Australia’s Apache purchase approved by US

The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia of AH-64E Apache helicopters and related equipment for an estimated cost of $3.5 billion.

FILE PHOTO: AH-64E Apache fitted with AN/APG-78 LONGBOW fire-control radar. Boeing photo.

The Government of Australia has requested to buy twenty-nine (29) AH-64E Apache attack helicopters; sixty-four (64) T700-GE 701D engines (58 installed, 6 spares); twenty-nine (29) AN/ASQ-170 Modernized Target Acquisition and Designation Sight/AN/AAR-11 Modernized Pilot Night Vision Sensors (M-TADS/PNVS); sixteen (16) AN/APG-78 Fire Control Radars (FCR) with Radar Electronic Units; twenty-nine (29) AN/APR-48B Modernized Radar Frequency Interferometers (MRFI); seventy (70) Embedded Global Positioning Systems with Inertial Navigation Systems plus Multi-Mode Receiver (EGI+MMR) (58 installed, 12 spares); thirty-five (35) AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems (CMWS) (29 installed, 6 spares); seventy (70) AN/ARC-231A Very High Frequency/Ultra High Frequency (VHF/UHF) radios (58 installed, 12 spares); eighty-five (85) AGM-114R Hellfire missiles; twenty-nine (29) M36E8 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM); and two thousand (2,000) Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System Guidance Sections (APKWS-GS).

Also included are AN/APR-39 Radar Signal Detecting Sets; AN/AVR-2B Laser Detecting Sets; AN/APX-123A Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponders; IDM-401 Improved Data Modems; Link-16 Small Tactical Terminal KOR-24-A; Improved Countermeasure Dispensing System (ICMD); AN/ARN-149 (V)3 Automatic Direction Finders; Doppler ASN-157 Doppler Radar Velocity Sensors; AN/APN-209 Radar Altimeters Common Core (RACC); AN/ARN-153 Tactical Air Navigation Set (TACAN); AN/PYQ-10(C) Simple Key Loader; M230E1 + M139 AWS Automatic Gun; M261 Rocket Launchers; M299 missile launchers; 2.75 inch rockets; 30mm rounds; High Explosive Warhead for airborne 2.75 rockets, inert; MK66-4 2.75 inch rocket High Explosive warhead M151 fuze M423 motor; MK66-4 2.75 inch rocket warhead M274 motor; MK66-4 2.75 inch rocket motor; M151HE 2.75 inch warhead; Manned-Unmanned Teaming-2 (MUMT-X) video receivers; Manned-Unmanned Teaming-2 (MUMT-X) Air-Air-Ground kits; training devices; communication systems; helmets; simulators; generators; transportation and organization equipment; spare and repair parts; support equipment; tools and test equipment; technical data and publications; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance; technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of program and logistical support.

The total estimated value is US$3.5 billion.

The proposed sale will improve Australia’s capability to meet current and future threats, and will enhance interoperability with U.S. forces and other allied forces.

Australia will use the enhanced capability to strengthen its homeland defense and provide greater security for its critical infrastructure.

Australia will have no difficulty absorbing these Apache aircraft into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The prime contractors involved in this program will be Boeing, Mesa, AZ; and Lockheed Martin, Orlando, FL. The purchaser typically requests offsets. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor(s).

Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of eight (8) contractor representatives to Australia.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law. The description and dollar value is for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded.

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