How the Apache Helicopter Stayed Dominant for 50 Years of Modern Warfare

The AH-64 Apache has remained one of the most effective attack helicopters in the world for more than 50 years. First developed in the 1970s by Hughes Helicopters and later manufactured by McDonnell Douglas and Boeing, the Apache entered U.S. Army service in the 1980s and quickly proved its value in modern combat. Its performance during the Gulf War, where it played a key role in destroying armored targets, cemented its reputation as a highly capable and reliable platform. Since then, it has been used extensively in conflicts across the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

The Apache’s design is built around a clear objective: delivering precise, sustained firepower in high-risk environments. It features a chin-mounted 30mm M230 chain gun and can carry a wide range of weapons, including AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and Hydra rocket systems. Over time, newer variants have incorporated advanced targeting systems, sensors, and mission-specific configurations, allowing the aircraft to adapt to evolving battlefield conditions.

Today, the Apache continues to serve in multiple roles, including close air support, anti-armor operations, reconnaissance, and battlefield overwatch. Its combination of firepower, adaptability, and survivability has allowed it to remain relevant across decades of technological change. This slideshow examines which countries operate the most AH-64 Apache helicopters and how the platform continues to play a central role in modern military aviation.

• Active AH-64 aircraft: 0
• AH-64 aircraft on order: 29
• Military branches employing AH-64 aircraft: Royal Australian Army
• Variant(s): AH-64E

Australia has a total of 327 military aircraft, including 24 fighter aircraft, 62 attack aircraft, and 69 helicopters. It has 57,350 active-duty personnel for its entire armed forces, with a reserve force of 32,050. Of these active-duty personnel, 20,000 are dedicated Air Force personnel. Also, to afford these aircraft, Australia has a defense budget of $55,700,000,000, which ranks 8. in the world. Australia has a total population of 26.77 million and its military ranks 18. out of 145 countries.

• Active AH-64 aircraft: 0
• AH-64 aircraft on order: 36
• Military branches employing AH-64 aircraft: Royal Moroccan Air Force
• Variant(s): AH-64E

Morocco has a total of 260 military aircraft, including 83 fighter aircraft and 78 helicopters. It has 195,800 active-duty personnel for its entire armed forces, with a reserve force of 150,000. Of these active-duty personnel, 13,500 are dedicated Air Force personnel. Also, to afford these aircraft, Morocco has a defense budget of $13,400,000,000, which ranks 27. in the world. Morocco has a total population of 37.39 million and its military ranks 59. out of 145 countries.

• Active AH-64 aircraft: 0
• AH-64 aircraft on order: 96
• Military branches employing AH-64 aircraft: Polish Land Forces
• Variant(s): AH-64E

Poland has a total of 479 military aircraft, including 59 fighter aircraft, 44 attack aircraft, and 216 helicopters. It has 202,100 active-duty personnel for its entire armed forces, with a reserve force of 350,000. Of these active-duty personnel, 16,500 are dedicated Air Force personnel. Also, to afford these aircraft, Poland has a defense budget of $48,700,000,000, which ranks 12. in the world. Poland has a total population of 38.75 million and its military ranks 22. out of 145 countries.

• Active AH-64 aircraft: 8
• AH-64 aircraft on order:
• Military branches employing AH-64 aircraft: Indonesian Army
• Variant(s): AH-64E

Indonesia has a total of 459 military aircraft, including 41 fighter aircraft, 34 attack aircraft, and 214 helicopters. It has 400,000 active-duty personnel for its entire armed forces, with a reserve force of 400,000. Of these active-duty personnel, 30,100 are dedicated Air Force personnel. Also, to afford these aircraft, Indonesia has a defense budget of $10,600,000,000, which ranks 29. in the world. Indonesia has a total population of 281.56 million and its military ranks 13. out of 145 countries.

• Active AH-64 aircraft: 12
• AH-64 aircraft on order:
• Military branches employing AH-64 aircraft: Japan Ground Self-Defence Force
• Variant(s): AH-64D

Japan has a total of 1,443 military aircraft, including 217 fighter aircraft, 38 attack aircraft, and 596 helicopters. It has 247,150 active-duty personnel for its entire armed forces, with a reserve force of 56,000. Of these active-duty personnel, 50,000 are dedicated Air Force personnel. Also, to afford these aircraft, Japan has a defense budget of $57,000,000,000, which ranks 7. in the world. Japan has a total population of 123.2 million and its military ranks 7. out of 145 countries.

• Active AH-64 aircraft: 12
• AH-64 aircraft on order: 16
• Military branches employing AH-64 aircraft: Netherlands Defence Helicopter Command
• Variant(s): AH-64E

The Netherlands has a total of 120 military aircraft, including 32 fighter aircraft and 63 helicopters. It has 41,380 active-duty personnel for its entire armed forces, with a reserve force of 6,765. Of these active-duty personnel, 6,540 are dedicated Air Force personnel. Also, to afford these aircraft, the Netherlands has a defense budget of $27,000,000,000, which ranks 18. in the world. The Netherlands has a total population of 17.77 million and its military ranks 36. out of 145 countries.

• Active AH-64 aircraft: 16
• AH-64 aircraft on order: 8*
• Military branches employing AH-64 aircraft: Kuwait Air Force
• Variant(s): AH-64D/E

Kuwait has a total of 128 military aircraft, including 43 fighter aircraft and 67 helicopters. It has 72,000 active-duty personnel for its entire armed forces, with a reserve force of 24,000. Of these active-duty personnel, 8,000 are dedicated Air Force personnel. Also, to afford these aircraft, Kuwait has a defense budget of $6,950,000,000, which ranks 41. in the world. Kuwait has a total population of 3.138 million and its military ranks 79. out of 145 countries.

• Active AH-64 aircraft: 18
• AH-64 aircraft on order:
• Military branches employing AH-64 aircraft: Republic of Singapore Air Force
• Variant(s): AH-64D

Singapore has a total of 230 military aircraft, including 100 fighter aircraft and 70 helicopters. It has 51,000 active-duty personnel for its entire armed forces, with a reserve force of 252,500. Of these active-duty personnel, 13,500 are dedicated Air Force personnel. Also, to afford these aircraft, Singapore has a defense budget of $15,000,000,000, which ranks 26. in the world. Singapore has a total population of 6.028 million and its military ranks 29. out of 145 countries.

• Active AH-64 aircraft: 22
• AH-64 aircraft on order: 12
• Military branches employing AH-64 aircraft: Indian Air Force and Indian Army Aviation
• Variant(s): AH-64E

India has a total of 2,229 military aircraft, including 513 fighter aircraft, 130 attack aircraft, and 899 helicopters. It has 1,455,550 active-duty personnel for its entire armed forces, with a reserve force of 1,155,000. Of these active-duty personnel, 310,575 are dedicated Air Force personnel. Also, to afford these aircraft, India has a defense budget of $75,000,000,000, which ranks 4. in the world. India has a total population of 1.409 billion and its military ranks 4. out of 145 countries.

• Active AH-64 aircraft: 24
• AH-64 aircraft on order: 24
• Military branches employing AH-64 aircraft: Qatar Emiri Air Force
• Variant(s): AH-64E

Qatar has a total of 251 military aircraft, including 102 fighter aircraft, 6 attack aircraft, and 80 helicopters. It has 66,550 active-duty personnel for its entire armed forces, with a reserve force of 15,000. Of these active-duty personnel, 2,000 are dedicated Air Force personnel. Also, to afford these aircraft, Qatar has a defense budget of $9,432,000,000, which ranks 34. in the world. Qatar has a total population of 2.552 million and its military ranks 72. out of 145 countries.

• Active AH-64 aircraft: 29
• AH-64 aircraft on order:
• Military branches employing AH-64 aircraft: Hellenic Army Aviation
• Variant(s): AH-64A/D

Greece has a total of 558 military aircraft, including 178 fighter aircraft and 293 helicopters. It has 142,700 active-duty personnel for its entire armed forces, with a reserve force of 221,350. Of these active-duty personnel, 42,500 are dedicated Air Force personnel. Also, to afford these aircraft, Greece has a defense budget of $6,500,000,000, which ranks 44. in the world. Greece has a total population of 10.46 million and its military ranks 30. out of 145 countries.

• Active AH-64 aircraft: 29
• AH-64 aircraft on order:
• Military branches employing AH-64 aircraft: Republic of China Army
• Variant(s): AH-64E

Taiwan has a total of 761 military aircraft, including 285 fighter aircraft and 236 helicopters. It has 215,000 active-duty personnel for its entire armed forces, with a reserve force of 2,310,000. Of these active-duty personnel, 35,000 are dedicated Air Force personnel. Also, to afford these aircraft, Taiwan has a defense budget of $19,740,000,000, which ranks 23. in the world. Taiwan has a total population of 23.60 million and its military ranks 23. out of 145 countries.

• Active AH-64 aircraft: 30
• AH-64 aircraft on order: 39
• Military branches employing AH-64 aircraft: United Arab Emirates Joint Air Command
• Variant(s): AH-64D/E

The United Arab Emirates has a total of 551 military aircraft, including 99 fighter aircraft, 16 attack aircraft, and 247 helicopters. It has 65,000 active-duty personnel for its entire armed forces, with a reserve force of 130,000. Of these active-duty personnel, 4,000 are dedicated Air Force personnel. Also, to afford these aircraft, the United Arab Emirates has a defense budget of $2,212,360,382, which ranks 70. in the world. The United Arab Emirates has a total population of 10.03 million and its military ranks 54. out of 145 countries.

• Active AH-64 aircraft: 34
• AH-64 aircraft on order: 49
• Military branches employing AH-64 aircraft: Royal Saudi Land Forces and Saudi Arabian National Guard
• Variant(s): AH-64A/D/E

Saudi Arabia has a total of 917 military aircraft, including 283 fighter aircraft, 81 attack aircraft, and 264 helicopters. It has 257,000 active-duty personnel for its entire armed forces, with no reserve force. Of these active-duty personnel, 20,000 are dedicated Air Force personnel. Also, to afford these aircraft, Saudi Arabia has a defense budget of $74,760,000,000, which ranks 5. in the world. Saudi Arabia has a total population of 36.54 million and its military ranks 25. out of 145 countries.

• Active AH-64 aircraft: 36
• AH-64 aircraft on order: 36
• Military branches employing AH-64 aircraft: Republic of Korea Army
• Variant(s): AH-64E

South Korea has a total of 1,592 military aircraft, including 315 fighter aircraft, 98 attack aircraft, and 807 helicopters. It has 600,000 active-duty personnel for its entire armed forces, with a reserve force of 3,100,000. Of these active-duty personnel, 65,000 are dedicated Air Force personnel. Also, to afford these aircraft, South Korea has a defense budget of $46,300,000,000, which ranks 14. in the world. South Korea has a total population of 52.08 million and its military ranks 5. out of 145 countries.

• Active AH-64 aircraft: 37
• AH-64 aircraft on order: 14
• Military branches employing AH-64 aircraft: Army Air Corps
• Variant(s): AH-64E

The United Kingdom has a total of 631 military aircraft, including 113 fighter aircraft, 31 attack aircraft, and 266 helicopters. It has 184,860 active-duty personnel for its entire armed forces, with a reserve force of 924,000. Of these active-duty personnel, 34,790 are dedicated Air Force personnel. Also, to afford these aircraft, the United Kingdom has a defense budget of $71,500,540,000, which ranks 6. in the world. The United Kingdom has a total population of 68.46 million and its military ranks 6. out of 145 countries.

• Active AH-64 aircraft: 46
• AH-64 aircraft on order:
• Military branches employing AH-64 aircraft: Egyptian Air Force
• Variant(s): AH-64D

Egypt has a total of 1,093 military aircraft, including 238 fighter aircraft, 90 attack aircraft, and 348 helicopters. It has 440,000 active-duty personnel for its entire armed forces, with a reserve force of 480,000. Of these active-duty personnel, 50,000 are dedicated Air Force personnel. Also, to afford these aircraft, Egypt has a defense budget of $5,879,500,000, which ranks 46. in the world. Egypt has a total population of 111.25 million and its military ranks 19. out of 145 countries.

• Active AH-64 aircraft: 48
• AH-64 aircraft on order:
• Military branches employing AH-64 aircraft: Israel Air and Space Force
• Variant(s): AH-64A/D

Israel has a total of 611 military aircraft, including 240 fighter aircraft, 38 attack aircraft, and 147 helicopters. It has 170,000 active-duty personnel for its entire armed forces, with a reserve force of 465,000. Of these active-duty personnel, 89,000 are dedicated Air Force personnel. Also, to afford these aircraft, Israel has a defense budget of $30,500,000,000, which ranks 17. in the world. Israel has a total population of 9.403 million and its military ranks 15. out of 145 countries.

• Active AH-64 aircraft: 824
• AH-64 aircraft on order: 15
• Military branches employing AH-64 aircraft: United States Army
• Variant(s): AH-64D/E

The United States has a total of 13,043 military aircraft, including 1,790 fighter aircraft, 889 attack aircraft, and 5,843 helicopters. It has 1,328,000 active-duty personnel for its entire armed forces, with a reserve force of 799,500. Of these active-duty personnel, 701,319 are dedicated Air Force personnel. Also, to afford these aircraft, the United States has a defense budget of $895,000,000,000, which ranks 1. in the world. The United States has a total population of 341.96 million and its military ranks 1. out of 145 countries.