Helicopters
IAF
Special
AH-64E Apache attack helicopter are the latest addition to the fleet of combat helicopters
COMBAT HELICOPTERS WITH THE INDIAN ARMED FORCES The IAF and the Indian Army have been operating rotary-wing platforms, but traditionally, ownership of combat helicopters had been restricted to the former
Photograph: Boeing India / Twitter
By Air Marshal B.K. Pandey (Retd) Although the aerial combat regime of the Indian armed forces is dominated by fixed-wing combat aircraft, the rotary-wing component is beginning to gain ground as it has a significant role to play in tactical combat scenarios. The Indian Air Force (IAF) as well as the Aviation Corps of the Indian Army have been operating rotary-wing platforms, but traditionally, ownership of combat helicopters had been restricted to the former. The Army Aviation Corps has been operating primarily light helicopters to operate to areas not easily accessible by other means. However, in recent times, there has been a major change in policy due to which the Army Aviation Corps is now going to induct combat helicopters in large numbers in the years to come. As a result, the involvement of combat helicopter fleets of the IAF in tactical battle scenarios, is expected to reduce. The current state of combat helicopter fleets in both the IAF and the Army Aviation Corps has been described in the succeeding paragraphs.
www.sps-aviation.com
AH-64E APACHE ATTACK HELICOPTER In September 2015, through the Foreign Military Sales programme of the government of United States (US), the Indian government finalised a contract with Boeing for the purchase of 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to equip two squadrons in the IAF. The Apache attack helicopters have been inducted to replace the ageing fleet of Mi-35 attack helicopters that had been procured from Russia in 1990. Delivery of this platform against this order commenced with the batch of first four Apache helicopters being handed over to the IAF in July 2019 and all 22 helicopters were delivered by July 2020. Thereafter, during the visit of President Donald Trump early this year, a contract was finalised for six AH-64E Apache attack helicopters for the Indian Army. Delivery against this order is expected to commence in 2023. The fleet of 22 Apache helicopters received so far have been modified specifically to suit the exacting standards demanded
ISSUE 9 • 2020
27
