Army receives first batch of 3 Apache attack copters from US

The first batch of three AH-64E Apache attack helicopters meant for the Army arrived in India on Tuesday.

The helicopters, made by US company Boeing, were transported from the US on a Soviet-origin AN-124 cargo aircraft.

The Army had signed a Rs 5,691-crore deal with the US in 2020 for procuring six Apache attack helicopters. The delivery was initially expected in mid-2024. The remaining three helicopters are expected to be delivered by the end of the year.

The delay in sending the helicopters was recently flagged by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh over a phone call with his US counterpart Pete Hegseth. Today, Rajnath posted on X, “These advanced helicopters will enhance the Army Aviation wing’s operational effectiveness, especially in challenging terrains.”

These helicopters are armed to attack enemy troops and tanks on the ground, and also enemy bunkers in unreachable places in mountains.

The Boeing AH-64 Apache is a heavily armed, twin-engine ground attack helicopter that can carry a combination of air-to-ground missiles, rockets and a chin-mounted machine gun to engage tanks, vehicles, troop concentrations, communications and logistics centres. It can also fire short-range air-to-air missiles like the Stinger.

Attack helicopters are conventionally integrated with mechanised formations.

The helicopters will be part of the Army Aviation Corps. It has a fleet of 350 helicopters that includes attack helicopters made by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and also Soviet-origin Mi-25/Mi35. It also flies other helicopters for logistics and administrative duties.

The arrival of the Apache attack helicopters for the Army Aviation Corps (AAC) at Jodhpur will boost the offensive capability of the strike formations.

The Army had raised its first Apache squadron in March last year and trained aircrew and ground staff, but the delivery of the helicopters from the US was delayed by 15 months.

According to reports, there is a possibility of another six Apaches being procured by the Army. The IAF already has 22 Apaches in its fleet that were inducted from 2015 onwards.

Pictures floating on social media show that the Army’s helicopters have been painted in a desert camouflage scheme with brown hues, which is distinct from the light “Tipnis grey” single colour scheme worn by the IAF.

Attack helicopters are generally integrated with mechanised formations and provide close air support during manoeuvre operations, neutralising enemy assets as well as carrying out recce and surveillance. They can also be employed for stand-alone attack missions.

At 39 years, the AAC is the Army’s youngest arm. It was raised as a separate entity in November 1986, even though the history of Army aviation in India goes back to 1942.

The role of the AAC is multi-faceted and besides attack and recce, includes counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism, airborne command post combat search and rescue, casualty evacuation, airlift of troops and equipment, logistic support and disaster relief. Earlier, the Army’s aviation assets were part of the Regiment of Artillery.

The AAC operates a large and diverse fleet of about 335 attack and utility helicopters equipping two dozen squadrons and numerous flights, besides a number of various types of drones for attack, recce, surveillance and logistics. It no longer operates fixed wing aircraft, though plans have been lingering to induct light aircraft like the Dornier 228.

Defence experts say given the challenges India faces on its northern and western borders as well as in the internal security domain, a greater impetus needs to be given on modernisation of the AAC and redress technical and serviceability issues affecting its fleet.