Includes Advanced Weapons Systems

The purchase of 16 Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow combat helicopters by Kuwait took a step forward last week with the signing of an initial foreign military sales contract between The Boeing Company and the Department of Defense for the production of the aircraft.

On Sept. 30, the Army contracted with Boeing to produce the Apache Longbows for Kuwait, performing the work in conjunction with other team Apache members. The deal was originally penned in August 2002.

The total program includes the acquisition of the Longbow fire control radar, ordnance (including Hellfire missiles), spare parts, training services and maintenance support. Kuwait is the seventh international defense force to select the AH-64D and the eleventh Apache customer worldwide.

More To Come...

Built by Boeing in Mesa (AZ), the company is under contract or in negotiation to produce Apaches for several international customers, and a number of potential customers are evaluating the system. This is in addition to the multiyear contract with the US Army to remanufacture 269 AH-64As into the Apache Longbow configuration through 2006.

The AH-64D Apache features fully integrated avionics and weapons plus a state-of-the-art modem that transmits real-time, secure, digitized battlefield information to air and ground forces.

The Apache Longbow is the world's only fourth-generation attack helicopter and the only combat helicopter in service with the ability to rapidly detect, classify, prioritize and engage stationary or moving enemy targets at standoff ranges in nearly all weather environments.

FMI: www.boeing.com