AH-64 Apache
Boeing attack helicopter; the US Army's primary rotary-wing strike platform, operating in both the Strait of Hormuz and as the target aircraft for the UK's Project NYX loyal wingman programme.
Last refreshed: 9 June 2026 · Appears in 2 active topics
Was the 9 June Apache loss near Hormuz caused by hostile fire or mechanical failure?
Timeline for AH-64 Apache
US Army Apache goes down near Hormuz
Iran Conflict 2026UK launches Apache drone wingman trial
Drones: Industry & DefenceMentioned in: IRGC toll booth live at Hormuz
Iran Conflict 2026Cited as CENTCOM reported 9,000 targets struck and 140 vessels destroyed
Iran Conflict 2026: CENTCOM: 9,000 targets, 140 ships in 25dMentioned in: Trump: open Hormuz in 48h or face war
Iran Conflict 2026- What is the AH-64 Apache?
- The AH-64 Apache is the US Army primary attack helicopter, built by Boeing since 1984. Armed with a 30mm chain gun, Hellfire missiles, and Hydra rockets, it is designed for close air support and anti-armour operations. Over 2,400 have been produced for the US and allied forces.Source: Boeing Defense
- What is the AH-64 Apache doing in the Strait of Hormuz?
- In 2026, AH-64 Apaches deployed alongside A-10 Warthogs to hunt IRGC fast-attack craft and intercept drones at the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM assessed effective US air superiority over the southern Iranian coast at the time.Source: CENTCOM
- How does the AH-64 Apache compare to the A-10 Warthog?
- The Apache is a rotary-wing helicopter optimised for anti-armour and close support; the A-10 is a fixed-wing aircraft built around a 30mm Gatling cannon. Both were deployed together at the Strait of Hormuz in 2026, complementing each other against surface threats.Source: CENTCOM
- Why is the US using slow helicopters in the Strait of Hormuz?
- Apaches and A-10s are normally kept clear of contested airspace, so their deployment signals that US commanders judged they held effective air superiority over the southern Iranian coast. CENTCOM did not state this explicitly, but the platform choice implies the assessment.Source: CENTCOM
- Has the AH-64 Apache ever been used against Iranian forces?
- The 2026 Strait of Hormuz conflict marked the Apache's first operational use against Iranian forces. Prior combat included the Gulf War (1991), Iraq (2003-2011), and Afghanistan. No Apache had previously engaged IRGC assets in direct combat.Source: event
- What happened to the US Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz in June 2026?
- A US Army AH-64 Apache went down near the Strait of Hormuz on 9 June 2026. Both crew members were rescued. The cause was unconfirmed as of the date of reporting, with a CENTCOM investigation report expected the following day. No hostile fire was established.Source: event
- What is Project NYX and which helicopters does it involve?
- Project NYX is a UK Ministry of Defence programme to develop autonomous loyal wingman drones for AH-64 Apache helicopters. It launched in May 2026 with GBP 10 million in assessment funding across four companies: Anduril Industries (UK), BAE Systems, Tekever, and Thales UK. An operational variant is targeted for 2030.
- How is the AH-64 Apache being used in the Iran conflict in 2026?
- Apaches deployed alongside A-10 Warthogs for low-altitude maritime operations around the Strait of Hormuz, hunting IRGC fast-attack craft and intercepting drones. CENTCOM reported over 9,000 targets struck and 140 vessels destroyed in 25 days of operations.Source: event
- Which countries operate the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter?
- The US Army operates the largest fleet of over 2,400 airframes. Allied operators include Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the United Kingdom, Egypt, Greece, India, Japan, the Netherlands, and South Korea, under US Foreign Military Sales agreements.
Background
The AH-64 Apache is the primary attack helicopter of the US Army, manufactured by Boeing since 1984. Designed for close air support and anti-armour operations, it carries a 30mm M230 chain gun, Hellfire missiles, and Hydra 70 rockets. With over 2,400 delivered to the US military and Allied Nations, it is the western standard for rotary-wing attack and has seen combat across Desert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
In the Iran conflict, Apaches deployed alongside A-10 Warthog aircraft for low-altitude maritime operations around the Strait of Hormuz, hunting IRGC fast-attack craft and intercepting drones. CENTCOM reported over 9,000 targets struck and 140 vessels destroyed across 25 days. On 9 June 2026, a US Army Apache went down near the Strait of Hormuz; both crew members were rescued and the cause remained unconfirmed, with a CENTCOM report expected the following day. No party claimed the loss and hostile fire was not established, though the incident occurred in airspace where the IRGC had fired a seven-missile salvo at US Gulf bases just days prior.
Outside the Iran theatre, the Apache is central to the UK's Project NYX loyal-wingman programme. In May 2026, the UK Ministry of Defence selected four companies, Anduril Industries (UK), BAE Systems, Tekever, and Thales UK, for an assessment phase funded at GBP 10 million, aimed at developing autonomous drone loyal wingmen for Apache helicopters, with down-select to two companies in autumn 2026 and an operational variant targeted for 2030. The Apache's role as the human-crewed anchor for an autonomous wingman pair makes it the test platform for the Royal Navy's "crewed where necessary, uncrewed wherever possible" doctrine.
