IAF Gets Its First Boeing Apache Ah-64E Combat Helicopter
India Strategic|May 2019

NEW DELHI. The Indian Air Force (IAF) received its first Apache Combat Helicopter May 10, the Air Headquarters announced.

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

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.

This story is from the May 2019 edition of India Strategic.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the May 2019 edition of India Strategic.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM INDIA STRATEGICView All
RTX's Pratt & Whitney expands India Operations
India Strategic

RTX's Pratt & Whitney expands India Operations

BENGALURU. Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, announced the establishment of its new India Digital Capability Center (IDCC) in Bengaluru.

time-read
1 min  |
January-February 2024
BEL Anticipates Order Inflow of Rs. 25,000 Crore in 2024
India Strategic

BEL Anticipates Order Inflow of Rs. 25,000 Crore in 2024

BENGALORE.  Bhanu Prakash Srivastava, the Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), the Navaratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking, expects order inflow to cross the Rs. 25,000-crore mark for financial year 2024. As of now, the order book stands at around Rs. 23,200 crore order book.

time-read
1 min  |
January-February 2024
GA-ASI Demonstrates Release of A2LE from MQ-20 Avenger UAS
India Strategic

GA-ASI Demonstrates Release of A2LE from MQ-20 Avenger UAS

SAN DIEGO. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) successfully demonstrated an inflight release of its Advanced AirLaunched Effects (A2LE) platform, releasing an A2LE from the internal weapons bay of a GA-ASI MQ-20 Avenger® Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). The demonstration took place on Nov. 28, 2023, over Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, capping a manufacturing, structural test, and flight demonstration.

time-read
1 min  |
January-February 2024
Maiden Indian Navy - Royal Thai Navy bilateral exercise and 36th Edition of Indo-Thai Coordinated Patrol
India Strategic

Maiden Indian Navy - Royal Thai Navy bilateral exercise and 36th Edition of Indo-Thai Coordinated Patrol

The maiden Bilateral Maritime Exercise between the Indian Navy (IN) and Royal Thai Navy(RTN) was conducted from December 20 to 23.

time-read
1 min  |
January-February 2024
Defence Minister commissions Stealth Guided Missile Destroyer INS Imphal in Mumbai
India Strategic

Defence Minister commissions Stealth Guided Missile Destroyer INS Imphal in Mumbai

NEW DELHI. INS Imphal, a Pro ject 15B s tea l th guided missile destroyer, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at an impressive ceremony held at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai on December 26.

time-read
2 mins  |
January-February 2024
Indian Air and Space Force (IASF)
India Strategic

Indian Air and Space Force (IASF)

e Space fighters, Military satellites IAF plans to transform into a Superpower in space

time-read
2 mins  |
January-February 2024
Defence Minister reviews Combined Graduation Parade at Air Force Academy, Dundigal
India Strategic

Defence Minister reviews Combined Graduation Parade at Air Force Academy, Dundigal

NEW DELHI. To mark the successful culmination of training of 213 Flight Cadets of the flying and ground duty branches of the Indian Air Force (IAF), a Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) was held at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal in Telangana on December 17.

time-read
1 min  |
January-February 2024
Strengthening Indo-US Relationship in Amrit Kaal and Aatmanirbhar Bharat
India Strategic

Strengthening Indo-US Relationship in Amrit Kaal and Aatmanirbhar Bharat

NEW DELHI. The capital and technological knowhow from the United States of America can help India to achieve its goal of becoming a developed country by 2047, while investments here can give the American companies high returns and an avenue of de-risking.

time-read
3 mins  |
January-February 2024
Rajnath Singh's UK visit takes forward bilateral Defence cooperation
India Strategic

Rajnath Singh's UK visit takes forward bilateral Defence cooperation

NEW DELHI. Defence ties between India and the United Kingdom received a boost during the visit of Defence Minister Mr. Rajnath Singh for talks with his British counterpart Mr. Grant Shapps in London during January 8-10, this year.

time-read
4 mins  |
January-February 2024
VMAN Orders 10 new generation Amphibian Aircraft to connect Indian Waterways US company Mallard to supply ME-1As to Gujarat based leasing company
India Strategic

VMAN Orders 10 new generation Amphibian Aircraft to connect Indian Waterways US company Mallard to supply ME-1As to Gujarat based leasing company

HYDERABAD/ NEW DELHI. It's Time to Fly from the Rivers, Coast, or Lakes, to connect India's various regions, both for civil and military requirements.

time-read
3 mins  |
January-February 2024