In a major boost to India’s air power, first batch of AH-64EApache attack helicopters arrived in India. U.S. The helicopters were handed over by U.S. aerospace major, Boeing on Saturday. T
Apache attack helicopters are the world’s most powerful combat vehicles, which are also used by the US army. Powerful and most advanced, the attack helicopters have multi-role combating capacity.
The four helicopters which have arrived at the Hindon Air base will act as a major morale booster to the Indian Air Force.
The Boeing has been carried out by US defence manufacturing giant Boeing and has been shipped by an Antonov AN224 Transport at Hindon. According to reports, four AH-64E Apache attack helicopters has been delivered to India in the first batch out of the 22 choppers ordered by India from the US.
Boeing said the first batch of the Apaches arrived in India and an additional four choppers will be delivered to the IAF next week.
“The eight choppers will then move to the Pathankot Air Force station for their formal induction by the IAF, in September,” it said.
The deal happened with the IAF signing a multi-billion dollar contract with the US government and Boeing Ltd in September 2015 for 22 Apache helicopters. The first batch of Indian Air Force crew began their training to fly the Apache in the US in 2018.
The first IAF unit to receive the new helicopter gunships will be the 125 Helicopter Squadron (125 H SQUADRON) deployed at Pathankot. The second AH-64E-equipped squadron will reportedly be stationed at Jorhat Air Base in Assam.The first AH-64E was officially handed over to the IAF during a ceremony at Boeing’s production Center in Mesa, Arizona, on May 10.