The Apache Longbow delivery March 31 came on schedule less than two weeks after McDonnell Douglas rolled out the milestone aircraft for its first public viewing March 21 at its Mesa, Ariz., facility where the next-generation helicopter is in production.

The Apache Longbow helicopter, which served in Panama and Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm as an AH-64A Apache, made its maiden flight as an AH-64D Apache Longbow on March 17.

Delivery came as the Army's Force XXI field exercise was coming to an end at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif. Initial reports from the brigade-level exercise indicate that unprecedented performances by two fully integrated Apache Longbow prototypes are challenging the Army to rethink its tactics, techniques and procedures for combat in the 21st century.

Detailed reports about Apache Longbow performance are expected in the coming weeks.

McDonnell Douglas is remanufacturing the first 232 AH-64D Apache Longbows under a $1.9 billion, five-year, multi-year contract. Production will be gradually increasing, moving from one aircraft a month this year to five aircraft a month by 1999.

The Apache Longbow's fire control radar and advanced avionics suite give combat pilots the ability to rapidly detect, classify, prioritize and engage stationary or moving enemy targets at standoff ranges.

To date, eight nations, including the United States, have selected the Apache for their defense needs. The Netherlands and the United Kingdom recently became the first two international customers to select the AH-64D for their armed services. In all, more than 1,000 Apaches have been ordered by customers worldwide. Several other potential customers are considering the purchase of Apaches in the near future.

The AH-64D is being developed by a team that includes the U.S. Army, McDonnell Douglas as total systems integrator and a joint venture comprised of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to develop the Longbow Fire Control Radar and the radar frequency Hellfire missile.