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United States Legacy Boeing
AH-64D Apache Longbow
The upgraded successor to the original AH-1G Apache, introducing the AN/APG-78 Longbow millimeter-wave fire-control radar in a distinctive mast-mounted dome and a glass cockpit. It served as the U.S. Army's primary attack helicopter for two decades before being progressively remanufactured into the AH-64E.
In service since 1997 · 11 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
265
km/h
480
km range
6,400
m ceiling
771
kg payload
💲 ≈ $26,000,000, Commonly-cited approximate unit flyaway cost for the AH-64D
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
US ITAR-controlled
Export needs U.S. State Dept (DDTC) approval; end-use & re-transfer restrictions apply.
Channel: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sale
Fielded & proven
Established · 11 operators
In service since 1997. Status: legacy · ~800 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
$65M – $91M
Acquisition is only ~30% of lifecycle cost, operating & support dominate over ~30 yrs. Rough 2.5–3.5× the unit price. How we estimate this →
Interoperability
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Compatible munitions & weapons
Publicly reported weapons the AH-64D Apache Longbow can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 265 km/h |
|---|---|
| Cruise speed Sustained economical speed. Determines transit time to station. | 260 km/h |
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 480 km |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 6,400 m |
| Rate of climb How fast the aircraft gains altitude. Higher means better energy recovery in combat. | 13 m/s |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 30 mm M230 chain gun |
|---|---|
| Hardpoints External stations for weapons and pods. More means bigger and more flexible loadouts. | 4 |
| Weapons payload Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie. | 771 kg |
Protection
Armor, countermeasures and survivability.
| Armor Armor technology: composite, modular, ERA-fitted, uranium-ceramic. Exact compositions are classified. | Crew compartment boron-carbide armor plating and crash-resistant seats |
|---|---|
| Countermeasures Self-protection: chaff, flares, DIRCM, towed decoys, smoke dischargers, jammers. | AN/APR-48 radar warning receiver, chaff, flares, AN/AAR-11 missile warning system |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 17.73 m |
|---|---|
| Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles. | 3.87 m |
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 5,165 kg |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 10,107 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 2 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | 2x General Electric T700-GE-701C turboshaft, 1890 hp each |
|---|---|
| Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost. | 2 |
| Engine power Engine output power. Higher moves more weight faster. | 1,890 hp |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turboshaft |
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Radar Primary radar. AESA (active electronically scanned array) is the current state of the art. | AN/APG-78 Longbow millimeter-wave fire-control radar |
|---|---|
| Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights. | AN/ASQ-170 Target Acquisition Designation Sight, AN/AAR-11 pilot night vision sensor |
| Thermal imaging Thermal sights for night and obscured-visibility operations. | Yes |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper. | $26,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 800 |
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 11 |
Specifications compiled from public Boeing and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
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AH-64D Apache Longbow vs
T129 ATAK Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow? +
The Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow has a maximum speed of 265 km/h.
What is the range of the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow? +
The Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow has a maximum range of 480 km.
What is the weapons payload of the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow? +
The Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow can carry up to 771 kg of weapons payload.
How much does the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow weigh? +
The Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow has a combat weight of 10,107 kg.
How many crew does the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow require? +
The Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow requires a crew of 2.
What is the main armament of the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow? +
The Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow's primary weapon is the 30 mm M230 chain gun.
What engine does the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow use? +
The Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow is powered by the 2x General Electric T700-GE-701C turboshaft, 1890 hp each.
What is the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow used for? +
The Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow is a helicopter typically used for close air support, anti armor.
How many countries operate the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow? +
The Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow is operated by 11 countries.
How much does the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow cost? +
The Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow has an approximate unit cost of 26,000,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.
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Related coverage
AH-64D Apache Longbow in the news
Article comparison · Jul 17, 2026
The Apache Isn't Even a Top-15 Attack Helicopter by Speed
The AH-64E Apache Guardian ranks 18th of 29 attack helicopters in the WeaponSpecs database by published top speed. The Army built a faster one, then cancelled it.
News procurement · Jul 9, 2026
Lockheed wins $502M to sustain Apache night-vision sensors
The U.S. Army extends Lockheed Martin's Apache TADS/PNVS targeting and night-vision sustainment through 2031 in a $502.4 million award.