In a major boost to India’s combat capabilities, the Indian Army is all set to receive the delivery of its three remaining Apache AH-64 attack helicopters from the United States. Here’s why it matters
In a major boost to India’s combat capabilities, the
Indian Army is all set to receive the delivery of its three remaining
Apache AH-64 attack helicopters from the United States. Meanwhile, the Indian Navy will also be commissioning its second squadron of MH-60R Seahawk submarine-hunting choppers this week.
The induction of the much-delayed American aircraft will aim to bridge the gaps in India’s combat infrastructure. However, experts told The Times of India that India will witness a real boost when the Army and IAF hopefully begin getting 156 indigenous `Prachand’ light combat helicopters from 2028 onwards.
The Indian Armed Forces have been looking for over 1,000 helicopters of different kinds in the span of the next 10-15 years. These aircraft are intended to make up for major deficiencies as well as replace obsolete
Cheetah and Chetak fleets.
However, there have been delays in these projects being executed by Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL). “The three Apache gunships, dubbed ’tanks in the air’ since they are armed with Stinger air-to-air missiles, Hellfire Longbow air-to-ground missiles, guns and rockets, will touch down in India within a couple of days,” defence officials told TOI.
Why it matters
It is important to note that India had ordered six heavy-duty Apaches for the Army in a Rs 5,691 crore deal with the US in Feb 2020. As per the deal, the first three were scheduled to be delivered in July. However, there was a huge delay in the supply chain due to the problems Boeing was facing at that time.
These six Apaches will add to the 22 such choppers inducted by IAF between 2019 and 2020 under a Rs 13,952 crore deal with the US in September 2015. According to the TOI, the Army Apaches will be deployed at Jodhpur, where a squadron was raised in March last year to cater for the western front with Pakistan.
HAL now has to deliver the Prachand light combat helicopters – 90 for the Army and 66 for the IAF – in the 2028-2033 timeframe under the Rs 62,700 crore contract inked in March this year. The aircraft will be armed with 20mm turret guns, 70mm rocket systems and air-to-air missiles for offensive operations and precision strikes in high-altitude areas like eastern Ladakh and Siachen Glacier on the borders with
China and
Pakistan.
156 Prachand helicopters weigh 5.8 tonnes and are expected to add to the 15 such choppers (10 IAF and 5 Army) already inducted under a Rs 3,887 crore contract in 2022.
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