Apache useless ….. or not??!!

The subject of the AH-64 Apache’s usefulness or lack of it keeps appearing in several threads. Therefore I’d like to dedicate a new thread to it.
One reason for this is because my country, The Netherlands, recently bought several AH-64D Apache. So I’d like to know how you all think about this decision.

I think it did very well during Desert Storm (DS). It performed the opening shots and openened a path for the strike a/c by destroying key radar stations. During the rest of the war it was heavily employed as anti-armour assets. This way it make the allied tanks’ job easier when they entered enemy territory at the end of the war. It also actively supported the allied tanks during their engagements with the Iraqis. All in all it was a useful helo during DS. The Netherlands reached their decision to buy Apaches right after DS when it was seen as a great weapon.

As opposed to DS, operations over former Yugoslavia (especially during the Kososvo crisis) showed that the Apache wasn’t really useful. It was deployed, but never really used in combat. They even lost some helos. I believe much of the Apache’s lack of usefullness over former Yugoslavia was due to the difficult terrain (mountainous terrain).

More recently: the Netherlands will be deploying Apaches to Eritrea. As Arthur (I think) once said it: “being sent to Eritrea for being useless”.

Any thoughts on the Apache’s usefullness or lack of it??

Ference.