Recently, Boeing has handed over the last of the five AH-64 E Apache attack helicopters to the Indian Air Force.
The Boeing Company is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, rotor-craft, rockets, satellites, telecommunications equipment, and missiles worldwide. The company also provides leasing and product support services.
The delivery of the helicopters was delayed due to the pandemic induced lock-down. Earlier in March, Boeing handed over the last five of the 15 CH-47F(I) Chinook heavy-lift helicopters as well.
“With this delivery of military helicopters, we continue to nurture this partnership and are fully committed to working closely with India’s defence forces to deliver the right value and capabilities to meet their operational needs,” said Surendra Ahuja, Managing Director, Boeing Defence India.
India contracted 22 Apache helicopters and 15 Chinook helicopters from Boeing through the Foreign Military Sales program of the USA government in September 2015 under a USD 3 billion deal. The addition of both these helicopters is a significant step towards the modernization of IAF’s helicopter fleet.
India is one of 17 nations to select the Apache and has the most advanced variant, the AH-64E Apache that is also flown by the US and many other countries. The AH-64E Apache is designed and equipped with an open systems architecture including the latest communications, navigation, sensor, and weapon systems, the statement said.
It has an improved ‘Modernized Target Acquisition Designation System’ that provides day, night, and all-weather target information, as well as night vision navigation capability. In addition to classifying air and ground targets, the Fire Control Radar has been updated to operate in the maritime environment. It is uniquely suited to meet a commander’s needs, including reconnaissance, security, peacekeeping operations, and lethal attack, across myriad environments – without reconfiguration, the statement added.
The CH-47F(I) Chinook is capable of airlifting diverse military and nonmilitary loads into remote locations. It contains a modern machined air-frame, a common avionics architecture system (CAAS) cockpit, and a digital automatic flight control system (DAFCS). Those innovations and technologies will help the Indian Air Force meet evolving mission demands, maximize interoperability, and reduce life-cycle costs.
The helicopter has been customized to suit IAF’s future requirements and capability road-map. Boeing’s suppliers in India are manufacturing critical systems and components for the Chinooks, including the crown and tail cone assembly by the Tata Advanced Systems and the ramp and aft pylon by Dynamatic Technologies.
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