Aircraft Data Sheet: Apache AH MK 1 (1996)

First flight:	25th September 1998
Rotor diameter:	14.63m/48ft 0ins
Length:	17.76m/58ft 3ins
Max weight:	9,545kg/21,000lb
Max speed:	296kph/160knots
Power:	Two 2,100shp/1,565kW Rolls Royce/Turbomeca RTM-322 turboshafts
Accommodation:	Two
No Built:	In Production

Early in the 1990s, the British Army stated a requirement for an Attack Helicopter. Westland responded by negotiating a licence agreement to build the McDonnell Douglas AH-64D Apache. The Apache won the competition beating off the Bell Super Cobra, the Eurocopter Tiger and the Denal Rooivalk.

The WAH-64D differed from the US aircraft by the introduction of the Rolls-royce Turbomeca RTM-322. The first eight aircraft were built and test flown in the USA by Boeing, who had absorbed McDonnell Douglas/Vertol. The first WAH-64 flew in USA on September 25th 1998.