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The Australian Army’s first three Apache-qualified pilots continue to sharpen their skills with the support of the US Army’s Army Aviation Center of Excellence in Alabama ahead of the retirement of the ARH Tiger fleet.
As part of this in-country training, the three Australian pilots are playing a key role in the introduction of the AH-64E Apache Guardian to Australian service, instructing allied pilots at the heart of the United States Army’s premier attack aviation training facility.
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Captain Jonathan Hogan, Major Matthew Stubbs and Captain Alexander Paranthoiene – former Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter pilots – are leading the transition of the Australian Army from the Airbus ARH Tiger to the Boeing AH-64E “Guardian” Apache attack helicopters, marking a significant chapter in Australia’s transition to the AH-64E which will replace the Tiger in Army Aviation units from 2026.
CAPT Hogan said, “But the real value of being here goes far beyond the day to day. Having Australian instructors embedded in the US Army’s training system, plus our students rotating through, builds habits of cooperation that cannot be replicated any other way. It deepens trust, aligns how we operate and ensures that when our two nations fly together, we are already speaking the same tactical language in and out of the cockpit.”
The original trio arrived in the US in 2023 as part of a small group of Australian aviators selected to convert to the Apache and prepare to instruct others. After completing both the Apache Aviator Qualification Course and the Instructor Pilot Course, they joined the 1st Battalion, 14th Aviation Regiment, the US Army’s primary Apache training battalion, as one of the first ADF personnel to do so.
Captain Craig Burger, another former Tiger pilot, is now also part of the instructor cadre.
Australia’s acquisition of 29 AH-64E Apache Guardians was announced in 2021 under the LAND 4503 program. The selection followed a detailed assessment of global attack helicopter options and was aimed at delivering a mature, interoperable and combat-proven capability.
The AH-64E offers advanced sensors, digital connectivity via Link 16, integration with unmanned systems and the ability to operate in degraded visual environments, including total darkness.
The Apache Instructor Pilot Course is known for its intensity and high standards. Instructors must master not only the technical aspects of the aircraft but also the skills required to train others under demanding and dynamic conditions.
CAPT Hogan said, “The Instructor Pilot Course is a demanding and professionally rewarding experience. It is not just about being able to fly the aircraft – it is about being able to teach others to fly it confidently and safely, in both crew stations, under complex and often dynamic conditions.”
As part of the instructor cadre, CAPT Hogan, CAPT Paranthoiene, and their Australian colleagues now train aircrew from across the US and allied nations, including the UK, India, Poland, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
CAPT Hogan detailed the lessons learned through this multinational training effort, saying, “There is no one-size-fits-all approach to instruction in a setting this diverse. When English is not a student’s first language, concepts often need to be broken down to their simplest form – clearly, slowly and with plenty of flair. I have pantomimed my way through more than a few lessons, with gestures that teeter on interpretive dance.
“But in the air, the barriers tend to fall away. Flying is a universal language – it has rhythm, logic and a shared understanding that cuts across cultures and accents alike … I will return home with a sharper instructional toolkit, a broader view of Apache operations, a renewed appreciation for just how strong the Australia–US partnership really is, and how critical this shared experience is to keeping it that way.”
The pilots are scheduled to return to Australia in early 2026, where they will play a lead role in establishing Apache operations at the relocated 1st Aviation Regiment and School of Army Aviation in Townsville.
Their mission: to help build the Army’s first Apache training and operational capability, using the skills and insight gained during their time in the US.
CAPT Hogan said, “Introducing the Apache into Australian service is more than a platform replacement – it represents a generational shift in Australian Army Aviation. We are not just introducing a new helicopter, we are building a modern, connected and combat-ready attack aviation capability designed to meet the demands of future multi-domain operations.”
