US Apache helicopters continuously encounter problems, falling behind Russian Mi-28 and Ka-52

The US Army’s most capable attack helicopter, the AH-64 Apache, has suffered two consecutive losses in accidents within three days. Two similar accidents were recorded a month earlier, causing major concerns about personnel safety and forcing many units using the helicopter to re-examine the safety of the helicopter.

The remains of a US Army AH-64D that crashed on February 13.

Consecutive incidents

The first of two recent incidents occurred during a routine training exercise on March 24 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, injuring two pilots. The second occurred on March 26 when an Apache operating out of Fort Carson, Colorado, crashed during training, injuring the pilots.

The previous incidents occurred on February 12 and February 23, with the second crash killing both pilots. Having been in service for 40 years, the Apache remains the oldest heavy attack helicopter still in production. The helicopter was seen as a key weapon for the US and NATO to counter the Soviet Mi-24, which had been in service for 15 years.

The cause of the recent incidents involving the Apache fleet remains unclear, although in 2023 the US Army disclosed a significant increase in the number of generator failures on the aircraft, which can cause smoke buildup that increases the risk of a pilot's cockpit fire. However, there is no indication that the recent incidents are related to generator failures.

Questions have also been raised about flight conditions, maintenance quality and personnel training, as well as the quality of the aircraft, with many suggesting that the fault lies with the manufacturer, Boeing.

Two AH-64 Apaches assigned to the US 4th Combat Aviation Brigade.

There is no alternative version yet.

The US Army currently has more than 700 Apache helicopters in service. There are also about 800 on order, along with orders from foreign customers. The most significant is Poland's order for 96, placed in September 2023.

The US military's reliance on the Apache has also increased significantly as the Advanced Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft program, intended to produce a multi-role helicopter to replace nearly half of the country's Apache fleet, was canceled last February.

As a result, the Apache helicopter is expected to remain in production and in service for significantly longer. In addition, the reality of the battlefield in Ukraine shows that armored helicopters are increasingly vulnerable to modern weapons, which is also a major reason why some new helicopter programs are being reconsidered.

A Boeing rendering of a concept for an upgraded Apache with larger wings and other improvements.

Strong opponents

In the present day, the Apache is also facing significantly newer helicopter designs, including the Mi-24's successors, the Mi-28 and Ka-52, which are considered to be much more capable than the American helicopter. Both the Mi-28 and Ka-52 are more complete and sophisticated versions of the Apache.

The People's Liberation Army's first heavy attack helicopter was first seen on March 21, and while clear images of the aircraft have yet to emerge, the program is likely to take away from the US helicopter supply contracts with its traditional allies.

The Russian Mi-28 remains the main attack helicopter in service with the Algerian Army, a potential rival of the US and the leading military power in Africa outside Washington's sphere of influence. In addition, Iran's Revolutionary Guard, which Washington has designated as a terrorist organization, is also expected to receive Mi-28s ordered by Iran in 2023.

Apache's Difficulties

The loss of the Apache fleet and concerns about the operational capabilities of the remaining aircraft are seen as significant as the US grapples with growing security challenges across multiple theaters. These include the Russia-Ukraine conflict, where US and allied NATO personnel and contractors are playing an increasingly large role on the ground, and the Middle East, where ground and naval clashes with local militias have been a regular occurrence since October 2023.

The Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea also pose additional strains on US capabilities, as the balance of power on both fronts increasingly shifts against US interests due to the rapid modernization of Chinese and North Korean military forces.

Apaches also faced serious maintenance problems during combat deployments in Operation Desert Storm and during the 1999 NATO invasion of Yugoslavia, which saw the US lose 16 in combat.

No Western successor is expected to be more capable than the Apache in the next decade. And while China is preparing to field its latest attack helicopter platform, only Russia is a real rival to the US helicopter.

Le Hung (Source: Military Watch)

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