AH-64 Apache

General information

Type

Attack helicopter

Affiliation

Earth Defense Force
Cult of the Eightfold Manifestation (hijacked)
Mental's Horde (hijacked)

Weapons

Machine gun
Rockets
Missiles

Usage

Manufacturer

Boeing Defense Space & Security

Used by

Capacity	Crew
2	2 (1 driver, 1 gunner)

The AH-64 Apache is an attack helicopter that is used by the Earth Defense Force. It is the only helicopter seen in the Serious Sam series that possesses attack capabilities.

Overview[]

Originally produced in 1979 for the US military, the Apache has been involved in numerous armed conflicts, such as the Iraq War.

Over 100 years later, the Apache came into possession of the Earth Defense Force to serve as their main attack helicopter during the outbreak of the Mental War.^[1]^[2] As the helicopter possesses weapons, unlike the other helicopters seen at their disposal, it saw heavy use in multiple conflics around the globe.^[3] Many were lost to Mental's Horde throughout the war, which gave Mental and the Cult of the Eightfold Manifestation the advantage. Having mass-produced a strange species of organism, the Octanians were able to tamper with the genetic code of this species, which resulted in the creation a certain kind of this creature to hijacking machinery. This eventually gave rise to the Technopolyp. As many of these creatures began to take over and hijack fallen Apaches, this gave Mental an ample supply of helicopters to use in his army.^[1]^[2]^[4]

Unlike other aircraft seen in the Serious Sam series, the Apache is equipped with a weapon system that consists of a chain gun located under the nose of the helicopter and two rocket pods, one on each side. Technopolyps are also to use said weapons.

Appearances[]

Serious Sam 3: BFE[]

Apache down — Garret's Apache is struck by a rocket before he can safely extract Sam.

The only Apache in-game appears in level "Broken Wings", which is piloted by Garret to extract Sam out of war-torn Cairo. However, the helicopter is shot down by a Major Bio-mechanoid before Garret can land. By the time Sam gets to the crash site, he contacts Quinn and informs her that Garret is K.I.A.^[5] Moments later, an alien life form takes control of the Apache, transforming it into a Technopolyp. As Sam doesn't have the weaponry to take down this monstrosity, he is forced through the winding streets until he comes across a rocket launcher. He uses the weapon to shoot the Technopolyp down. Afterwards, he jokingly tells Quinn that the bird is now "secured".^[5]

Serious Sam 4/Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem[]

The only Apaches seen in these titles are ones that have been taken over by Technopolyps. Many hijacked Apaches can be seen, suggesting that these helicopters saw widespread use during both the Mental War and the Tunguska Offensive.

Behind the scenes[]

An unused Apache model with the word "covert" in its name can be found in Serious Sam 3: BFE's files. It is an Apache, but with a different-looking model and a black finish. The different shape suggests that this model is from an earlier version of the Apache.

Trivia[]

The only Apache that appears in the Serious Sam 3 campaign is shot down.
The Apache that appears in Serious Sam 3 doesn't appear to have landing gear.
Oddly enough, the Serious Sam 3 Apache model has the chain gun mounted on the nose where the sensors are mounted whereas the chain gun should be placed just below the nose. Additionally, this chain gun disappears once the Technopolyp takes control of Garret's Apache and no other Technopolyps have this chain gun on their noses.
The Apache used by the Technopolyp in Serious Sam 3 uses a lower detailed model with no nose-mounted chaingun. This unique model has no rocket pods, instead just two machine guns located on either side of the helicopter.
The Apache is the only helicopter seen taken over by Technopolyps. This is likely due to the helicopter possessing weapons, as other types of helicopters (such as transport or utility helicopters) would serve little to no purpose in Mental's Horde.