IAF Gets Its First Boeing Apache Ah-64E Combat Helicopter

- Gulshan Luthra

Configured to IAF specifications as Apache AH-64E (I) Guardian, this is the most modern state-of-the-art helicopter, with just about the same technologies as used by the US Army and Marines. Boeing is scheduled to deliver the first batch – numbers not specified but likely four – to India mid-July. Delivery of the remaining 18 out of the total 22 ordered will be over in 2020.

Air Marshal AS Butola received the first Apache ceremonially from the Boeing Company at its Mesa, Arizona production facility in the presence of US Government and Indian Embassy officials.

The hot desert weather there is more or less like that of north-western India with some similar vegetation and birds but the Apache, also known as a Flying Tank, is capable of all weather, day and night operations even in dense foliage and mountainous terrain of the Himalayas.

IAF will divide them in the warmer north-western India, possibly at Pathankot, and the forested northeastern India, possibly at Dinjan in Assam.

FORMIDABLE CAPABILITY

The Boeing Apache is about formidable capability, and that is why the Indian Air Force has acquired it and the Indian Army, which controls the deployment of combat helicopters in a battle scenario, wants 39 of its own Apaches. The Army has been sanctioned six for the time being, and they will be manufactured and supplied by Boeing once all the IAF machines are delivered. That would be a follow-on order.

Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat had told this writer sometime back that their configuration would be the same as those for the IAF to maintain commonality in operations.

Also, a follow-on order is easy to process in the Ministry of Defence procedures as a new requirement means fresh tendering.