Boeing AH-64 Apache

Main weapons and systems

• Precision antitank missiles: designed to carry up to sixteen AGM-114 Hellfire anti-armor missiles for stand-off engagement.
• Unguided rockets: modular rocket pods give a useful area suppression capability.
• Automatic cannon: a chin-mounted 30 mm chain gun provides direct-fire support; it fires at roughly 625 rounds per minute and typical carriage of ammunition is on the order of a thousand rounds (gun and ammo).
• Air-to-air self-defense: some configurations can accept short-range missiles such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder to defend against aerial threats (air defence).

Operationally, the Apache has been a principal attack helicopter for the United States Army and a number of allied nations. It has been used for anti-armor missions, convoy escort, armed reconnaissance and close air support. Over decades of service it has been upgraded in incremental blocks to improve sensors, communications, survivability and weapons integration.

Variants and modernization programs have produced versions with different engines, avionics and weapons suites to meet national requirements. The platform's blend of protection, firepower and targeting capability has made it a reference design in the attack helicopter category, and it continues to be updated to address evolving threats and mission needs.

For further technical details, operational history and variant comparisons see sources and service summaries linked here: overview, development timeline, production and procurement, manufacturer history, current manufacturer, roles and doctrine, missile types, rocket armament, gun specifications, air-to-air options and defensive systems.