AgustaWestland Apache

Apache AH1
An Apache AH1 at the Duxford Autumn Airshow 2010
Role	Attack helicopter Type of aircraft
National origin	United States United Kingdom
Manufacturer	Boeing Westland Helicopters AgustaWestland
First flight	September 1998
Introduction	2004
Status	Retired
Primary user	British Army
Produced	1998–2004[1]
Number built	67
Developed from	Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow

The AgustaWestland Apache is a licence-built version of the Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter for the British Army Air Corps. The first eight helicopters were built by Boeing; the remaining 59 were assembled by Westland Helicopters (later AgustaWestland) at Yeovil, Somerset in England from Boeing-supplied kits. Changes from the AH-64D include Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 engines, a new electronic defensive aids suite and a folding blade mechanism allowing the British version to operate from ships. The helicopter was initially designated WAH-64 by Westland Helicopters and was later given the designation Apache AH Mk 1 (also written as "Apache AH1") by the Ministry of Defence.

The Apache was a valued form of close air support in the conflict in Afghanistan, being deployed to the region in 2006. Naval trials and temporary deployments at sea had proven the aircraft as an able platform to operate from the decks of ships, which was a unique application of the Apache amongst its operators. British Apaches also served in the NATO 2011 military intervention in Libya operating from Royal Navy ships.

The Apache AH1 was retired in 2024 and all models were remanufactured to the later AH-64E version.^[2]