The US Department of Defense has finalized contracts worth more than $7 billion with Boeing to produce AH-64E Apache attack helicopters for the US Army and additional KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling aircraft for the US Air Force. These agreements expand on earlier Pentagon deals for MH-47G helicopters for US Special Operations Command, CH-47F Chinooks for the Army, and sustainment work supporting foreign military sales.
A major portion of the new package is a $4.6-billion firm-fixed-price contract covering newly built AH-64E helicopters, Longbow crew training systems, and associated components. Boeing will carry out the work at its Mesa, Arizona facility through May 2032. Around $2.2 billion of the Apache contract is funded through foreign military sales involving Poland, Egypt, and Kuwait. The new award also extends the Apache production line beyond the previously projected 2028 cutoff.
The AH-64E model, the latest variant of the renowned attack helicopter family, has surpassed five million flight hours since its introduction in the 1980s. The aircraft features an advanced open-architecture design that allows continuous upgrades to mission systems, sensors, weapons, and software to counter evolving battlefield threats.
In a parallel development, Boeing secured a $2.4-billion contract modification from the US Air Force for the next batch of KC-46A Pegasus tankers. The new production lot includes 15 aircraft and the necessary mobility data system licenses, with work taking place in Seattle until June 2029. This brings global KC-46 orders to 183 units. The tanker, based on the Boeing 767 platform, remains a central element of the Air Force’s plan to replace aging KC-135 Stratotankers, despite ongoing challenges with its Remote Vision System and refueling boom.
