Aus Gov selects Apache
 

The Australian Government has selected the AH64E to replace its troubled ARH Tiger from 2025.

https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/...nce-capability

Thoughts on when patience with its MRH90 fleet will run out?

Hope they paint in their colours according to Boeing Australia web somit defo a given, am awaiting DSCA to authorise potential FMS to them.

https://www.boeing.com.au/products-s...y/apache.page?


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....864640a15.jpeg

cheers

Wonder if they should have waited for the results of the Future ARH project going on in the US atm

Tigers were a purchase forced on us by politicians who wanted Aerospatiale / whoever they are these days, to build them in the pollies' electorate. It wasn't the choice of the ADF.

Rattman,
FARA will likely not deliver until towards the end of the decade, whilst the -64E is ready now (so less maturity risk). The Apache is also a bigger aircraft with less stealth/speed but more firepower and sensors. Guess their requirement set and schedule dictated a dedicated AH rather than upgunned scout.

Cost per frame ?

4 billion AUD for 29 + parts training and all that sorta stuff

The published costs include the projected costs of operating the type over its planned life by the way. The accountants in Canberra do this with all projects so it does not represent the unit purchase price at all....

Now to bin those MRH90 POS and buy some Mike model Blackhawks....

Of course the Apache was considered in the first place and should have been chosen. It would have saved years of heartache and a bucket of money.

Viper for ARH
 

Disagree golder. Viper has proven to be much more reliable, more efficient financially ... both initial cost and life cycle, has better flight envelope and would have been the better choice. AFAICT the only thing Apache has as an advantage over Viper is its business friendly Boeing purse strings. But either Apache or Viper makes sense vs. Tiger. Otterotor

The Viper may have been a good choice. Though the Cobra and Apache was in comp with the Tiger, at the time. In retrospect with 20/20, any one of those would have been better than the Tiger.

About time.

Wonder when the shoe is going to drop regarding the submarines...........

And they offered a smashing deal on upgrading the huey's as well to the latest spec if we went cobra