India To Receive Apache Choppers, Deployment Near Pakistan Border Likely

News18

20 hours ago

Last Updated:
The AH-64E Apache helicopters, sourced from the United States under a $600 million agreement signed in 2020, were originally slated for delivery by May-June 2024.
The long wait for the arrival of Apache attack helicopters may finally be over as the Indian Army intensifies efforts to strengthen combat capabilities along the western front after Operation Sindoor.
Notably, the development comes after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had a phone conversation with US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth on Tuesday, during which the two leaders had an 'excellent discussion" reviewing ongoing efforts to strengthen the India-US defence partnership.
The delivery of these advanced helicopters—delayed by more than 15 months—is now expected to commence soon, with deployment aimed at reinforcing western border defences.
In March 2024, the Army Aviation Corps established its first Apache squadron in Jodhpur. However, nearly a year and a half later, the unit remains without the helicopters, which were initially scheduled to arrive much earlier.
The AH-64E Apache helicopters, sourced from the United States under a $600 million agreement signed in 2020, were originally slated for delivery by May-June 2024.
The timeline was later pushed to December 2024 due to disruptions in the supply chain.
Sources familiar with the updated schedule told India Today that the Indian Army's Aviation Corps may receive the first batch of these helicopters later this month.
According to the initial plan, six Apaches were to be delivered in two batches of three. The first group was expected between May and June 2024, but as of now, none have reached Indian soil, leaving the newly raised squadron awaiting its core assets.
Defence Ministry officials attribute the delay to technical issues on the part of the United States. While the first three helicopters are expected within weeks, the remaining three are anticipated to arrive by the end of the year.
These helicopters are integral to operations on the western front, offering superior manoeuvrability, precision weaponry, and advanced targeting technology. The Army considers them a key addition to its operational strength.
The Indian Air Force has already received 22 Apache helicopters under a separate contract inked in 2015. In contrast, the Army is still awaiting its consignment to enhance its strike capabilities.
The Army Aviation Corps provides crucial support to ground forces, and the Apache helicopters are seen as key to strengthening operations—particularly along the western border, where troop presence has grown recently under Operation Sindoor.