Israel orders 12 Boeing AH-64E Apache helicopters

Israel has signed an agreement with Boeing covering 12 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, the "Echo" model. Deliveries are scheduled for the beginning of the 2030s. Neither Boeing nor the Israeli Ministry of Defense gave a more specific timeframe, and no purchase price was disclosed.

Defence minister Israel Katz said the procurement is a critical step in the Israel Defense Forces' force buildup and will strengthen its operational capabilities against a range of threats.

The Israeli Defense Forces already operate 48 older AH-64s, according to fleets data from the aviation analytics company Cirium. That fleet includes 27 early A-model aircraft that are 35 to 40 years old, while the country's 20 newer D-model Apaches range from 14 to 21 years old.

The ministry did not specify the configuration of the new helicopters. Israeli defence programmes commonly incorporate locally made hardware, and the country operates its own specialised versions of the Boeing F-15 and Lockheed Martin F-35.

MoD director general Major General Amir Baram said the Apache deal was made possible through solutions developed with American partners without compromising operational needs.

The Apache was designed as a tank killer. It is now used for close air support to ground troops, for launching air-launched UAVs and for countering one-way attack drones. The US used AH-64Es in a counter-drone role during fighting against Iran in the Persian Gulf earlier this year, according to the source.