By the late 2000s, the Indonesian Army Aviation Corps sought to modernise its attack helicopter fleet, which at the time relied on the Mi-35P attack helicopters and utility helicopters with limited combat capability. The need for a more advanced, all-weather attack platform became evident as Indonesia expanded its defence modernisation programme and faced increasing demands for rapid-response operations in remote regions such as Papua and Kalimantan (Borneo). After evaluating several candidates, Indonesia selected the Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian in 2012 under a US Foreign Military Sales agreement worth around $1.4 billion, covering eight helicopters, weapons, training, and support equipment. The deal also reflected a renewed defence relationship with the United States following the lifting of arms sale restrictions in the mid-2000s. Deliveries began in 2017, with all eight helicopters entering service by the end of that year. Since entering service, they have been used primarily for training, exercises, and demonstrations of Indonesia’s growing air combat capability, including participation in joint operations such as the Garuda Shield exercise with US forces.

The Indonesian AH-64E Apache Guardian was introduced in Update 2.51 "Spearhead" as part of the Japanese tree. This helicopter is almost entirely identical to the AH-64E in the US tree, with the armaments and flight performance being exactly the same. However, the Indonesian Apache has the AN/APG-78, the same Longbow radar found on the AH-64D with an 8 km range, while the American AH-64E has the improved version of the radar with a 16 km range. Another difference from the American counterpart is the lack of DIRCM, requiring the player to use flares whenever an IR missile is incoming.