07/09/11 21:05:17
URLﾘﾝｸ(www.flightglobal.com)
Japan to halt AH-64D Apache orders after 13th airframe
By Seiji Hirokawa
Tokyo's planned final purchase of one Fuji Heavy Industries/Boeing AH-64D
Apache Longbow attack helicopter in fiscal year 2008 will halt orders
of the type for Japan's army after just 13 airframes way short of
the 60 originally sought to replace the service's current
Fuji Heavy Industries/Bell AH-1S fleet.
The decision to stop Apache orders has been taken due to the type's
high unit cost, and as a result of Japan's annual procurement model,
under which the nation would take around 20 more years to complete
its planned purchase. Fuji, which will this year complete a new licence
production facility for the AH-64D, will receive compensation from the
Japanese defence ministry following the decision.