Jabba
Lewis Page talks out of his backside, as does the Telegraph in this case. The Apache helicopter we use is the WAH-64 which is not a AH-64D as we heavily modified the aircraft with different engines and other modification which allow us to operate the aircraft at full operational capabilities, where the rest of the AH-64 users cannot (i.e. we don't have to take bits off to allow the thing to get off the ground where it is hot and high), plus they also allow the AAC to operate effectively from ships....which the rest of the AH-64 users can't. No doubt a MLU will be required to update the electronics which are common between the WAH-64 and AH-64D to the E standard, however most of the modifications to the AH-64D to the new E standard are to allow the US Army to have an Apache as good as ours. Also Page never takes into account that if the thing is built in the UK, a good 50% of the cost at minimum goes straight back into the government coffers (income tax, fuel tax, corporation tax, national insurance, etc.) as the biggest cost is the wage bill!! Buy it from overseas and 100% of the money is gone from the UK period!!!
Last edited by MAINJAFAD; 4th Dec 2012 at 23:22.
Reason: Correcting designation of the Apache AH Mk 1