The Army plans to be fully divested from the AH-64D within the next few years, starting in Fiscal Year 2026. As a platform, however, the Apache helicopter is not going anywhere.
The Boeing AH-64 Apache is the United States Army’s primary attack helicopter, and is one of the most iconic helicopters in the world today. Introduced in the 1980s to replace the aging AH-1 Cobra, this bird is a killer in the skies. Carrying a wide array of weapons—ranging from Hellfire missiles, rockets, and a 30mm chain gun—the Apache has consistently proven itself as a vital frontline war machine.
Throughout the Apache program’s lifespan, Boeing has built over 2,400 of the birds, and they have seen service in a wide range of conflicts, including the Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan, and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. In addition to its service in the US Army, the helicopter is widely used by American allies such as Israel.
Now, however, discussion in the Pentagon has turned toward phasing these helicopters out in anticipation of their inevitable retirement. The Army plans on divesting from their AH-64D variant, the oldest operating variant of the Apache attack helicopter. The last AH-64D variant was produced in 2013.
The AH-64Ds have low readiness rates, and are costly to maintain. So it makes sense that they would be retired—particularly amid the rise of low-cost drones, which can carry out many of the operations for which helicopters were once needed.
The Apache AH-64’s Specifications
- Year Introduced: 1984
- Number Built: 5,000+
- Length: 58 ft 2 in (17.73 m)
- Height: 12 ft 8 in (3.87 m)
- Rotor Diameter: 48 ft 0 in (14.63 m)
- Weight:
- 11,387 lb (5,165 kg) empty
- 23,000 lb (10,433 kg) MTOW
- Engines: Two General Electric T700-GE-701 turboshaft engines, 1,690 shp (1,260 kW) each (upgraded to 1,890 shp (1,409 kW) T700-GE-701C for AH-64A/D from 1990)
- Top Speed: 158 kn (182 mph, 293 km/h)
- Range: 1,024 nmi (1,178 mi, 1,896 km)
- Service Ceiling: 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
- Loadout: 30 mm M230 chain gun; 70mm air-to-ground rockets; 4 hardpoints for missiles
- Aircrew: 2 (pilot and co-pilot / gunner)
Is the Army Moving Toward a Smaller, Mixed Helicopter Force?
The Army plans to be fully divested from the AH-64D within the next few years, starting in Fiscal Year 2026. As a platform, however, the Apache helicopter is not going anywhere; many of the personnel who worked on the AH-64Ds are being transferred over to the AH-64Es, which are slated to remain in service as a frontline combat unit for the foreseeable future. Unlike their D predecessors, AH-64Es will be upgraded to meet the evolving challenges on the modern battlefield—notably the drone threats that the Ukraine War has highlighted. Some have suggested that the AH-64E could even be phased out beginning in the 2030s, if upcoming unmanned systems prove superior to manned helicopters.
While there are no direct replacements slated for the Apache, there are several options for replacing the Apache. For example, Boeing has a modernized version of the Apache, known as the AH-64E Version Six (or v6). With enhancements for multi-domain operations, more advanced sensors, and drone capabilities, the v6 Apache AH-64E could serve as a vital bridge linking the Apache of today with whatever future replacement the Army designs.
Meanwhile, the US Army is shifting toward affordable drone swarms for attack roles, thanks to the lessons learned from the Ukraine War. The reason that the Army is looking at drones to potentially replace their ubiquitous AH-64 Apache fleet is simply because these systems are cheaper, and safer for the Army’s Apache helicopters and their pilots, and apparently just as effective.
One program the Army is looking at to replace the Apache is the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) Program which is a next-generation rotorcraft. There are some key, ongoing projects that might feed into the FVL platform being developed by the Army—notably the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) which replaces the UH-60 Black Hawk for assault missions. The Bell V-280 Valor has been selected for this program, with prototypes being tested in 2025 with a plan to have those fielded by 2030. Although it is not a direct replacement for the Apache, the newest UH-60 is part of the same rotorcraft ecosystem that the Army is building out for the next half century.
A nebulous successor aircraft to the Apache is planned for later phases, possibly in the 2030s-2040s, but there is not yet a specific project underway.
The Future of America’s Assault Helicopter Is Still Unclear
Nevertheless, there is a slow move toward phasing out the Apache. They’re starting with the oldest variants right now. But it will not end there.
Most experts assess that there will a near-term future wherein the Army continues downsizing its existing Apache fleet, upgrades the birds it keeps in service, and augments those Apaches with drones that are as effective—and possibly even more effective and affordable—than the whole fleet of manned Apaches that exists today. But one can only wait and see.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert is a senior national security editor at The National Interest. Recently, Weichert became the host of The National Security Hour on America Outloud News and iHeartRadio, where he discusses national security policy every Wednesday at 8pm Eastern. He is also a contributor at Popular Mechanics and has consulted regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including The Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, The Asia Times, and others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Sascha Hahn.
