US aerospace major Boeing has handed over first of the 22 Apache Guardian attack helicopters to the Indian Air Force, nearly three-and-half years after a multi-billion dollar deal for the choppers was sealed.
Senior IAF officials said the addition of AH-64E (I) Apachehelicopter is a significant step towards modernisation of the force’s chopperfleet.
The helicopter has been customised to suit IAF’s futurerequirements and would have significant capability in mountainous terrain, theysaid.
“The first AH-64E (I) – Apache Guardian helicopter wasformally handed over to the Indian Air Force at Boeing production facility inMesa, Arizona, the US on May 10,” IAF Spokesperson Group Captain AnupamBanerjee said.
The AH-64E Apache is a leading multi-role attack helicopterand is flown by the US Army.
The IAF had signed a multi-billion dollar contract with theUS government and Boeing Ltd in September 2015 for 22 Apache helicopters. Thefirst batch of these helicopters is scheduled to be shipped to India by Julthis year.
“Selected aircrew and ground crew have undergonetraining at the training facilities at US Army base Fort Rucker, Alabama. Thesepersonnel will lead the operationalisation of the Apache fleet in theIAF,” the IAF said in a statement.
It said the helicopter has been customised to suit the IAF’sfuture requirements and would have significant capability in mountainousterrain.
“The helicopter has the capability to carry outprecision attacks at standoff ranges and operate in hostile airspace withthreats from ground,” the IAF said.
It said the ability of these helicopters, to transmit andreceive the battlefield picture, to and from the weapon systems through datanetworking makes it a lethal acquisition.
“These attack helicopters will provide significant edgein any future joint operations in support of land forces,” the IAF added.
Additionally, the Defence Ministry in 2017 approved theprocurement of six Apache helicopters along with weapons systems from Boeing ata cost of Rs 4,168 crore for the Army. This will be its first fleet of attackchoppers.Fuselages for this Army order will be producedby Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited, a joint venture between Boeing and TataAdvanced Systems in Hyderabad.