Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HH1219
AH-64D Apache "Tyrone Biggums" 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, US Army, June 2018 to Mar. 2019 "Atlantic Resolve"
 
General Background
The AH-64E Apache Guardian was originally designated AH-64D Block III in 2012 but because of its advanced capabilities compared to previous variants it was renamed. Everything about the AH- 64E is bigger and better or improved when compared to earlier variants. A large number of improvements are meant to protect the crew from guns up to 27 mm rounds as well as crash resistant seats. Equipped with new sensors, avionics and night operation capabilities the AH-64E also has the ability to control UAVs.
 
The Aircraft
Three years after Qatar achieved independence from Great Britain in 1971 the Qatar Armed Forces was formed with air arm becoming the Qatari Emiri Air Force. In 2014 Qatar officially ordered 24 AH-64E Guardian Apache with the first delivery taking place ceremony taking place at the Boeing plant in Mesa, Arizona on March 14, 2019. An anticipated date for the complete delivery of the remaining 23 Apaches was May 2020. The purchase also included AGM-114R Hellfire and FIM-92H Stinger missiles. These helicopters were assigned to the U/I Fighter Wing, 2nd Rotary Wing, 41st Squadron.