The Indian Army is set to receive its first batch of three AH‑64E Apache attack helicopters from the United States on July 21, marking a long‑anticipated milestone in its modernisation programme. The helicopters will be deployed near the India‑Pakistan border, significantly boosting the Army’s combat and reconnaissance capabilities.
The helicopters are scheduled to arrive at Hindon Air Force Station in Ghaziabad, with deployment planned shortly thereafter in Jodhpur, near the western border.
A second batch of three Apaches is expected by November this year, completing the six‑chopper acquisition under a US$600 million contract signed in February 2020.
India’s first Apache squadron, 451 Army Aviation Squadron, was raised at Jodhpur in March 2024, with personnel and infrastructure in place to support immediate operations once delivery began. Ongoing supply chain disruptions and technical issues in the US resulted in repeated postponements, keeping the squadron idle for over 15 months.
The AH‑64E Apache is considered one of the world’s most advanced attack helicopters. Often described as “tanks in the air,” these platforms are equipped with Hellfire air‑to‑ground missiles, Stinger air‑to‑air missiles, Hydra rockets, and a 30 mm chain gun, along with a fire‑control radar and forward‑looking infrared sensor suite for all‑weather, day‑night operations.
India’s acquisition of the Apache helicopters is part of a broader drive to modernise the Army Aviation Corps.
Alongside the six Apaches for the Army, the Air Force already operates 22 Apache AH‑64Es under a separate contract signed in 2015. The induction of Apaches augments the Army’s existing rotary‑wing fleet, which includes indigenous platforms such as the HAL Prachand light combat helicopter, Dhruv, Rudra, LCH, Mi‑17 transports and UAV systems.
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