AH-64E Apache helicopters for Kuwait
Kuwait ← 
United StatesDeal progress
Current status: Contract signed — latest milestone in 2023. Not every deal goes through every stage; a government sale approval, for example, applies only in some supplier countries.
Deal details
Kuwait is acquiring AH-64E Apache helicopters from the United States, with Boeing named as the manufacturer. It is classed under helicopters. The announced quantity is 24 helicopters (8 new + 16 upgraded), and the full value has not been disclosed (a $393 million contract modification was awarded in July 2023).
The two sides have signed a final contract. The most recent major milestone came in 2023, and completion of deliveries has not yet been announced.
Details: US Department of Defense contract with Boeing in July 2023.
What is the AH-64E Apache Guardian?
The AH-64E Apache Guardian is the latest version of Boeing’s Apache attack helicopter, known during development as the AH-64D Block III. Its two crew sit in tandem, the pilot in the rear and the weapons officer in front, and it is designed to destroy tanks and armoured vehicles, provide close fire support and fly armed reconnaissance.
Boeing says more than 2,875 Apaches have been built, including more than 891 E models as of November 2025, and that the global fleet has logged more than 5.3 million flight hours, 1.3 million of them in combat. Operators in the region include Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Morocco and Israel, along with the UK, the Netherlands, Greece, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Singapore and Indonesia.
Capabilities and armament
At maximum load the helicopter carries 16 Hellfire anti-armour missiles or 76 unguided 70 mm rockets, plus a 30 mm chain gun under the nose with 1,200 rounds, firing 600 to 650 rounds a minute. It can be fitted with the Longbow radar above the main rotor, which detects and classifies targets while the helicopter’s body stays hidden behind terrain.
The E model brought more powerful T700 engines, an upgraded transmission and composite rotor blades, improving performance in hot and high conditions. It can also control drones and receive their video feed directly, extending its search range before it comes within reach of enemy fire. Top speed exceeds 279 km/h, rate of climb is more than 853 m a minute, and it can operate up to 6,096 m. Boeing says more than 1,300 Apaches of various versions remain in service worldwide.
Key specifications
| Role | Attack, anti-armour and armed reconnaissance |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Boeing (United States) |
| Crew | 2 |
| Engines | 2 × General Electric T700 |
| Maximum operating weight | 10,433 kg |
| Maximum speed | More than 279 km/h |
| Maximum altitude | 6,096 m |
| Armament | Up to 16 Hellfire missiles or 76 70 mm rockets, 30 mm gun |
