The US Department of Defense has awarded Boeing more than $7 billion in new contracts to produce AH-64E Apache attack helicopters for the US Army and additional KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling and transport aircraft for the US Air Force. The announcement comes alongside other recent agreements with the company, including MH-47G helicopters for US Special Operations Command, CH-47F Chinooks for the Army, and sustainment services supporting aircraft sold to partner nations through foreign military sales programs. The US Army’s share of the award is a $4.6-billion firm-fixed-price contract for newly built AH-64E Apaches, training systems for the Longbow training variant, and related components and support services. Production will take place in Mesa, Arizona, through May 2032, with approximately $2.2 billion allocated through foreign military sales to Poland, Egypt, and Kuwait. The contract ensures the Apache production line continues beyond its earlier 2028 end date. The AH-64E, the latest evolution of the iconic attack helicopter first fielded in the 1980s, has now surpassed five million flight hours. Its open-architecture design enables continual upgrades to sensors, weapons, and onboard systems, allowing the platform to evolve with emerging operational demands. Boeing has also received a $2.4-billion contract modification for the next batch of KC-46A Pegasus tankers. This latest lot includes 15 aircraft and licenses for the mobility data system. Work will occur in Seattle and is scheduled for completion by June 2029. With this award, global KC-46 orders have reached 183 aircraft. The KC-46, derived from the Boeing 767 airframe, is intended to gradually replace the US Air Force’s aging fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers, which date back to the Eisenhower administration. Despite persistent design challenges—most notably with the Remote Vision System and refueling boom—the Air Force continues to procure the aircraft to maintain production stability and support its long-term modernization efforts.
