The beginning of the decline of the AH-64 Apache in the USA and its rise in Europe

September 30 marked the 50th anniversary of the first flight of an attack helicopter that has made history: the Hughes AH-64 Apache.

Spanish NH-90 helicopters flying over Scotland with British Apache Guardians
The very low passes and shots of an AH-64 Apache against a Leopard 1 tank

Currently manufactured by Boeing, the Apache entered service in 1986 with the United States Army. At that time, during the Cold War, this powerful helicopter was a cornerstone of NATO's defense against a potential attack by Soviet armored forces in Europe. In fact, the AH-64 solidified the helicopter's power as an anti-tank weapon, to the point that many began to question the future of tanks.

Paradoxically, smaller aircraft are threatening the future of this famous helicopter: drones. This is partly due to the experience of the war in Ukraine, in which the Russian invaders lost more than 100 attack helicopters: 66 Ka-52 Alligators, 18 Mi-28s, 10 Mi-35Ms, and 8 Mi-24s, according to data verified by oryxspioenkop.com.

In May it was revealed that the United States Army has planned a reduction of its Apache helicopter fleet, which would involve accelerating the retirement of the older models, the AH-64D, and completing deliveries of the more modern AH-64E (whose operating cost is approximately half that of the previous variant) without planning new acquisitions or considering a possible replacement.

This restructuring involves disbanding air cavalry units equipped with the Apache, a weapons system that would gradually give way to the use of drones. Obviously, the US Army is not considering retiring its entire Apache fleet, but it can be said that this plan marks the beginning of the AH-64's decline in the United States.

Paradoxically, while the Apache is beginning to see the end of its service life in its home country, this attack helicopter is experiencing a new dawn in Europe, a moment also explained by the influence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the rearmament process of NATO countries. Currently, the only European operators of the Apache are Greece and the United Kingdom. The Greek Army has 28 units of the AH-64A and AH-64D variants, while the British Army already has 50 AH-64Es (their deliveries were completed in March) and the Royal Netherlands Air Force has 30 AH-64Es.

Soon there will be a much larger force of Apaches in Europe. In May 2023, Poland announced the acquisition of 96 AH-64E Apaches as part of its major rearmament process in response to the Russian threat. The contract was signed in August 2024, for a total of $10 billion. In addition, Poland announced that it would receive eight AH-64D helicopters on lease from the US Army, until the AH-64E deliveries are completed between 2028 and 2032.

With this purchase, Poland will become the largest user of the Apache after the United States. The reason the Central European country is investing in this attack helicopter is largely due to its location and geography. Poland shares a 210 km border with Russia, specifically with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, and a 418 km border with Belarus, whose dictatorship is effectively a Kremlin puppet. Between this Russian exclave and Belarus lies the Suwalki Corridor, one of the most likely points of entry for a Russian invasion, which would isolate the Baltic states. This area of ​​Europe is dominated by flat landscapes ideal for an armored force: it is the perfect hunting ground for an Apache, with or without drones.

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Main photo: U.S. Army. An AH-64 Apache of the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, at Fort Carson, Colorado, on November 4, 2025.