Dutch Apaches to be remanufactured to AH-64E standard

THE US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Netherlands of items and services to support the upgrade/remanufacture of its AH-64D Block II Apache attack helicopter fleet to AH-64E configuration.  The estimated cost of the work is $1.191bn, including engines, targeting and other systems.  The deal, revealed on February 20 by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, still awaits approval from Congress.Twenty-eight AH-64D Block IIs are involved in the standard revision – also known as Apache Guardian – requested by the Dutch government.It will include bringing the 51 remaining T700-GE-701C engines up to T700-GE-701D standard (42 engines to be installed, plus nine spares).  Also included in the package are 17 AN/APG-78 fire control radars and 28 AN/ASQ-170 Modernized Target Acquisition and Designation Sights (MTADS)/AN/AAR-11 Modernized Pilot Night Vision Sensors (PNVS) that are slated to be installed in the rebuilt aircraft.