A British Apache in California
Star trails over an Apache AH Mk 1 of 4 Regiment Army Air Corps (4 Regt AAC) sitting in the Mojave Desert during a Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) training exercise, working alongside Dutch, US and Singapore troops as part of Ex Black Alligator currently taking place in California. MoD photo.
Starting in 1998, the Brits arranged for AgustaWestland Apache to produce 67 license-built versions of the AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter for the British Army’s Army Air Corps to replace 1980s-era Westland Lynx AH7s. Since being delivered they have done yeoman work around the world seeing particularly heavy service in Afghanistan (with Prince Harry at the throtle of one) as well as operating from HMS Ocean off Libya in 2011–engaging targets there at least 39 times.
The Brits still have 50 aircraft in active service in seven squadrons of the 3 and 4 Regt AAC out of 66 airframes (one was written off in 2008 after cracking up shortly after takeoff in Helmand province, no loss of life occurred) and are expected to be replaced around 2024 by 50 Boeing AH-64Es bought direct via US Foreign Military Sales (FMS).