Japan’s Ground Self-Defence Force received its first AH-64D Apache Longbow from Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) during a 15 March ceremony at the company’s Utsunomiya factory.
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| Japan's Apache features a number of modifications, including a Ski option |
FHI, which is producing the Apache under a licence agreement with Boeing, conducted modifications, including integrating an air-to-air version of Raytheon’s Stinger missile to meet Japanese army requirements.
Other unique systems include new communications and navigation equipment, an option to equip the aircraft with skis for operation in cold conditions and a camouflaged colour scheme. Tokyo has so far decided to purchase seven AH-64Ds, with the type intended to replace the army’s current 85 AH-1Ss.
The service hopes to acquire a total of 60 Apaches to equip its future reorganised helicopter formation, noting: “The AH-64D price is high, but its ability is far higher than the AH-1S. Even if numbers decrease, our potential is kept.”
SEIJI HIROKAWA / UTSUNOMIYA
Source: Flight International
