Poland has signed a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) letter of offer and acceptance (LOA) for 96 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters as part of the Polish KRUK attack helicopter programme, manufacturer Boeing announced on 13 August 2024.
Poland selected the AH-64E Apache for the Polish armed forces’ new attack helicopter fleet in September 2022. The US Defense Security Co-operation Agency announced on 21 August 2023 that the US State Department had approved the FMS to Poland covering the 96 AH-64Es. The FMS deal, worth an estimated USD 12 billion (EUR 11.1 billion), also included 18 spare T700-GE 701D powerplants, 97 AN/ASQ-170 Modernized Target Acquisition and Designation Sight/AN/AAR-11 Modernized Pilot Night Vision Sensors (M-TADS/PNVS) (96 installed, 1 spare); 37 AN/APG-78 Fire Control Radar (FCR) Mast Mounted Assemblies (MMA) (36 installed, 1 spare); 37 Longbow Fire Control Radar (FCR) radar electronic units (36 installed, 1 spare); 96 AN/APR-48B Modernized Radar Frequency Interferometers; 102 AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems (96 installed, 6 spares); and 204 AN/ARC-231A VHF/UHF radios (192 installed, 12 spares).
Ordnance ordered as part of the package includes 1,844 AGM-114R2 Hellfire missiles; 96 M36E8 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles; 460 AGM-179A Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles; 508 Stinger 92K Block I missiles; and 7,650 WGU-59/B Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II guidance sections.
The LOA comes a week after the Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND) announced an offset agreement with Boeing. The agreement includes maintenance and support of the Polish fleet of Apaches by the Polish defence industry along with the establishment of training programmes and support for the development of a composite laboratory.
The offset projects aim to enhance the sustainment capabilities of the Polish defence industry, support the creation of highly skilled jobs and facilitate technological advancements, leading to significant economic benefits, according to Boeing.
“We are honoured the government of Poland has placed their confidence in us,” Vince Logsdon, vice president of international business development for Boeing Defense, Space & Security, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “The AH-64E Apache helicopters will strengthen Poland’s operational capability and interoperability with the US, NATO and allied nations. We look forward to delivering this unmatched capability.”
“Poland’s commitment to procure 96 aircraft represents the largest FMS order in the history of Boeing’s Vertical Lift division and will not only make Poland our 19th global Apache customer but the largest operator outside of the United States,” added Kathleen Jolivette, Boeing’s vice president and general manager for vertical lift programmes.
Boeing noted that it has been building the AH-64 Apache for more than 40 years in Mesa, Arizona, adding that there are currently more than 1,290 Apaches operating worldwide, with sustainment and training support provided by Boeing Global Services.
Meanwhile, the US Army announced on 8 August that its V Corps has launched the Polish Apache Initiative in collaboration with the Polish military.
V Corps, the US Army’s only forward-deployed warfighting headquarters, set the stage for aviation integration by conducting a Polish Apache Initiative summit designed to meet interoperability and training objectives between Polish and NATO aviation units. The summit, which began on 6 August, focused on educating organisational leaders on AH-64 organisations, combat tactics and maintenance considerations during the two-day event, held in Inowroclaw. The initiative comprises three main components: Apache Initiative Summits, apprenticeships and partnership exercises.
Key tasks of the summit included addressing how Polish divisions and corps will integrate its AH-64Es into combined arms manoeuvres in deep and close areas. This involved a thorough analysis of the doctrine, organisation, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, facilities and policy considerations of a US Army AH-64 battalion.
