AH-64EThe American command, having studied in detail the experience of the Ukrainian conflict, began a serious reform of the armed forces, putting a number of combat systems under the knife. In terms of army aviation, it was concluded that the combat significance of attack helicopters on modern battlefields has significantly decreased.
In May, the new army leadership from the team of Defense Minister Pete Hegseth announced plans to switch to using only the Boeing AH-64E, abandoning the operation of the previous model AH-64D machines. However, now it has been decided to go even further in terms of attack helicopters – as part of the subsequent reorganization of army aviation, the latest AH-64E configuration vehicles are also subject to decommissioning.
According to Aviation Week, in accordance with the latest decisions, almost the entire AH-64D fleet will be decommissioned, and most of the AH-64E will be transferred to the National Guard.
From fiscal year 2025 to 2026, the army will reduce the number of AH-64D strike aircraft from 120 to 24, AH-64E from 408 to 240, multi-purpose UH-60L Black Hawk from 162 to 4, while increasing the number of UH-60M from 338 to 393 units, and heavy transport CH–47F from 156 up to 172.
AH-64EAs a result, 11 active squadrons and 2 reserve expeditionary brigades are to be disbanded in the air cavalry. As a result, as indicated in the publication Stars and Stripes, in 2026 and 2027, 6500 positions will be reduced in the army aviation.
- the publication says.
It is possible that the personnel released as a result of this reduction will partially transfer to the National Guard, becoming an army reserve, and will partially be used to man unmanned aircraft, the development of which is considered by the Pentagon as one of the most important priorities.
