 installed, 18 spares); ninety-seven (97) AN/ASQ-170 Modernized Target Acquisition and Designation Sight/AN/AAR-11 Modernized Pilot Night Vision Sensors (M-TADS/PNVS) (96 installed, 1 spare); thirty-seven (37) AN/APG-78 Fire Control Radars (FCR) Mast Mounted Assembly (MMA) (36 installed, 1 spare); thirty-seven (37) Longbow Fire Control Radar (FCR) Radar Electronic Units (REU), (36 installed, 1 spare); ninety-six (96) AN/APR-48B Modernized Radar Frequency Interferometers (MRFI); one hundred two (102) AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems (CMWS) (96 installed, 6 spares); two hundred four (204) AN/ARC-231A, with RT-1987 Receiver Transmitters, Very High Frequency/Ultra High Frequency (VHF/UHF) radios (192 installed, 12 spares); one thousand eight hundred forty-four (1,844) AGM-114R2 Hellfire Missiles; ninety-six (96) M36E8 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM); four hundred sixty (460) AGM-179A Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles (JAGM); five hundred eight (508) Stinger 92K Block I Missiles; and seven thousand six hundred fifty (7,650) WGU-59/B Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS-II) Guidance Sections (GS).
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Also included are Radar Signal Detecting Sets; Laser Detecting Sets; Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponders; Improved Data Modems; Small Tactical Terminals; Improved Countermeasure Dispensing Systems (ICMD); Automatic Direction Finders; Doppler Radar Velocity Sensors; Radar Altimeter Common Cores (RACC); Tactical Air Navigation Set (TACAN); Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers; Simple Key Loader; Advanced Weapon System Automatic Machine Guns; rocket launchers; missile launchers; rockets; ammunition; Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUMT) Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Receiver; MUMT Air-Air-Ground kits; training devices; communication systems; helmets; simulators; generators; aircrew survivability equipment; transportation and organization equipment; spare and repair parts; support equipment; tools and test equipment; technical data and publications; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance; technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of program and logistical support. The estimated total cost is $12.0 billion.
As explained in a previous report here at The Aviationist:
The first production AH-64 rolled off McDonnell Douglas assembly lines in 1983 and was delivered to the US Army the next year. Since then, the service operated A, D and E-model Apaches, with the latter two being the variants currently in service. The AH-64E was inducted in service in 2013 and is being fielded among all units as the older AH-64Ds are remanufactured and upgraded to the new E-model. Last year, the new variant was delivered for the first time to the National Guard and to permanently deployed units overseas in South Korea.
Boeing delivered the 2,500th AH-64 Apache helicopter in 2020 from the company’s production line in Mesa, Arizona. Legacy Apache deliveries, including new-build and remanufactured helicopters, include 937 A-models through 1997, more than 1,000 AH-64Ds between 1997 and 2013, and more than 500 E-models since 2011. More than 1,275 Apaches are currently in service with 17 defense forces around the world and the list keeps growing, with Australia and Poland being the latest countries to order the AH-64E as the 18th and 19th operators of the type.
According to the DCSA, the proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.
“The proposed sale will improve Poland’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing a credible force that is capable of deterring adversaries and participating in NATO operations. Poland will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.” Indeed, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Poland has continued to invest in new weapon systems to boost its military. For instance, the renovation in the rotary wing fleet is already underway, with the first AW101 destined to the Polish Navy recently landing in Poland.
Poland showed off some of its new aircraft today during the #SilnaBiałoCzerwona parade in #Warsaw today including the first two #KAI FA-50GFs and what looks like the first of 32 @LDO_Helicopters #AW149 pic.twitter.com/AU9D8BCHCL
— Tony Osborne (@Rotorfocus) August 15, 2023
