The newest iteration of the multi-mission attack Apache helicopter, produced by Boeing [BA], now officially has the nickname: “Guardian,” the Army said recently.
The former Apache Block III in October was re-designated the AH-64E model, and now picks up its nickname, to become the AH-64E Guardian, according to the Program Executive Office Aviation, in Huntsville, Ala.
The name was submitted by Gina Gill, Logistics Management Specialist from the Aviation and Missile Command Logistics Center, in Huntsville, Ala. One of several hundred nicknames submitted, “Guardian” was chosen.
The nickname had to be one word accompanied by a justification, and this was what Gina Hills said: “Although the Apache is known as the deadliest helicopter it is much more. The Apache functions as a safeguard for our soldiers on the ground. It seeks and eliminates threats that would otherwise be undetectable and/or indestructible allowing our troops to complete their missions. The Apache is our soldiers’ guardian in the sky.”
“Reflecting on this process, you sometimes don’t realize the amount of passion that people put into these names,” said Col. Jeffrey Hager, project manager for Apache Attack Helicopters. “For many, this is their livelihood, and you’ve just given them an opportunity to nickname the new Apache helicopter.”
Organizations that participated included Team Apache military organizations such as the Apache Project Office, Aviation and Missile Command, and industry team members such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin [LMT] and Northrop Grumman [NOC]. Leaders from each organization had to down select to their top three to be judged by the Integrated Strategy Group comprised of leaders representing each organization.
Hills’ nickname is one well understood by deployed troops: Mike Burke, director of Business Development Attack Helicopters-Vertical Lift at Boeing, has said many times soldiers have told him at meetings held after units returned from deployment that when Apache’s show up, adversaries disappear.
The Army revealed the new nickname recently after a Boeing media briefing where company and Army officials said the Apache program is “on cost and ahead of schedule” as the Block II Apache line comes to an end this year while the AH-64E Guardian production is accelerating. David Koopersmith, Boeing vice president of Attack Helicopter Programs said that while 50 Apache aircraft were delivered in 2011, 71 aircraft were delivered in 2012 about 90 will be delivered in 2013.