Lex van Eck

The Boeing AH-64D “Apache” Attack Helicopter was developed in the mid-70’s on order of the US Amry. The lessons learned from Vietnam were to be incorporated in the design (with the AH-1 “Cobra” being an example), but primarily there was demand for a system that could answer the call for defending the plains of West-Germany against Soviet advancing armor. A quick employment of heavy and a multitude of weapons to the place where Soviet armor would want to try and breakthrough.

After the Cold War period, the Apache helicopter served effectively in almost all conflicts with Western participation. Primarily the role of sensor platform and direct support of troops on the ground was hereby taken on.

The Apache has proven itself many times in Afghanistan as an indispensable and last resort for ground forces in need.

Also in Mali, the Apache helicopter (flying under the UN flag) protected different Nationalities, who provided “blue helmets” to the MINUSMA mission, contributing to the stability of the country.