Editing Boeing AH-64 Apache (section)

===Netherlands===
[[File:Apachefarnborough2006frontv.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Royal Netherlands Air Force]] AH-64D at the [[Farnborough Airshow]], 2006]]

The Dutch government initially showed an interest in acquiring Apache helicopters in the late 1980s, when it stated that it may purchase as many as 52.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB04C18BA24D9D5&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=McDonnell in Talks With Dutch on Apache Role |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=13 April 1989 |access-date=29 January 2010 |archive-date=8 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608160227/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB04C18BA24D9D5&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |url-status=dead }}</ref> A competition held in 1994 against the [[Eurocopter Tiger]] and the [[Bell AH-1 SuperCobra]] led to the [[Royal Netherlands Air Force]] ordering 30 AH-64D Apaches in 1995.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB04ED1B579E699&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Dutch May Buy McDonnell Copter |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=14 December 1994}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ignoring EU Solidarity, The Dutch Opt For U.S. Helicopters |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=13 April 1995 |first=Joseph |last=Fitchett}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB082FEAB81105D&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=McDonnell Wins Big Helicopter Contract But Layoffs Are Looming at Commercial Air Arm |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |first=William |last=Flannery |date=8 April 1995 |archive-date=8 June 2011 |access-date=29 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608142251/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB082FEAB81105D&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |url-status=dead }}</ref> Deliveries began in 1998<ref>{{cite web |url=http://boeing.mediaroom.com/1999-03-29-First-AH-64D-Apache-Pilots-From-the-Netherlands-Complete-Training-at-Boeing |title=First AH-64D Apache Pilots From The Netherlands Complete Training at Boeing |publisher=Boeing |date=29 March 1999}}</ref> and ended in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://boeing.mediaroom.com/2002-06-10-Boeing-Delivers-30th-AH-64D-Apache-to-Royal-Netherlands-Air-Force |title=Boeing Delivers 30th AH-64D Apache to Royal Netherlands Air Force |publisher=Boeing |date=10 June 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.helis.com/news/2002/ah64nl.htm |title=News: Last Dutch Apache Delivered |website=helis.com |access-date=1 April 2015}}</ref> The RNLAF Apaches are equipped with the Apache Modular Aircraft Survivability Equipment (AMASE) self-protection system to counter infrared (IR) missile threats.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.terma.com/multimedia/1409_update_0704.pdf |title=Aircraft Survivability Equipment |publisher=TERMA |date=July 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927143530/http://www.terma.com/multimedia/1409_update_0704.pdf |archive-date=27 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.terma.com/multimedia/2509_update_0706_kor4.pdf |title=AMASE/DIRCM Pod During Flight Certification Testing in the Netherlands |publisher=Terma |date=July 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927143640/http://www.terma.com/multimedia/2509_update_0706_kor4.pdf |archive-date=27 September 2011}}</ref>

The RNLAF Apaches' first deployment was in 2001 to [[Djibouti]], Africa.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6712/is_43_213/ai_n28901078 |title=Army Conducts First Deployment of AH-64D Apache Longbows To Kuwait |work=Defense Daily |first=Marc |last=Strass |date=6 March 2002 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904034814/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6712/is_43_213/ai_n28901078 |archive-date= 4 September 2015 }}</ref> They were also deployed alongside U.S. AH-64s in support of NATO [[SFOR|peacekeeping]] forces in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/19492342.html?dids=19492342:19492342&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+04%2C+1995&author=Rick+Atkinson&pub=The+Washington+Post+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=U.S.+Bound+for+Bosnia+By+Train%2C+Truck%2C+Air%3B+Military+Tackles+Toughest+Logistics+Since+Gulf&pqatl=google |title=U.S. Bound for Bosnia By Train, Truck, Air |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |first=Rick |last=Atkinson |date=4 December 1995 |access-date=5 July 2017 |archive-date=25 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025082415/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/19492342.html?dids=19492342:19492342&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+04,+1995&author=Rick+Atkinson&pub=The+Washington+Post+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=U.S.+Bound+for+Bosnia+By+Train,+Truck,+Air%3B+Military+Tackles+Toughest+Logistics+Since+Gulf&pqatl=google |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2004, six Dutch AH-64s were deployed as part of the Netherlands contribution to the [[Multinational force in Iraq]] to support the Dutch ground forces.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.government.nl/News/Press_releases_and_news_items/2004/May/Six_Apaches_to_Iraq_to_boost_security |title=Six Apaches to Iraq to Boost Security |publisher=Government.nl |date=24 May 2004}}</ref> The Apaches performed close combat support and display of force missions, along with providing reconnaissance information to ground forces. In February 2006, the Netherlands' contribution to NATO forces in Afghanistan was increased from 600 to 1,400 troops and 6 AH-64s were sent in support.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4673026.stm |title=More Dutch troops for Afghanistan |work=BBC News |date=3 February 2006}}</ref>

[[File:Luchtmachtdagen 2011 Royal Netherlands Air Force (6188225481).jpg|thumb|A [[Royal Netherlands Air Force]] AH-64D Apache from the [[Solo Display Team#AH-64D Apache Solo Display Team|Apache Solo Display Team]]]]
Shortly after Apaches were deployed to [[Hamid Karzai International Airport]], as part of the Dutch contribution to ISAF, on 10 April 2004, a pair of Dutch Apaches came under light gunfire close to [[Kabul]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20040410/dutch_choppers040410/20040410 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303085003/https://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20040410/dutch_choppers040410/20040410 |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 March 2021 |title=Two Peacekeeping Helicopters Fired on in Kabul |publisher=CTV News |date=10 April 2004}}</ref> On 17 December 2007, an RNLAF Apache flew into [[Overhead power line|power lines]] during a night flying exercise in the Netherlands, forcing an emergency landing and causing a lengthy blackout in the region.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/12/18/220380/picture-dutch-apache-accident-leaves-50000-homes-without.html |title=Dutch Apache Accident Leaves 50,000 Homes Without Power |first=Anno |last=Gravemaker |website=FlightGlobal |date=18 December 2007}}</ref> On 17 March 2015, a RNLAF Apache crashed during a training mission in Mali. Both pilots died. The [[Ministry of Defence (Netherlands)|Ministry of Defence]] opened an investigation into the cause of the crash.<ref>{{cite web |title=2 Apache-vliegers omgekomen in Mali |date=17 March 2015 |url=https://www.nlveteraneninstituut.nl/nieuws/2-apache-vliegers-omgekomen-mali/ |access-date=14 January 2022}}</ref>

In February 2018, the Netherlands decided to upgrade all their AH-64Ds to the latest AH-64E standard via a FMS contract with the US, along with 17 APG-78 fire control radar units.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/us-clears-rnlaf-for-119b-apache-deal-446061/ |title=US clears RNLAF for $1.19b Apache deal |website=FlightGlobal |date=21 February 2018}}</ref> In November 2021, the process to upgrade AH-64Ds began and RNLAF is to receive the upgraded AH-64Es between 2023 and 2025.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/netherlands-ships-first-apaches-to-us-for-modernisation |date=2020-11-20 |access-date=2021-11-26 |title=Netherlands ships first Apaches to US for modernisation |first=Gareth |last=Jennings |work=Jane's}}</ref>