Officials from the Netherlands signed a letter of offer and acceptance to proceed with a $1.2 billion (€878 million) upgrade of the Dutch fleet of AH-64D Apache helicopters to the AH-64E standard.
A letter of agreement for the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) upgrade deal was inked by U.S. and Dutch officials.
The $1.19 billion package will see the AH-64D Apache helicopters receive new air frames, rotors, transmissions and mission equipment according to the Dutch Ministry of Defense.
The deal will also include training for Dutch personnel, which will be undertaken at Fort Hood, Texas.
Key contractors for the work are Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
Earlier this year, the Dutch defense ministry expressed concerns that its fleet was developing some technical shortcomings, especially compromising the rotorcrafts.
According to the ministry, more powerful engines would increase the speed of the upgraded Apaches and improve their ability to operate in bad weather.
To be equipped with better sensors to improve targeting. Once the upgrade is completed, helicopters would have greater survivability against radar threats and better datalinks.
The AH-64D Apache helicopters have seen extensive use, including missions in Afghanistan and Mali.
