Important Facts For Prelims
IAF Gets Apache Helicopters
- 11 Jul 2020
- 3 min read
Why in News
Recently, Boeing has handed over the last of the five AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to the Indian Air Force (IAF).
- The handover was slightly delayed due to the Covid-19 induced lockdown.
- Earlier, Boeing handed over the last five of the 15 CH-47F(I) Chinook heavy-lift helicopters to the IAF as well.
Key Points
- India contracted 22 Apache helicopters and 15 Chinook helicopters from Boeing through the Foreign Military Sales programme of the USA government in September 2015 under a USD 3 billion deal.
- The addition of both these helicopters is a significant step towards modernization of IAF’s helicopter fleet.
- AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopter:
- These are all-weather capable, easily maintainable helicopters and have high agility and survivability against battle damage.
- Capabilities:
- Carry out precision attacks at standoff ranges and operate in hostile airspace with threats from the ground.
- Transmit and receive battlefield pictures through data uplinking and networking.
- Shoot fire and forget anti-tank guided missiles, air to air missiles, rockets while providing the versatility to helicopter in network-centric aerial warfare.
- Carries fire control radar, which has a 360° coverage and nose-mounted sensor suite for target acquisition and night vision systems.
- Boeing’s joint venture in Hyderabad, Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited, has been producing aero-structures for the AH-64 Apache helicopter for both the USA Army and international customers.
- 15 CH-47F(I) Chinook Heavy-lift Helicopters:
- It is capable of airlifting diverse military and nonmilitary loads into remote locations.
- It has a fully integrated digital cockpit management system, advanced cargo handling capabilities and electronic warfare suite that complement the aircraft’s performance.
- The helicopter has been customized to suit IAF’s future requirements and capability roadmap.
- These are deployed in the Northern and Eastern regions of India.
- 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.
