Apaches Forever

Photo from Army.mil

From War Is Boring:

The Boeing AH-64 Apache had a rough decade beginning in the late 1990s. The twin-engine attack chopper, in U.S. Army service since the mid ’80s, was slated to join the NATO air campaign in the Balkans a decade ago, but never saw combat due to problems with maintenance and training. And in 2003, several dozen Apaches were heavily damaged during a large-scale raid that ran into an insurgent small-arms ambush.

But the Army shifted tactics, improved maintenance and ordered up new versions of the venerable bird. Today the Apache is back on top as one of the best close air support aircraft around. And with the 2004 cancellation of the RAH-66 Comanche stealth attack chopper, the Apache is the only game in town for the Army. The land service has been buying small batches of new Apaches to keep its battalions up to strength despite losses in Iraq and training accidents. There are around 700 U.S. Apaches, plus a couple hundred in service with other militaries.

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