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News

IAF gets first Apache copter from US


Date:- 12 May 2019


Signed contract for 22 attack helicopters in 2015, Next shipment by July

The AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopter that was handed over to the IAF during a ceremony held at Boeing production facility in Mesa on Friday. PTI

The first US-made Apache AH 64E attack helicopter was formally handed over to the Indian Air Force at the Boeing production facility in Mesa, Arizona, on Friday.

This is the first attack helicopter from the US. The IAF currently uses the Soviet/Russian origin Mi25/Mi35 helicopters. These are tasked with tank formations.

Air Marshal AS Butola represented the IAF and accepted the first Apache in a ceremony at the Boeing facility, where representatives from the US Government were also present, the IAF said today.

The IAF had signed a contract with the US Government and Boeing in September 2015 for 22 Apache helicopters. The first batch of these helicopters is scheduled to be shipped to India by July this year.

Select air and ground crew have undergone training at the training facilities in US Army base Fort Rucker, Alabama. These personnel will lead the operationalisation of the Apache fleet in the IAF. The addition of AH-64E helicopter is a significant step towards modernisation of IAF’s helicopter fleet.

The helicopter has been customised to suit IAF’s future requirements and will have significant capability in mountainous terrain.

The helicopter has the capability to carry out precision attacks at standoff ranges and operate in hostile airspace with threats from ground. The ability of these helicopters to transmit and receive the battlefield picture to and from the weapon systems through data networking makes it a lethal acquisition.

These attack helicopters will provide a significant edge in any future joint operations in support of land forces.

Courtesy: Daily Tribune: 12 May, 2019