Twelve McDonnell Douglas AH-64A Apaches for the Royal Netherlands Air Force were delivered to Gilze Rijen AB, from Hanau in Germany, on 13 November. The helicopters are leased from the USA in preparation for the service entry in 1998 of the AH-64D, 30 of which were ordered in May 1995.
The first four AH-64Ds are to be delivered in 1998, with a further five in 1999, and seven each in the following three years. The leased Apaches are expected to be returned to the US Army by 1999. The aircraft were flown by US crews as Dutch crews are still undergoing training at Fort Rucker AAF, Alabama.
The Dutch aircrews (and ground personnel) will return to the Netherlands shortly before the end of December and start initial training in European conditions at the end of January. Until then, the helicopters will remain hangared.
The Apaches were originally due to arrive in January, but space on the US Army base has become a problem as more and more units return from duty in Bosnia.
The lease costs a symbolic $1 and the contract period begins when the Dutch crews start flying.
Limited initial operational capability is scheduled to be achieved in September 1997 with 301Sqn. In 1998, a second Apache squadron (302Sqn) will be established. Both squadrons will report to the Tactische Helicopter Groep (Tactical Helicopter Group), with the primary mission being the support of the 11th Air Mobile Brigade of the Royal Netherlands Army.
Source: Flight International