US Approves 29 Newest Attack Helicopters AH-64E Apache Guardian For Australia

(Helikopter AH-64E Apache Guardian. (Wikimedia Commons/U.S. Army/Capt. Jesse Paulsboe)

JAKARTA - If nothing goes wrong, Australia will soon get one of the best attack helicopters today, the AH-64E Apache Guardian, the latest in the Apache family.

Unmitigated, Australia will get 29 units of the AH-64E Apache, the development series of the AH-64D with the latest features, such as the latest digital connectivity, a combined tactical information distribution system, the ability to control unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the T700- A more powerful GE-701D with face gear transmission, up to the ability to shoot enemies from a distance of 100 km.

It is not yet known in detail the specifications of the Apache helicopters that will be received by Australia, but the value is around $ 3.5 billion in the form of purchases through the aviation industry company Boeing with the approval of the US government.

"The US Department of State has approved the potential sale of 29 Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to Australia in a deal worth up to $ 3.5 billion", the US Department of Defense (Pentagon), Thursday morning local time as reported by Reuters, Friday 4 June.

Apache Guardian AH-64E helicopter. (Wikimedia Commons/US Army)

The sale is one of a series of Australian purchases in April that included 12 MQ-9B drones and related equipment for an estimated $ 1.6 billion. There is another US$1.6 billion in tanks and heavily armored fighting vehicles, as well as four CH-47F cargo helicopters worth US$259 million.

Meanwhile, the package announced Thursday will include helicopters, 69 spare engines, and night vision equipment, as well as ammunition such as 85 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles, support equipment, spare parts, and technical support, the Pentagon said.

Earlier, the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified the United States Congress of a possible arms sale on Thursday.

"The proposed sale will enhance Australia's ability to meet current and future threats", said the US State Department, which has previously named Australia one of the most important allies in the Western Pacific.

Although approved by the State Department, the notification does not indicate that a contract has been signed or that negotiations have concluded. The Pentagon says Boeing is the prime contractor for the weapons.