ST. LOUIS --- The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has reassigned three of its AH-64D Apache Longbow multi-role combat helicopters from its training base in the United States to a RSAF facility in Singapore, marking the first-ever deployment of international Apache helicopters in Asia.

One of the Apache Longbows, produced by The Boeing Company in Mesa, Ariz. , is on display this week at the 2006 Asian Aerospace exhibition in Singapore.

U.S. Army Apaches have been stationed in Asia over the past decade, but Singapore , which joined the Apache family in 1999, had previously assigned its growing fleet to training duties at a facility in Arizona.Singapore has ordered 20 Apache Longbow helicopters and has logged more than 8,000 accident-free hours in the past three-and-a-half-years while training in Arizona. Singapore received its first eight in 2002 and began receiving the first of the final 12 in January 2006.

The first of the three Apache Longbows sent to Singapore was ceremoniously accepted in Arizona in January before being flown to Singapore by transport aircraft.