The AH-64 Apache was designed by Hughes in the mid seventies. ( McDonnell Douglas took over Hughes and even later in 1997 Boeing bought McDonnell Douglas ) .
Designed in the ground attack and antitank role, the AH-64 is a twin engined helicopter, with four bladed rotor. It has a gunner and pilot as crew and advanced systems. Main armament is the 30-mm M230 Chain Gun and missiles below the stubwings such as the AGM-114 Hellfire missile. The engine is a General Electric T700. It was named Apache in late 1981, and the first real production machine was delivered 1983. The US Army is a very large operator.
Further improvement was envisaged and the usage of an advanced radar system on top of the rotor mast and a helmet mounted display, the "Integrated Helmet". This AH-64D was called the "longbow" and prototype flew April 1992, but production started only after 1997. It got T700-GE-701D engines, rated at 2,000 shp. Also stinger missiles can be carried.
Also for the Dutch armed services, the AH-64 was purchased mid-nineties. A dozen AH-64A were leased for training, followed by the actual AH-64D. The Apaches of the RNLAF are equipped with an advanced Electronic Warfare self-protection system against Infra-Red (IR) missile threats. The Klu deployed Apaches to Djibouti, Bosnia and Herzegovina all as part of UN operations. Also, to the Multinational force in Iraq and in 2006 NATO forces in Afghanistan. As of 2012, 30 AH-64D are in Dutch service. But the Longbow radar was never in fact delivered to the KLu. 
AH-64D
Photographed by Cees Hendriks (C) Copyright IPMS Nederland
This Dutch AF / Koninklijke Luchtmacht AH-64D Longbow helicopter was photographed at Leeuwarden AFB, The Netherlands in 2011 .
Also, a KLu AH-64D was studied during a Volkel visit in June 2013:
AH-64D
These Dutch AF AH-64D Longbow helicopters were photographed at various Open days at the Dutch airbase .
Photographed by M. de Vreeze (C) Copyright IPMS Nederland
AH-64D
This Apache Ah-64D had a special schema as the Royal Netherlands AF celebrated 100 years in 2013.
It was photographed at Volkel AFB, The Netherlands
Photographed June 2013 by Meindert de Vreeze (C) Copyright IPMS Nederland
AH-64D
AH-64D Royal Netherlands Air Force.
It was photographed at Gilze Rijen AFB, The Netherlands
Photographed June 2014 by Meindert de Vreeze (C) Copyright IPMS Nederland
AH-64D
Royal Netherlands AF Apache set in a "snow" scenery at Gilze Rijen AFB, The Netherlands
Photographed June 2014 by Meindert de Vreeze (C) Copyright IPMS Nederland
Various scale models exist of the Boeing AH-64D, including 1/72 from Airfix, Hobbyboss , Italeri and in 1/48 Hasegawa, and in scale 1/35 of KangNam. In 1/32 only an old AH-64A kit of Revell is available.
The Netherlands Air Force uses the type. Enthusiasts and historians may check out information at our IPMS NedMil page here.....
This webpage was first created November 2011