The success of the Cobra gave stimulus to the development of an even more advanced helicopter gunship. This was the Hughes AH-64 Apache, winner of the US Army's AAH (Advanced Attack Helicopter) requirement and currently its principal battlefield support helicopter in service. It is optimized for and all-weather anti-armor role, in effect a flying tank, with the now standard tandem two-seat configuration, a nose-mounted chain-gun, large stub wings which can carry anti-tank missiles, and a number of advanced avionics including FLIR, laser trackers, Doppler navigation and in recent versions, a mast-mounted fire-control radar known as the Longbow. Like most weapons systems of its day, the AH-64 was originally intended for use in Central Europe against the Warsaw Pact but ended up seeing major combat only until the Gulf War where they destroyed hundreds of armored vehicles. Subsequent conflicts like the Balkan Wars and the Iraq War have put into question the Apache's vulnerability in close quarters although its overall survivability in combat (even after attacked) has been superb. Foreign customers include Egypt, Greece, Israel, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom where it is license-built by Westland.

The prototye YAH-64 first flew on 30 September 1975 and was based on the Hughes Model 77 design. It entered service in 1986 (after the adquisition of Hughes by McDonnell Douglas) as the AH-64A which became the standard combat variant in service until recently. A planned upgrade with new communications systems and rotor blades led to the AH-64B but was cancelled. Later, the AH-64C became another planned upgrade with significant new avioncs and a new powerplant but was shelved in favor of the definitive AH-64D which notably added the millimeter-wave Longbow radar and a redesigned cockpit in addition to the other equipment enhancements in the AH-64C. Most Apaches in active service have been converted to AH-64D standards while the remaining AH-64As are on reserve. Westland-built WAH-64D units are known as the Apache AH.1 with the British Army. They differ in having local avioncs, Rolls-Royce engines, and folding blades for amphibious operations.