AERO 135 Hughes/McDonnell Douglas/Boeing AH-64 Apache (2026)

The American AH-1 Cobra became the model for attack helicopters and was soon widely deployed in the Vietnam War. Initially designed primarily for use against infantry, the Cobra was later developed in versions equipped with TOW anti-tank missiles, responding to the threat posed by the armoured columns of the Warsaw Pact countries. Despite establishing the principles of the attack helicopter, the AH-1 suffered from limited performance, restricted space for special systems and relatively low levels of safety. The US therefore launched the AAFSS competition to develop a new generation of attack helicopter for the US Army, equipped with sophisticated weapons and flight characteristics that would allow it to survive through armour, defensive systems and extremely fast flight. The project proved too ambitious, however, and was replaced by the AAH competition. The YAH-64 won, and this helicopter, known in production as the Apache, became an iconic type. The deployment of more than 200 aircraft during Operation Desert Storm in Iraq enhanced its reputation and led to modernisation programmes, culminating in the current AH-64E Apache Guardian. Although it does not reach the performance originally demanded by the AAFSS tender, it offers considerably greater combat capabilities along with exceptional robustness and durability. The AH-64 remains based on a decades-old concept that continues to prove effective and is today regarded as the world’s most advanced attack helicopter. It remains at the core of the US Army’s attack capability and is operated or scheduled to be operated by 18 countries. The book is in Czech.