Why Apache Attack Helicopters Mark a ‘Milestone Moment’ for India’s Defence

India on Tuesday finally got the first three of the 6 AH-64E Apache Attack helicopters that were ordered in December 2015 in what Indian army called an important moment.

The two choppers, which landed in Hindon Airbase in Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh on a US military cargo plane, can be called a game changer in terms of operational capabilities of the Indian army as the choppers are camouflaged in the colors of the desert.

In 2020, the army placed an order of over 4,100 crores on six Apache attack helicopters. The rest of the three choppers will be delivered by Boeing at the end of the year after delivering the first ones.

Also Read: Isha Ambani Stuns in Unique Pink Bandhani Gown by Roberto Cavalli — A Couture Fusion of Indian Bandhani Craft and Italian Elegance

According to the army, the modern Apache helicopters will give the army of India a boost in terms of operation significantly.

Even though Boeing began to manufacture Apaches to the Indian army at its Mesa plant in Arizona in August 2023 and plans to deliver the product in the following year, production was held up by bottlenecks in the supply chain of the aerospace industry and contributed later to this 16-month delay.

In 2020, Boeing delivered 22 R-model Apaches to the Indian Air Force (IAF) and a contract to deliver six AH-64Es was signed to be supplied to the Indian Army. In September 2015, IAF too entered a multi-billion deal with the US government and Boeing Ltd on 22 Apache Choppers.

In 2017, the defence ministry also nodded to the acquisition of six Apache helicopters and weapon systems by Boeing to the Army at an expenditure of 4,168 crores.

Why should the acquisition of Apache be a big deal to India?

The arrival of the AH-64E Apache attack helicopters in India is seen as a great step in enhancing the defence capability of India by defence minister Rajnath Singh.

He observed that these new high-tech choppers will improve the functional capacity of the Army Aviation wing particularly in hard areas.

The introduction of this new fleet of AH-64E Apache helicopters, coupled with the 22 Apache choppers which are actively in service, will boost the activities of the Army within the Western flank.

The current Apache helicopters available have already been inducted in Ladakh and western sectors.

The Apache with its fire-and-forget Hellfire missiles has the capability to track 128 targets a minute and has the ability to prioritise the level of threat. The helicopters are equipped with the missiles that provide a pack of severe anti-armour features.

Such factors are also helping the Army Aviation Corps to get stronger and more modern, such as, attack helicopters, light combat helicopters (LCH), light utility helicopters(LUH), and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Also Read: BCCI Now to Be Recognised as National Sports Federation Under New Sports Bill

The Army will be helped in the reconnaissance and the attack by AH-64E Apache choppers. The lethal, survivable and agile also adds reach, manoeuvrability and performance required by the fighting forces on the ground and also succeeds on the joint missions that are performed both in the present and future joint missions.

Boeing described Apache as the "world's most advanced and proven attack helicopter". The AH-64E Apache "represents the backbone of the US Army's attack helicopter fleet and a growing number of international defense forces".

With 16 Hellfire missiles, 76 2.76 inch rockets and 1200 rounds of 30mm chain gun, the AH-64E Apache attack helicopter will fire 600-650 rounds within a minute. It has been designed to reach a maximum operating weight of 10, 432 kg and therefore it can climb to over 2, 800 feet per minute.

AH-64E Apache has state-of-the-art digital connectivity, joint tactical information distribution system, over T700-GE-701D engines with upgraded face gear transmission to support additional power, the ability to exchange commands by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and featuring new composite main rotor blade.

The US Army received its first Apache AH-64A in January 1984 delivered by Boeing. To date, the US Army and other countries have accepted more than 2,700 of AH-64 Apache attack helicopters. Egypt, Greece, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, the UK and most recently India besides the US have also purchased AH-64 Apache attack helicopters.

Also Read: Air India Plane’s Tail Catches Fire After Landing at Delhi Airport; No Injuries Reported