TSAMTO, November 24. On November 19, the Ministry of defense of the Netherlands announced the dispatch of the first three AH-64D Apache attack helicopters from Antwerp on Board a cargo ship for repair and modernization in the United States.
During the last few weeks, the helicopters were partially disassembled for easy transport before being shipped. The ship is scheduled to arrive at the port of Baltimore on the East coast of the United States on December 4. Then the helicopters will be delivered by ground transport to the Boeing facility in Mesa (Arizona). The next batch of Apache helicopters will be sent to the United States in February 2021. The work is expected to take about 2 years. In the coming years, all 28 helicopters in service with the Dutch armed forces will undergo modernization (including eight helicopters that are used for training at Fort hood (PCs.Texas). The helicopters will be returned to the Netherlands between mid-2023 and early 2025.
As reported by TSAMTO, in early 2018, the Ministry of defense of the Netherlands initiated a program to modernize 28 AH-64D Apache attack helicopters that have been in service for about 20 years, which should allow them to continue operating until 2050.
Modernization of Ah-64D Block helicopters.2 "Apache" to the Ah-64E configuration will allow them to be unified with other operators ' vehicles, facilitate their use in coalition operations, develop cooperation in the areas of personnel training and maintenance, and reduce the cost of subsequent modernization. The helicopters will be equipped with modern communication and navigation systems, sights, and an improved fire control radar. At the same time, it is planned to carry out a major overhaul of the AH-64D, during which they will receive new fuselages, transmission, main rotor blades, and engine power will be increased.
The US state Department has approved the potential delivery of equipment and services to the Netherlands under the Foreign military sales program to support the modernization of 28 AH-64D Block helicopters.2 "Apache" to Ah-64E configuration in February 2018. The total cost of the sale could be $ 1.191 billion.
The US defense security cooperation Agency (DSCA) and the Dutch defense Ministry signed a "letter of offer and acceptance" (LOA) to upgrade the AH-64D Apache attack helicopters of the Dutch armed forces as part of the Foreign military sales program in September 2018.
The initial contract worth $ 145.89 million for the modernization of AH-64D Apache helicopters was signed by the Dutch AND US armed forces with Boeing in August 2019.