Boeing has received a contract modification from the US Army that will move its AH-64E Apache attack helicopter into full-rate production, according to a contract announcement from the US Department of Defense (DOD).
Under the $1.16 billion award, Boeing will build 10 new AH-64Es and remanufacture 72 existing Apaches into zero-time AH-64Es.
In addition, Boeing will provide new training equipment and upgrade existing equipment. The company will also provide ground support equipment, spares, logistics support and engineering studies, says DOD.
The work will be performed at Boeing’s Mesa, Arizona facility and is expected to be completed by the end of June, 2016.
A Army contract for five new Boeing AH-64E Apaches will move the aircraft into full-rate initial production. The type reached initial operational capability last year.
The Army announced last November that the AH-64E had achieved initial operational capability with its 1-229th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion.
The AH-64E has composite rotor blades with an improved airfoil and an upgraded engine and transmission, changes intended to make the aircraft faster and give it better lift.
Those factors degraded in the last two decades as the Army added weight to the original airframe.
AH-64Es also have software that allows pilots to control unmanned air vehicles and their payloads.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
