Boeing has been awarded a contract for the production of new AH-64E Apache helicopters for Egypt, as well as Poland and Kuwait, as Egypt continues to expand its attack helicopter fleet.
The US Department of Defence on 25 November announced that Boeing had received a $4.6 billion contract for new build Apache AH-64E attack helicopters, Longbow crew trainers, and associated components, spares, and accessories for Poland, Egypt, and Kuwait, with work to be carried out by May 2032.
The Egyptian Air Force ordered its first 36 AH-64A Apaches in 1994, and in 2000 Boeing received a contract to remanufacture 35 to AH-64D configuration – the last aircraft were completed in 2006. In 2009, Egypt requested 12 new AH-64Ds, with at least ten being delivered in 2014.
In November 2018, the US Department of State approved the sale of ten AH-64Es and associated equipment to Egypt, valued at $1 billion.
The Egyptian Air Force is also remanufacturing D models to E standard, with May 2020 and March 2023 contracts covering this. Boeing said it received a contract in 2023 to upgrade 25 Egyptian Apaches to AH-64E configuration. Upgrading all its Ds to Es is estimated to cost about $2.3 billion and this includes T700-GE-701D engines, modernised sights, pilot night vision sensors, missile warning systems, and other systems.
It is not known how many Egyptian AH-64Es are included in the November 2025 contract announcement. Kuwait will be receiving eight new AH-64Es and 16 remanufactured AH-64Ds, while Poland is to receive 96 new AH-64Es.
Egypt is looking to acquire over 2 000 Hellfire missiles and more than 500 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS) 70 mm guided rockets worth nearly $700 million for its Apache helicopters. The possible sale was approved in December last year.
The AH-64E is the latest version of the Apache and has a number of improvements and upgrades, including more powerful engines, upgraded transmission and improved avionics.
Boeing recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Apache’s first flight on 30 September 1975. In recent months, Boeing has delivered new Apaches to customers around the world, including the Australian Army, Indian Army and Royal Moroccan Air Force. There are currently more than 1 300 Apaches operating worldwide.
According to Boeing, Egypt currently has 43 AH-64Ds and 18 CH-47D Chinook helicopters supporting its armed forces and disaster relief efforts. Egypt’s attack helicopter force also includes 46 Kamov Ka-52s received from Russia and a small number of Mi-24 attack helicopters.
Photo: USMC/Sgt Angela Wilcox
Speaking ahead of the EDEX 2025 defence show in Cairo this week, Vince Logsdon, vice president, International Business Development and Strategic Partnerships, Boeing Defence, Space & Security, said “We are proud of Boeing’s long-standing partnership with Egypt, one of the region’s most important defence and security players. EDEX continues to be a critical platform for us to engage directly with our customers, strengthen collaboration with the Egyptian Armed Forces, and demonstrate how our proven and mission-ready capabilities can support the country’s evolving defence priorities.”
Boeing’s defence relationship with Egypt spans more than 45 years, beginning in 1979 with the Egyptian Air Force’s acquisition of the F-4 Phantom II.
