October 1, 2008:
Greece is upgrading its twenty AH-64A Apache
helicopter gunships to the AH-64D "Longbow" standard. This will cost
over $20 million per helicopter. That will add all weather/night capabilities,
a more powerful fire control system, and more powerful engines (increasing max
takeoff weight from 8 to 10 tons.) The AH-64D can carry 16 Hellfire missiles,
in addition to its 30mm cannon. The AH-64D is easier to fly (because of easier
to use controls), and can stay in the air for about two hours per sortie. Max
speed is 290 kilometers an hour, cruise is 265 kilometers an hour. Greece has
also purchased a dozen AH-64Ds.