Army’s First Lot Of Apache Attack Helicopters Set For Induction In February 2024

Starting in February 2024, the Army will receive its first batch of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, which will be sent to the desert. Next week, the Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) is likely to approve a larger contract for 156 indigenous Light Combat Helicopters (LCH), with 90 going to the Army and 66 to the Indian Air Force. The total cost of this deal is estimated to be ₹45,000 crore.

“The first Apache attack helicopter will be sent out in February 2024.” As part of the deal, Boeing taught 24 technicians and six pilots in the U.S. A defense official said that all six Apaches would be delivered by April 2024. Two different sources said that the DAC is set to meet next week and that the case for the 156 LCH will be discussed.

Army Aviation has been using utility helicopters up until now, but with the LCH, it got its first specialized attack helicopter. The first squadron, 351 Army Aviation, was moved to Missamari, Assam, in the eastern sector close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in November.

The Cabinet Committee gave the go-ahead to buy 39 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters from the United States. After that, the IAF got 22 Apaches as part of a deal signed in September 2015. The government then decided that any more Apaches would be given to the Army. In line with this, India agreed to buy six more Apache helicopters for the Army in February 2020. The deal will cost about $800 million. Since COVID is spreading, there is a small delay in getting the Apaches to the right places.

The Army has been asking for 11 more Apaches, but the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has recently ordered a study to find out how many armored helicopters are needed. The study should begin at the end of November or the beginning of December. Officials said that the call for more Apaches would be made after the study was over. The Army has 75 Rudras, which are the armed form of the Advanced Light Helicopter.

Modernisation plans

As part of the IAF’s plans to modernize and encourage indigenous development, Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari recently said that 10 LCH were added to the 143 Helicopter Unit “Dhanush” last year. They also plan to sign a contract for 156 of them next year, with 66 going to the IAF.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) agreed in March 2020 to buy 15 Limited Series Production (LSP) versions of the LCH for a total of ₹3,887 crore. They also agreed to grant infrastructure worth ₹377 crore, with 10 going to the IAF and 5 to the Army.

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) designed and built the twin-engine LCH, which is a dedicated combat helicopter of the 5-8 tonne class. The idea for it came about after the Kargil war in 1999, when it became clear that the country needed a dedicated platform that could work at high altitudes. It is the only attack helicopter in the world that can land and take off at an altitude of 5,000 m (16,400 ft) with a full load of weapons and fuel. This gives the IAF and the Army a lot more firepower in high-altitude places. The helicopter can fly up to 21,000 feet and has a battle radius of 500 km. This makes it perfect for use in high-altitude parts of the Siachen glacier.

With a 20-mm nose gun, 70-mm rockets, the anti-tank guided missile “Dhruvastra,” and the MBDA Mistral-2 air-to-air missile with a range of up to 6.5 km, the LCH is ready for battle.