Israel Moves to Acquire Latest-Generation AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopters From U.S..

The U.S. Department of State has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Israel for 30 AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters valued at an estimated 3.8 billion dollars, according to a January 30, 2026, notice from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The decision supports Israel’s long-term effort to modernize its attack helicopter force as older Apache variants reach the limits of further upgrades.

The U.S. State Department has cleared a potential $ 3.8 billion Foreign Military Sale to Israel that would provide 30 Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters, along with associated mission equipment, training, and logistical support, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a notification to Congress published on January 30, 2026. The proposed sale aligns with Israeli defense planning as the Israel Air Force looks to transition away from legacy Apache models that are becoming increasingly costly and complex to sustain
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The AH-64E Apache Guardian is the latest evolution of the U.S.-built attack helicopter, combining enhanced engines, Longbow fire control radar, advanced sensors, and manned-unmanned teaming to deliver precision strike, survivability, and counter-drone capabilities in high-threat environments. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War)

The AH-64E Guardian represents a substantial evolution over earlier Apache models currently in Israeli service. According to The Military Balance 2025, Israel fields a total of 46 attack helicopters, including 26 AH-64A Apache Peten and 20 AH-64D Apache Saraf. While both platforms have undergone localized upgrades over the years, they are based on airframes and digital architectures conceived during the Cold War and early post-Cold War periods. The transition to the AH-64E introduces a new generation of propulsion, avionics, networking, and survivability features explicitly designed for high-intensity, multi-domain combat.

One of the most visible differences lies in propulsion and flight performance. The AH-64E is powered by the T700-GE-701D engines, delivering increased power margins that translate into better payload capacity, improved hot-and-high performance, and enhanced maneuverability. The Guardian also features an upgraded composite central rotor system derived from the canceled RAH-66 Comanche program, enabling higher cruise speeds and extended operational reach. These improvements address limitations encountered by earlier AH-64A and AH-64D variants when operating with heavy weapons loads in demanding climates.

The digital backbone of the AH-64E marks an even more significant leap. While the AH-64D Saraf introduced the Longbow fire control radar and improved night-fighting capabilities, the E-model integrates an open systems architecture that allows faster software updates and easier integration of new sensors and weapons. The aircraft’s enhanced mission computer, advanced data links, and improved cockpit displays provide greater situational awareness and reduce crew workload, particularly during complex strike missions involving multiple targets and friendly forces.

Sensor and targeting capabilities are also markedly improved. The AH-64E combines the AN-ASQ-170 Modernized Target Acquisition and Designation Sight with the AN-AAR-11 Modernized Pilot Night Vision Sensor, offering higher-resolution imagery, extended detection ranges, and improved target tracking compared to earlier systems fitted to the Peten and Saraf. When paired with the AN-APG-78 Longbow Fire Control Radar, the Guardian can detect and classify dozens of targets simultaneously while remaining masked behind terrain, a critical advantage in environments saturated with air defense threats.

Another defining feature of the AH-64E is its native support for manned-unmanned teaming. Unlike previous Apache variants, which rely on limited or externally integrated solutions, the Guardian is designed to receive, process, and exploit real-time sensor feeds from unmanned aerial systems. This capability allows Apache crews to identify targets beyond line of sight, conduct reconnaissance without exposing the helicopter, and rapidly cue weapons, significantly expanding the aircraft’s operational envelope.

Survivability enhancements further distinguish the E-model from its predecessors. The AH-64E incorporates upgraded missile warning systems, radar frequency interferometers, improved countermeasure dispensing systems, and reinforced digital electronic warfare integration. These features are optimized to counter modern infrared- and radar-guided threats, reflecting lessons learned from recent conflicts in which attack helicopters have faced increasingly sophisticated air defense systems.

For Israel, the acquisition of the AH-64E signals more than a simple fleet expansion. It represents the beginning of a generational transition away from the AH-64A Peten and a gradual replacement of the AH-64D Saraf. With 30 new-build Guardians approved, Israel would be able to rationalize its attack helicopter inventory around a single, future-proof platform, reducing sustainment complexity while dramatically increasing combat effectiveness.

From an analytical perspective, Army Recognition defense analysts assess that the AH-64E is particularly well-suited to counter the current and emerging helicopter-related threat environment in the Middle East. Several regional actors now operate modernized attack helicopters, armed drones, mobile rocket and missile launchers, and increasingly capable short- and medium-range air defense systems. In this context, the Guardian’s ability to engage targets from stand-off distances using Longbow radar cueing, networked sensors, and manned-unmanned teaming offers Israel a decisive operational advantage. The platform is optimized for rapid target acquisition and destruction of mobile threats such as armored vehicles, missile launch units, and fortified positions. At the same time, its enhanced survivability suite is designed to withstand dense, layered air defenses. For Israel, which faces geographically compressed battle spaces and adversaries that emphasize concealment and dispersion, the AH-64E provides a balance of precision firepower, real-time intelligence exploitation, and battlefield resilience that few regional helicopter fleets can match.

Originally developed during the Cold War as a dedicated anti-tank helicopter to counter massed armored formations, the Apache is now undergoing a notable operational evolution. Recent U.S. Army testing and operational experimentation have demonstrated that the AH-64E can also play a meaningful role in counter-unmanned aerial system missions. In U.S. trials conducted in 2025, Apaches successfully engaged small and medium-sized drones using a combination of the 30mm M230 Chain Gun, precision-guided rockets such as APKWS, and advanced air-to-ground missiles, including Hellfire and AGM-179 JAGM. These tests highlighted how the Apache’s sensor fusion, fire control radar, and networking capabilities can be adapted to detect, track, and defeat aerial targets that were not part of the helicopter’s original design concept.

In the United Kingdom, the British Army has not yet conducted a publicly disclosed, large-scale, standalone anti-drone firing campaign with its Apaches comparable to U.S. tests. Still, it is actively integrating its AH-64E fleet into a drone-centric operational framework. British defense planning documents and recent Ministry of Defence announcements indicate that the Apache is expected to operate alongside unmanned systems rather than independently. Under initiatives such as Project NYX, also referred to as the Loyal Wingman concept, the UK is exploring the use of autonomous drones to fly in coordination with AH-64E helicopters, extending sensor reach and contributing to both ground attack and counter-UAS missions. This approach leverages the Longbow radar, which is designed to detect and prioritize large numbers of targets simultaneously, a capability increasingly viewed as relevant against small, fast-moving drones in cluttered battlespaces.

The British Army’s approach is closely informed by U.S. Army benchmarking, particularly the 2025 American trials that validated the effectiveness of Apaches against drone targets using a mix of cannon fire, guided rockets, and missiles. With the UK having completed its transition to the AH-64E fleet in 2025, these developments underscore how the Apache is no longer viewed solely as an anti-armor platform, but as a versatile, networked combat system able to contribute to air defense at the tactical level.

For Israel, which faces one of the most drone-saturated threat environments in the world alongside traditional armored and missile threats, these evolving Apache concepts are especially relevant. The AH-64E’s proven anti-tank pedigree, combined with its emerging counter-drone utility, reinforces its value as a multi-role attack helicopter capable of adapting to rapidly changing forms of warfare.

If implemented as approved, this Foreign Military Sale would position the Israeli Air Force to maintain a decisive attack helicopter capability well into the 2030s and beyond. In a regional environment characterized by dense air defenses, rapid target mobility, widespread use of unmanned systems, and hybrid threats, the AH-64E Guardian offers a qualitative leap that aligns with Israel’s long-standing emphasis on technological superiority and operational adaptability.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.