Inowrocław 2025-06-20
Boeing AH-64 Apache for Poland.
On September 8, 2022 (Thursday), Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak announced that the Republic of Poland had submitted an official request to the United States regarding the purchase of 96 Boeing AH-64 E Apache helicopters. Negotiations have begun, fortunately without the participation of Polish-language media, which prefer to remain silent after the aggression of the tsar – comrade – bandit Putin on sovereign Ukraine, on February 24, 2022. In January 2023, the Ministry of National Defense announced that the helicopters would first go to the 18th Mechanized Division named after Lieutenant General Tadeusz Buk. It should be emphasized here that this unit will also be equipped with American Abrams tanks. Tanks and helicopters are adapted to mutual cooperation. 116 Abrams tanks are to appear in Poland in 2023 and will be stationed in the 1st Warsaw Armored Brigade. It is also known that Poland would like to temporarily accept AH-64 D Apache helicopters, which are in the US stock, before we receive new helicopters. This will speed up the time to achieve combat readiness of the Polish Army on new equipment.
Boeing AH-64 E Apache Guardian.
Poland has placed an option on the latest version of the AH-64 E Apache Guardian. The AH-64 E helicopter was formerly known as the AH-64 D Block III. In 2012, the designation was changed to the AH-64 E Guardian. The aircraft has improved digital communications, a Joint Tactical Information Distribution System, more powerful T700-GE-701D engines, with an improved main gearbox to operate at higher power, new rotor blades, the ability to control unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), full IFR capability and improved landing gear. The new composite rotor blades completed testing in 2004. They increase the helicopter’s cruise speed, rate of climb and load capacity. Deliveries of the new AH-64 E helicopters to users began in November 2011. In addition, it was decided to bring the already built AH-64 D helicopters to the AH-64 E standard. By April 2020, 500 AH-64 E units were delivered to users.
As early as 2015, work was underway in the United States on a new attack helicopter, the program of which was designated Future Vertical Lift (FVL). These helicopters are to replace AH-64 helicopters in the future by 2040. It was decided to introduce new modifications. The first change is without new engines. Retractable landing gear and smaller wings with attachments for weapons were proposed. The tail rotor is to be new, which is to rotate differently during flight to increase maximum speed. In October 2016, the US Army announced that it would no longer modify the AH-64 helicopters that are in service and would focus on the new design. It was announced that the production line of AH-64 E helicopters would be closed in 2026. The new FVL helicopter is scheduled to enter service in 2030. But as it turns out, production of the AH-64 E will continue into 2023.
The biggest changes will be in the electronic equipment and armament. The introduction of new, even more precise missiles is planned. The defense system will be modernized, mainly for drone attacks.
The helicopter is powered by two General Electric T700-GE-701 turbine engines, each with a power of 1,690 shp (1,260 kW) modernized to 1,890 shp (1,409 kW) T700-GE-701C for the AH-64 A/D since 1990).
Boeing AH-64 Apache T-T data:
A crew of two pilots in a tandem cabin, each of whom can pilot the helicopter. Length 58 feet 2 inches (17.73 m). Helicopter fuselage length 49 feet 5 inches (15.06 m). Height 12 feet 8 inches (3.87 m). Empty weight 11,387 lb (5,165 kg). Gross weight 17,650 lb (8,006 kg). Maximum takeoff weight 23,000 lb (10,433 kg). Main rotor diameter 48 ft 0 in (14.63 m). Main rotor area 1,908.5 square feet (177.31 m2). 4-blade rotor and 4-blade tail rotor. Maximum speed 158 knots (182 mph, 293 km/h). Cruise speed 143 knots (165 mph, 265 km/h). Range 257 nautical miles (296 mi, 476 km) with Longbow radar mast. Combat range 260 nautical miles (300 mi, 480 km). Position range 1,024 nautical miles (1,178 mi, 1,896 km). Service ceiling 20,000 ft (6,100 m).
Contract for Boeing AH-64 E Apache Guardian helicopters.
By modern standards, the period from September 8, 2022, to August 22, 2023, is an extremely short time for negotiations on such a large contract, i.e. the purchase of 96 Boeing AH-64 E Apache helicopters. But if you look at the ongoing war in Ukraine, it was necessary. On August 22, 2023, the US Administration agreed to sell 96 helicopters to Poland.
On May 5, 2023, Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak (who was in the US in Washington at the time), announced that the US would make Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopters available to Poland from its resources. This will happen before the first new AH-64 E Apache helicopters reach the Polish Army. There was talk of 8 AH-64 Apache helicopters, which are to strengthen the defense of the “Brzeska Gate”. Training of the first Polish pilots began in September 2023, and the helicopters were planned to be delivered in January 2024. Information about the purchase of helicopters for the Polish Army was confirmed by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which belongs to the Pentagon. The contract was valued at $12 billion. The purchase of Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopters took place as part of the Polish program for acquiring attack helicopters “Kruk”. The amount given is the maximum sum, which also includes training, logistic support, their initial maintenance, spare engines, observation and targeting systems, support for the American Foreign Military Sales program and all the elements that a given country may need. Thanks to this, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) does not have to apply to the US Congress for additional consent. The contract calls for 210 T700-GE 701D engines, including 192 installed units (2 per helicopter) and 18 spare units.
In addition, we will acquire 97 AN/ASQ-170 optoelectronic observation and targeting systems with the modernized AN/AAR-11 night observation system (M-TADS/PNVS) (96 on helicopters and one spare). 37 AN/APG-78 Longbow fire control radars (36 installed and one spare). 96 AN/APR-48B MRFI radar threat warning systems (interferometers). 102 AN/AAR-57 infrared guided anti-aircraft missile warning systems (96 installed and 6 spare). 204 AN/ARC-231A RT-1987 VHF/UHF radios (192 installed and 12 spare). The contract includes extensive armament: 1,844 AGM-114R2 Hellfire anti-tank guided missiles and 96 training missiles. M36E8 Hellfire CATM (Captive Air Training Missiles). 460 AGM-179A JAGM (Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles) anti-tank guided missiles. 508 Stinger 92K Block I air-to-air missiles (the American equivalent of the Polish Piorun missile). 7,650 WGU-59/B APKWS-II (Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II) laser guidance modules. The contract also includes a number of other devices and services, such as: Radar signal detection detectors. Laser radiation detection detectors. Friend-or-Foe (IFF) transponders. Data transmission modems. Link 16 terminals. Flare and dipole launchers. Automatic on-board ADF (radio compass) radio direction finders. Doppler velocity radars. Radio altimeters. Tactical air navigation sets (TACAN). Satellite navigation receivers (GPS). Cryptographic devices. Missile launchers. Elements of the control and communication system with MUMT unmanned vehicles. Training devices. Communication systems. Helmets. Simulators. Generators. Rescue equipment for crews. Transport and organizational equipment. Spare parts. Instructions and teaching aids. Test tools and equipment.
The Boeing AH-64 Apache is the most advanced and versatile attack helicopter in the world, providing Poland with full interoperability with the US Army. It should be remembered that Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopters can work very well with Abrams tanks, which Poland also purchased.
The contract is also beneficial for the US, “because it supports the foreign policy and national security goals of the United States by increasing the security of a NATO ally that works for political stability and economic progress in Europe”.
Additionally, it should be remembered that for the purchase of 96 Boeing AH-64 E Apache helicopters for Poland, we will pay less than the aforementioned $12 billion US. In 2025, the amount was given as around $10 billion. Other contracts already signed are a good example. The DSCA agency valued the M1A2 Abrams tanks purchased by Poland at $6 billion US, and in the end we spent $4.75 billion US on the tanks, which is 21% less. In turn, the price of the WSB F-35 A dropped from $6.5 billion to $4.6 billion, or by 29%. The difference was even greater in the case of 20 M142 HIMARS launchers. From the initial amount of $0.65 billion, the price dropped to $0.41 billion. In turn, the initial value of the contract for the Patriot system is $10.5 billion, and ultimately, under Phase I of the Wisła program, we will pay the US a price of $4.75 billion. Let us also remember that the new Boeing helicopters will replace the Mil Mi-24D and Mil Mi-24W helicopters, which have not had guided weapons for many years and their combat value is minimal.
But let’s not have any illusions. The Freemasons in Poland stated that the purchase was controversial. They were nitpicking about everything; the number of helicopters, the value of the contract, the mindless money-making for the Americans, and that in 10-15 years these would be machines only suitable for scrap. Many of them believed that acquiring 48 or even 32 units would be enough for us.
June 16, 2025.
Poland has purchased 96 AH-64 E Apache Guardian attack helicopters from Boeing. The contract also includes logistics and training packages, as well as ammunition and spare parts. The first helicopters are to reach Poland in 2028, but the Polish Army already has 8 leased AH-64 D helicopters for training. Let’s remember that the sluggishness of the current government; the coalition on December 13, led to an 18-month delay in implementing the program initiated by the United Right. The contract price was around 10 billion dollars. 96 Boeing AH-64 E Apache helicopters will probably be stationed in; Inowrocław, Świdniki and Malbork. The first new helicopters will reach the Polish Army in 2028, in the amount of 15 helicopters, and the last one will be delivered in 2032. The helicopters are planned to be used until at least 2060. If everything goes according to plan, the Polish Army will be the second user of these helicopters after the USA, in terms of the number of machines. In Europe, helicopters of this type are also owned by: Greece, the Netherlands and the UK.
Since June 16, 2025, for the amount of 300 million dollars, we have borrowed 8 Boeing AH-64 D Apache helicopters, which are to be used for training pilots and technicians. The helicopters are based at the Latkowo airport near Inowrocław. The helicopters came from the US reserves. The agreement also includes training and logistics support. The first pilots and technicians have already been trained in the US. Further training will take place in Poland. The loaned helicopters will return to the US by the end of 2028.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman