Poland to Lease AH-64D Apache Helicopters Ahead of AH-64E Acquisition
Eight AH-64D Apache helicopters will be transferred to Poland as part of the preparatory process before the arrival of the AH-64E models.
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To prepare the Polish Army for the future operation of the AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters, Warsaw and Washington have signed a series of agreements to initiate the leasing process for AH-64D Apache attack helicopters.
Under these agreements, the United States will transfer eight AH-64D Apache helicopters to the Polish Armed Forces. In addition to the lease, the agreements cover operational support and personnel training for Polish military forces during the use of these aircraft, until the delivery of the new AH-64E helicopters.
The total value of the contracts is approximately $300 million, with the relocation of the leased helicopters scheduled for late 2025.
The AH-64D Apache helicopters will be assigned to subunits of the Polish Army’s 1st Aviation Brigade, where training programs for flight crews, technical personnel, and support staff will take place within Poland’s territory.
This acquisition will provide the necessary interim capabilities until the AH-64E Apaches enter service. Notably, under a training agreement signed in 2023 by the Polish Air Force Inspectorate, the first Polish pilots and engineers have already completed a training cycle in the U.S. and will form the future instructional staff.
On August 13, 2024, Poland signed a contract for the purchase of 96 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, along with logistics packages (including helicopter maintenance equipment, hangar and airport facilities, and technical support) and training packages (specialized training and simulation devices for pilots and technical staff). The order also includes a full set of weapons and spare parts. The contract is valued at approximately $10 billion (net), with deliveries scheduled between 2028 and 2032.
This major acquisition is part of the Polish Ministry of Defense’s comprehensive helicopter modernization program, which includes the purchase of 22 AW101 heavy helicopters, 32 AW149 medium helicopters from Leonardo, and the expansion of its S-70i Black Hawk fleet.
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