Australian Apaches conduct first live

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An Australian AH-64E Apache from the 1st Aossum Guns’ at Townsville Field Training Area in July 2026. (Commonwealth of Australia/Sgt Samuel Miller)

Boeing AH-64E Apache helicopters operated by the Australian Army have conducted their first in-country live-firing, the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) said on 17 July

During Exercise ‘Possum Guns’ in Townsville, the Apaches conducted “missions that demonstrated the aircraft’s various weapon systems against simulated targets, including the 30 mm gun, rockets and Hellfire missiles”, the DoD said

Commander Australian Army Aent as “a step in the maturation of Army’s attack helicopter capability”

“Live-fire training is a vital part of preparing our alia helps maintain the high level of proficiency needed to operate effectively,” he said

“Our aircrew, maintainers and support personnel will now conduct routine live-fire training and continue to integrate the Apache’s advanced capabilities into joint force operations,” Maj Gen Hafner added

The DoD said the exercise “enabled aircrew, maintainers and support personnel to develop and test the procedures required to safely train, sustain, and employ” the Apache fleet

Lieutenant Colonel Jason Perrins, commander of the 1st Army has had in the past, because it allows us to identify targets further out with the sensor sweep, [with] the range of weapons employment also further out”

In June, he said that the Apache enabled crews to provide more “situational awareness to the integrated force that was not feasible with the Tiger ARH,” it is replacing

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17 July 2026