Defence defiant on ‘legacy’ Apache choppers as US moves to scrap them

The Albanese government will forge ahead with its plan to buy $5bn worth of Apache helicopters as the US Army moves to scrap its ‘outdated’ fleet.

A US Army AH-64E Apache helicopter in action at the Avalon Australian International Airshow in 2025

The Albanese government will forge ahead with its plan to buy $5bn worth of Apache helicopters as the US Army moves to scrap “outdated crewed attack ­aircraft”, including much of its Apache fleet.

Defence experts warn the US decision to scrap more than 600 of the Boeing-made attack heli­copters in favour of autonomous aircraft means Australia will be left operating an “expensive legacy platform” well beyond its use-by date.

Former Defence official Michael Shoebridge said the government was being “wilfully, dogmatically insistent” in sticking with the Apache procurement when allies and partners were ­retiring the aircraft due to their vulnerability to cheap missiles and drones.

US Army secretary Dan Driscsoll and chief-of-staff Randy George issued a May 1 statement outlining a sweeping transformation plan to deliver “a leaner, more lethal force” by embracing new technology and cutting dated and overpriced capabilities.

“We will cancel procurement of outdated crewed attack aircraft such as the (Apache) AH-64D, excess ground vehicles like the (Humvee) and (Joint Light Tactical Vehicle) and obsolete (unmanned aerial vehicles) like the Gray Eagle,” they said.

The US Army will continue to operate more than 200 later model AH-64E Apache helicopters – the variant being purchased for the Australian Defence Force.

But analysts believe further US orders of the helicopter are ­unlikely, as the service continues to accelerate the procurement of uncrewed systems.

Japan is also moving to retire its Apache fleet, while South Korea is reportedly reconsidering plans to purchase 36 new AH-64Es.

British Army Apache AH-64E attack helicopters at an air base in the UK. Picture: Getty Images

A Defence spokesman said Australia would proceed with the purchase of 29 Apaches to replace the army’s Tiger reconnaissance helicopters, with the first of the new aircraft due for delivery this year.

“Crewed attack helicopters will remain an essential part of the Australian Defence Force’s capability mix to support land force operations across a range of operational scenarios,” he said.

A Boeing Australia spokeswoman said the latest E-model Apache was “a step change in capability from the previous model and will ensure it plays a critical role in the Australian Army’s future force”.

But Mr Shoebridge said Australia was buying the Apache too late in its life, wasting money that could be used to fund cutting-edge autonomous capabilities.

“We’re going to be spending increasing amounts of taxpayer money to operate an expensive legacy platform, as our big US partner is downsizing and de-­investing in the very capabilities that we’re starting to buy,” the Strategic Analysis Australia director said.

“The opportunity cost is a less-powerful military and one that is far more vulnerable because it is not equipped with large volumes of lethal uncrewed capabilities.”

Mr Shoebridge said the government’s determination to proceed with the platform risked a repeat of past procurement mistakes, such as the $1.5bn purchase of 10 C-27J Spartan “battlefield airlifters” that have been declared too vulnerable to go to war.

“The US was going to buy the Spartan in large numbers, and therefore it made sense for us to get a smaller fleet,” he said.

“The US then changed course, but we persisted, and now we’re stuck with a dud capability.”

An RAAF C-27J Spartan aircraft from No.35 Squadron. The aircraft have been declared to vulnerable to go into battle. Picture: Chris Tsakisiris

The shift away from crewed attack helicopters has been driven in large part by lessons from the war in Ukraine, where scores of the ­aircraft have been destroyed by shoulder-fired missiles and modified consumer drones.

The US Army has operated its Apache fleet with General Atomics’ Gray Eagle drones to keep their crews safe and extend their lethality. Under its transition plan, newer Gray Eagles will continue to operate with the Apache AH-64E’s.

The Albanese government has signalled Australia’s future Apache fleet will be teamed with unmanned aircraft but has not ­allocated any funding to do so.

Retired major general Fergus McLachlan said Australia needed to ramp up the use of drones to reduce the vulnerability of crewed platforms.

“Australia has no funded plans to support AH64E with drones. Crewed and uncrewed systems have to be considered together,” he said.

The army’s Apache helicopter fleet will be based in Townsville, creating more than 150 jobs, with a further 50 jobs in Brisbane and 30 jobs in Oakey, Queensland.