In August 2025, the upgrades of 19 helicopters AH-64+ begins Apache of the 1st Brigade Army Air Force At the end of the year, Spike Nlos, the strong Israeli missiles, will be placed on the helicopter.
These two programs, the upgrading of Apache helicopters and the installation of the rockets, will vertically eject the operational capabilities of aggressive helicopters and turn into “deadly” weapons systems in the modern field of multiple threats of the Army Air Force.
The destruction of the base in Stefanovikio Magnesia, after the unprecedented natural disaster “Daniel”, resulted in delayed start of upgrade programwhich has already been signed with Israeli Elbit in April 2023.
And while the countdown to the start of the work had begun, the sheds that would upgrade were flooded and part of the necessary equipment was destroyed. Then came the transfer of AH-64+ Apache to the 110th Battle Wing in Larissa, with the Army Air Force gradually finding its “footsteps” and moving on to the next day, Costas Sarikas reveals about onalert.gr.
But everything is now ready for August to begin the execution of the upgrade program. The relevant work will be carried out at the base of Alexandria Imathia, the headquarters of the Army Air Force and the 3rd TEA. There the first AH-64+ Apache will land which will be the “pilot” helicopter of the program, To follow the upgrade of the rest of the helicopters. Upgrading work will be executed by executives of the Israeli company Elbit, in collaboration with the Army Technical and Air Force executives.
The placement of all systems and its control is expected to be completed within two months to follow the necessary tests. According to the timetable, When the first helicopter is certified and received the necessary certificate of airworthiness, two helicopters will enter the sheds each month for upgrading until the program is completed.
The upgrade of the 19 AH-64+ Apache helicopters is essentially based on the “Peten” program, which was used by the Israelis in 2013 to modernize their own Apache “Alpha”. Reporting a series of new electronic aids and especially 3rd generation helicopters with potential for “Delta”So they can try day and night, detect goals over long distances and exploit the helicopter weapons excellently.
In addition, modernized helicopters will have both a modern self -protection system and new opportunities in communications and in the coordinator of other platforms, such as militant and unmanned.
Specifically, in AH-64+ Apache the Tads Electro -Electric System, which includes the thermal target tracking sensor in combination with a day’s television camera, a distance and a laser indicator. The new systems will enable helicopters to identify, demonstrate and offend targets both on the ground as tanks and armored vehicles but also in the sea such as landing boats and larger ships.
At the end of the year Spike Nlos
At the end of the year, The Army Air Force proceeds with the Precision Precision rockets in the first upgraded AH-64+ Apache helicopter. Work will also be carried out on the base of Alexandria Imathia to gradually follow the 9 Alpha helicopter equipment with the Israeli -made murder. The placement and controls will be carried out by the specialized executives of the Rafael manufacturer.
The Spike NLOS enables targets to be accurately accurately and night after upgrading the helicopters, At distances that reach even 32 kilometers depending on the rocket launch height. Together with Hellfire and rockets they will be a combination of weapons that turns the “Alpha” into a nightmare both for targets in the ground and at sea.
Upgraded Apache with the powerful weapons and spearhead spike NLOS will be able to effectively support any kind of defensive or offensive operation with flexibility and speed of any business terminals, from Evros to our most remote islands.
AH-64+ Apache was acquired in 1996 and together with the AH-64Ds are a power multiplier for the land army. However, they have never been modernized or replaced despite the manufacturer’s warnings to date, so they are no longer supported. Greece is the only user of the press, so the “Peten” upgrade of the Israeli was a one -way street. The transnational agreement with the United Arab Emirates brought about a “breath” for the Army Air Force, which secured valuable spare parts for their maintenance.
The contacts took place in 2020, as soon as the HAE Air Force upgraded APache it had from AH-64A in AH-64D configuration, and already ordered 17 new Apache AH-64Es resulting in a number of spare parts. So, The Army Air Force has managed to obtain a tank of spare parts that will keep the AH-64+ “live” for several more years.
*By Costas Sarika for onalert.gr