Pentagon Okays More Boeing Work On Apache Helicopter

Washington D.C - The Pentagon approved $1.14 billion in continued work by Chicago-based Boeing Co. on the Block III upgraded version of the U.S. Army's AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter.

The Apache, a twin-engine army attack helicopter developed by Boeing, first entered service in 1984. The U.S. Apaches are used extensively in Iraq and Afghanistan to provide air support for ground operations.

Chief Pentagon arms buyer Kenneth Krieg signed an acquisition decision memorandum on the program which moves it from the research phase into systems development and demonstration, said spokeswoman Cheryl Irwin.

Defense analyst Richard Aboulafia said the entire fleet of Apache helicopters was likely to get the Block III upgrades eventually. For now, he said the Army planned 284 retrofits from 2010 through 2015. The Block III upgrades adds 25 new technologies to the helicopter, including wideband network communications, extended range fire control radar and extended range missiles.

Production of Block III Apaches is currently scheduled to start in 2010.

SOURCE: Reuters