The US Army has awarded Boeing a contract to buy 117 new Apache tactical ground support helicopters.

WASHINGTON — The US Army has awarded Boeing a more than $900 million contract to buy 117 new Apache tactical ground support helicopters, the Department of Defense announced.

In March, the Defense Department announced that the US Army had awarded Boeing an earlier nearly $185 million contract to produce an undisclosed additional number of heavily-armored Apache AH-64 attack helicopters.

The Apache AH-64 has been described as a flying tank. It is a helicopter designed to survive heavy attack and inflict massive damage on ground forces.

The AH-64 is designed to attack day or night, including in unfavorable weather and visibility.