Request for price and availability data finally gets green light from US government
The US government has cleared Taiwan to receive price and availability data for the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow, raising the prospect of the country finally being allowed to acquire the attack helicopter.
Washington has blocked the sale of Apaches to Taiwan for more than 10 years, with the last request refused only a year ago (Flight International, 3-9 April 2001). Taiwan instead was given the green light to acquire Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and diesel-powered submarines, but was told to resubmit the AH-64D request this year.
US government sources confirm that a fresh request has been received. Flight International understands that a licence has received initial approval from the US departments of defence and state, but final clearance is still subject to US Congressional notification. Taiwan would still need to request a letter of offer and acceptance.
The Taiwanese army is understood to be interested in acquiring up to 75 attack helicopters to supplement its fleet of Bell AH-1W Cobras, but an initial purchase would more likely be in the range of 30 machines.
Bell has been offering Taiwan the improved four-blade AH-1Z equipped with a scaled-down version of Apache's Lockheed Martin/Northrop Grumman APG-78 Longbow fire control radar in the absence of competition from the AH-64.
Taiwan is said to be interested in the radar-equipped Apache for repelling an amphibious assault by China. Among the weaponry being considered is integration of the Raytheon AGM-65 Maverick as an anti-ship missile, in addition to the Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missile.
Source: Flight International
