Britain will send attack helicopters armed with deadly Hellfire missiles to Ukraine in a move hailed as a “game-changer”.
The Apache choppers will bolster the country’s desperate fight against Russian invaders, now entering its 11th month.
The new package of support, to include tanks, was confirmed yesterday by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
A senior defence source told the Sunday People that up to four Apaches will be sent – and they will follow 10 Challenger 2 main battle tanks.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has begged the West to supply tanks and aircraft for months.
The insider said: “The Apache will be a major game-changer. The tanks will arrive first and it will take a while before helicopters can be deployed. Other Nato members will now follow suit.
"Russia has thousands of tanks, so it will take more than four Apaches to have a strategic impact. But tactically, it is a major step.”
We are sending the Apache AH64 E – the most modern version, which can take out multiple targets in seconds.
Each Apache can be armed with up to 16 anti-tank Hellfires, 76 Hydra 70mm rockets and a 30mm chain gun.
This means four Apaches could wipe out an entire regiment of 70 tanks within moments.
Powered by a Rolls Royce engine, they have a top speed of 186mph and can detect more than 250 potential targets at once up to 10 miles away.
Each aircraft costs around £70million and requires two pilots and a team of technicians to keep it airworthy.
The Apaches being sent to Ukraine will be similar to those flown by Prince Harry in Afghanistan.
The Army Air Corps is being re-equipped with the 64 E and should have 50 by next year.
It is understood that Ukrainian pilots will be trained in the UK and a maintenance base will be established in a neighbouring country, such as Poland.
The Challenger 2 is one of the world’s best tanks and saw action in the Iraq War.
It can destroy any Russian tank and its secret Chobham armour is designed to withstand most anti-tank weapons.
A Government spokesman said: “We are accelerating our support to Ukraine with the kind of next-generation military technology that will win this war.”
