The Apache helicopters are opening a new chapter in Polish military aviation. They are not only attack helicopters, but also an important element of a modern combat system.

Poland has decided to purchase 96 AH-64E Apache helicopters. 

For decades, the Mi-24s were our army’s primary combat helicopters. These distinctive machines formed the backbone of Poland’s strike aviation, providing support to forces on the ground and the means to counter armored targets. With the AH-64 Apache Guardian helicopters entering service, Poland is not merely replacing one type of weapon system with another. The new helicopters will transform the way operations are carried out, marking a transition to an era in which the attack helicopter becomes a part of an integrated reconnaissance, command, and strike system.

Poland has decided to purchase 96 AH-64E Apache helicopters. Together with the logistics and training packages, as well as their advanced armament, they are expected to significantly enhance the capabilities of the Polish Armed Forces over the next few years. Once deliveries are completed (between 2028 and 2032), our country will become one of the largest operators of Apache helicopters in the world, second only to the United States. Currently, Poland is using leased machines to train personnel and build experience before receiving the target AH-64E helicopters.

See More

The Apache is no longer just a helicopter designed for direct engagement of targets within the crew’s range of vision. The latest version, the AH-64E Guardian, has been designed as a digital battlefield platform capable of detecting, transmitting information, and engaging targets using data from multiple sources. The helicopter can operate in coordination with ground forces, artillery, unmanned aerial vehicles, and other aircraft. For years, the Apache has been developed specifically for network-centric operations and utilization of data coming from multiple sources.

At the heart of the Apache’s reconnaissance system is the AN/APG-78 Longbow fire-control radar (FCR), mounted above the rotor. It allows the crew to detect, classify, and prioritize targets, also in adverse weather conditions and with limited visibility. The radar enables rapid preparation of attacks against multiple targets and is one of the features that makes the Apache stand out from other attack helicopters.

The second key component of the helicopter’s reconnaissance system is the integrated TADS/PNVS (Target Acquisition and Designation Sight/Pilot Night-Vision Sensor) system. The crew uses advanced electro-optical and thermal imaging sensors that make it possible to detect, identify, and track targets during the day, at night, and in adverse weather conditions. The combination of these systems with the Longbow radar allows the Apache to operate from a greater distance, increasing crew safety and the effectiveness of its weapon systems.

AGM-114 Hellfire missile

Zoom on Armament

The biggest change for the Polish Armed Forces will not be the arrival of the new helicopter itself, but the integration of its capabilities with other systems. The Apache can serve as the ‘eyes’ of the forces on the ground, identifying targets for the artillery, communicating reconnaissance information, and supporting the operations of armored and mechanized units. After all, modern battlefield requires not only firepower but also faster data collection and decision-making.

The Apache’s primary task remains the engagement of ground targets, primarily armored vehicles, firing positions, and elements of enemy infrastructure, using, among others, the AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank guided missiles. In the future, the helicopter’s capabilities may be supplemented by the newer AGM-179 JAGM missile, which is being developed as a successor to the Hellfire family. The Apache can also use a 30-mm cannon or Hydra 70 unguided rockets, designed to engage surface targets and provide direct fire support to troops on the ground.

The direction of development for attack helicopters is also illustrated by NLOS (Non-Line-of-Sight) missiles, which allow for striking targets outside the crew’s direct line of sight. In August 2025, at the training ground in Ustka, Spike NLOS missiles were fired from an AH-64E Apache helicopter for the first time in Europe. Two of them hit surface targets from approximately 25–28 km, demonstrating the capability for long-range precision strikes. According to the producer, the range of such missiles fired from a helicopter can reach up to 50 km.

This type of armament may enhance Apache’s capabilities in the future, allowing it to engage high-value targets (air defense systems, command posts, enemy vehicles) without the need to approach the highest-risk zone.

Countering Drones

One area of development for the AH-64E is cooperation with unmanned aerial vehicles as part of the MUM-T (Manned-Unmanned Teaming) concept. Drones can conduct reconnaissance, detect targets, and transmit data to the helicopter crew, thereby increasing their situational awareness and range of operations.

At the same time, the Apache itself can use its advanced sensors and weapons to detect and counter some threats posed by unmanned systems. One such weapon is the automatic 30-mm M230 cannon, integrated with the helicopter’s targeting system. Although the Apache is not a specialized anti-drone platform, the solutions that are being developed for it – including new ammunition with a proximity fuse – show that even attack helicopters are being adapted to counter UAVs.

New Beginning

The AH-64E Guardians are currently operated or ordered by many countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, Japan, India, and Israel. Their popularity stems from the combination of a proven platform with continuous technological advancement. The latest versions of the AH-64 are no longer merely successors to the old attack helicopters, whose origins in the US Army date back to the 1980s, but integral elements of a digital battlefield. For Poland, the introduction of the Apache into service represents the most significant change in the army’s aviation since the deployment of the first modern combat helicopters.