Helicopter firm lands £194m deal

The British version of the Apache was built by AgustaWestland

Aerospace company AgustaWestland has secured a £194m deal to upgrade key technology on the British Army's fleet of Apache helicopters.

The deal will see an American-made system installed on the Army's 67 Apaches to improve their performance at night, and in poor visibility.

The system will be tested and installed at AgustaWestland's Somerset base.

A spokesman said: "It is a welcome piece of news. This is a contract we have been discussing for some time."

Attack helicopter

The sighting and targeting system, which has been developed by American firms Lockheed Martin and Boeing, will be trialled in the UK in 2007.

The first aircraft with the new technology installed is due to be delivered to the Army in January 2009.

The rest of the fleet will be fitted out by the end of 2010.

The announcement came as the British version of the Apache was declared fully operational by the Ministry of Defence.

Based on the AH-64D Apache Longbow introduced by the US army in 1998, the AH MK1, an attack helicopter, was built by AgustaWestland.

The last Apache in the British fleet was delivered in July 2004.