Israel has signed for a dozen new AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. The gunships won’t arrive until the early 2030s, and the price hasn’t been disclosed.
Israel has signed for 12 new Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, with deliveries expected in the early 2030s, the Israel Ministry of Defense announced Wednesday.
The value of the purchase was not disclosed, according to Janes. A more specific delivery schedule had not been confirmed as of Wednesday.
Janes identified the helicopters as the Version 6 configuration of the AH-64E, which it described as the latest standard in service with the U.S. Army.
A Smaller Buy Than Washington Cleared
The 12-helicopter purchase is smaller than the package the U.S. government cleared earlier this year.
On Jan. 30, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, or DSCA, notified Congress of a possible sale to Israel of 30 AH-64Es and related equipment, at an estimated cost of $3.8 billion. The notice named Foreign Military Financing, a U.S. aid program, as the funding source.
A congressional notification clears the way for a possible sale. It is not a contract. The $3.8 billion figure does not represent the cost of Wednesday’s purchase, and no order for the other 18 helicopters in that proposal has been announced.
In its notice, DSCA said the sale would support Israel’s defense and its ability to operate alongside U.S. forces.
Israeli Officials Make the Case
Defense Minister Israel Katz framed the deal in security terms.
“The procurement of the Apache helicopters is a critical step in the IDF’s force buildup, one that will strengthen its operational capabilities against a wide range of threats and contribute to the security of the State of Israel in the years to come,” he said.
Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram, director general of the Israel Ministry of Defense, said the deal was “made possible thanks to creative solutions we developed together with our American partners, without compromising operational needs.”
Baram also pointed to future acquisitions of “additional platforms, munitions, interceptors, and more.”
He said those efforts are meant to ensure immediate readiness while the ministry carries out its decade-long force buildup plan.
Ido Nehushtan, president of Boeing Israel, welcomed the agreement and pledged to cooperate on supplying the helicopters, i24NEWS reported.
Price Estimate and Budget Dispute
Israeli financial news outlet Ctech by Calcalist put the deal at about $1 billion and reported that a new budget framework was set after disputes over funding. That figure is a media estimate, not an officially disclosed contract value.
Israeli business daily Globes reported that Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich opposed the purchase, arguing that drones could perform the required missions more cheaply.
The deal’s legal structure also remains unclear. Israeli outlets, including i24NEWS and The Times of Israel, described the agreement as one reached with the United States. i24NEWS and Ctech reported that the ministry’s mission in the United States signed the agreement with the Pentagon. Whether Israel contracted directly with Boeing or through a U.S. government sale could not be independently confirmed.
What the AH-64E Brings
The Apache flies with a two-person crew and is built for close air support, anti-armor and armed reconnaissance missions, according to the DSCA notice.
The January proposal listed Longbow radars, targeting and night-vision systems, and manned-unmanned teaming receivers, which link the helicopter with drones. The final equipment list for the 12 aircraft Israel has signed for has not been made public.
Boeing says on its AH-64 Apache product page that the AH-64E can command unmanned aerial vehicles and share data over Link 16, a military tactical data network. Those are the manufacturer’s descriptions of the platform, not confirmed features of Israel’s order.
Israel’s Current Apache Fleet
Janes put Israel’s existing Apache fleet at 23 AH-64A and 20 AH-64D models. It was not clear whether the new helicopters will replace older aircraft or add to the fleet.
The Apache order is the latest in a string of major Israeli purchases of U.S. military aircraft.
In November 2024, Israel signed a $5.2 billion deal for 25 Boeing F-15 fighter jets, with deliveries forecast at the time to begin in 2031.
In May, Israel approved a plan for a fourth F-35 squadron and a second F-15IA squadron, Reuters reported, with agreements still to be finalized at the time.
Key Takeaways
- Israel signed for 12 new Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, the Defense Ministry announced Oct. 14, 2026.
- Deliveries are expected in the early 2030s; a more specific schedule has not been confirmed.
- The purchase value was not disclosed. Ctech’s estimate of about $1 billion is unofficial.
- The deal is separate from a possible U.S. sale of 30 AH-64Es, estimated at $3.8 billion, that DSCA notified to Congress on Jan. 30.
- Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich opposed the buy, Globes reported, while defense officials called it critical to the IDF’s force buildup.