Boeing secures sole-bid contract to sustain critical attack helicopter operations through 2030 as Pentagon doubles down on proven platform.
The U.S. Army has awarded Boeing a $2.7 billion contract for post-production support services for its Apache helicopter fleet, the Pentagon announced Wednesday.
Boeing was the sole bidder for the fixed-price contract, valued at $2,728,234,918, which will run through Dec. 31, 2030. The agreement was issued by the U.S. Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama, though work locations have not yet been determined.
The contract will enable the sustainment of the Army’s primary attack helicopter platform, which has accumulated more than 5.3 million flight hours across its operational lifetime, including 1.3 million combat operations.
The maintenance deal comes one month after Boeing secured a separate $4.7 billion contract in November 2025 to build additional Apache AH-64E attack helicopters, Longbow crew trainers, and related equipment for the Army. Together, the agreements position Boeing for sustained revenue from the Apache program through the end of the decade and beyond.
Global Apache Operations
More than 1,300 Apache aircraft currently operate worldwide across 19 countries, including Australia, Egypt, Greece, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Morocco, the Netherlands, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom, in addition to the United States.
The Army expects the new AH-64E helicopters to remain operational through 2060, with manufacturing continuing into the next decade.
Boeing describes the AH-64 Apache as one of the world’s most advanced and proven attack helicopters. Since its inception in 1984 as the AH-64A, the platform has evolved into the current AH-64E model with continuous capability improvements.
Recent Capability Demonstrations
In August 2025, the South Carolina Army National Guard demonstrated the Apache’s expanding mission set during exercises where AH-64E crews successfully detected, tracked and destroyed multiple unmanned aircraft systems, highlighting the helicopter’s adaptation to emerging drone threats.
The AH-64E features fully integrated weapon systems calibrated for precision engagement, advanced sensors enabling real-time data sharing, and the ability to control unmanned aerial vehicles. The aircraft includes a fully integrated Link 16 system for digital connectivity across the battlespace.
Technical Specifications
The Apache operates with a standard crew of two and measures 48.2 feet in length and 15.5 feet in height, with a rotor diameter of 48 feet. The helicopter can reach speeds exceeding 150 knots and has a maximum operating weight of 23,000 pounds.
Its armament includes 16 Hellfire missiles, 76 2.75-inch rockets and 1,200 30mm chain gun rounds, with a rate of fire between 600 and 650 rounds per minute. The aircraft has a service ceiling of 20,000 feet and a maximum rate of climb of 2,800 feet per minute.
Boeing credits the Apache’s continued global operation to its proven track record, ongoing technological advancement and Open Systems Approach, which allows for integration of new capabilities as warfare requirements evolve.
Key Takeaways
- Boeing secured a $2.7 billion sole-bid contract for Apache helicopter post-production support through 2030, supplementing a separate $4.7 billion deal for new aircraft awarded in November 2025.
- The Apache fleet has logged 5.3 million flight hours and 1.3 million combat operations, with more than 1,300 aircraft operating across 19 countries worldwide.
- Recent demonstrations showed the AH-64E’s ability to counter unmanned aircraft systems, reflecting the platform’s evolution to address emerging threats.
- The Army plans to operate Apache helicopters through 2060, with manufacturing of new AH-64E models continuing into the next decade.
