11-Jul-2020: IAF gets last of 5 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters from Boeing
Boeing has handed over the last of the five AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to the Indian Air Force (IAF).
India contracted 22 Apache helicopters and 15 Chinook helicopters from Boeing through the Foreign Military Sales programme of the U.S. government in September 2015 under a $3 billion deal. During the India visit of President Donald Trump in February 2020, India and the U.S. signed a deal for six additional Apaches for the Army.
Boeing’s joint venture in Hyderabad, Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited, has been producing aero-structures for the AH-64 Apache helicopter for both the U.S. Army and international customers.
Earlier, Boeing handed over the last five of the 15 CH-47F(I) Chinook heavy-lift helicopters to the IAF.
4-Sep-2019: Eight Apache Boeing AH-64E helicopters inducted into IAF
Eight Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian Attack helicopters were inducted into the Indian Air Force. IAF chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa inducted the choppers into the service after a ceremony held at the Pathankot Air Force Station in Punjab.
The helicopters were inducted into the 125 Helicopter Unit ‘Gladiators’ of the Indian Air Force as part of a batch of 22 helicopters that will be procured from the United States. In September 2015, IAF had signed a contract with the US government and Boeing for these Apache helicopters. The delivery of the entire batch is expected to be completed by 2020, as stated in the contract.
In June 2018, the US government under President Donald Trump approved a multi-billion dollar deal to sell the attack helicopters to India. In addition, the US also agreed to sell Hellfire and Stinger missiles to bolster India's ability to deter "regional threats."
The IAF completed successful first flights of the AH-64E Apache helicopters in July 2018. The first batch of IAF crew began their training to fly the Apache in the US in 2018.
The helicopters are equipped with hellfire missiles and rockets, with one helicopter having the capacity to carry 8 such missiles. It also has a canon gun with 1,200 rounds of firing capacity at a time along with which two missile pods carrying 19 missiles each can be fixed. The attack helicopter can also be used for reconnaissance.
The helicopters weigh 6,838 kilograms and span 17.15 feet.
The aircraft can transmit and receive battlefield pictures to and from the weapon systems through data networking, making it a lethal acquisition. These helicopters will provide a significant edge in any future joint operations in support of land forces.
The AH-64E has the latest technology insertions, maintaining its standing as the world's best attack helicopter.
It is the only available combat helicopter with a spectrum of capabilities for virtually any mission requirement. For the AH-64E, this includes greater thrust and lift, joint digital operability, improved survivability and cognitive decision aiding. It is uniquely suited to meet the commander's needs, including reconnaissance, security, peacekeeping operations, and lethal attack — in both land and littoral environments — all without reconfiguration.
27-Dec-2019: Indian Air Force bid adieu to MiG 27
December 27th is the day when MiG-27 bid adieu to the Indian Air Force. Bidding farewell to its Bahadur, the Indian Air Force organised a decommissioning ceremony at the Jodhpur air base.
The MiG 27 is a soviet origin aircraft that was built under licence by HAL. all of its variants have been phased out in the recent past, only the MiG 27 Upgrade was the last serving fighter jet.
It's lovingly called Bahadur by its pilots for its valiant role in the Kargil War of 1999. In 1985, the swing wing fighter jet became a part of the IAF strike fleet and has always brought glory to the force.
The fighter aircraft has been the backbone of ground-attack fleet of the Air Force for over 34 years.
MiG-27 contributed significantly in wars and peace-keeping operations since Operation Parakram but emerged as the real hero in the 1999 Kargil war.
MiG-27 proved to be an "ace attacker" when it accurately delivered rockets and bombs at high altitudes at a speed of 1,700 kms/hour, during the Kargil war.
It's contribution in the Kargil war earned it the title 'Bahadur'.MiG-27 has been the backbone of the Indian Air Force for several decades.
Post the Kargil war, the fighter aircraft was upgraded in 2006.
It is to be noted that before this, the outdated versions of other fighter aircrafts MiG 23 BN, MiG 23 MF and MiG 27 were decommissioned from IAF fleet.
11-May-2019: IAF gets first Apache Guardian attack helicopter
US aerospace major Boeing has handed over first of the 22 Apache Guardian attack helicopters to the Indian Air Force, nearly three-and-half years after a multi-billion dollar deal for the choppers was sealed.
Senior IAF officials said the addition of AH-64E (I) Apache helicopter is a significant step towards modernisation of the force's chopper fleet.
The helicopter has been customized to suit IAF's future requirements and would have significant capability in mountainous terrain.
The first AH-64E (I) - Apache Guardian helicopter was formally handed over to the Indian Air Force at Boeing production facility in Mesa, Arizona, the US on May 10.
The AH-64E Apache is a leading multi-role attack helicopter and is flown by the US Army. The IAF had signed a multi-billion dollar contract with the US government and Boeing Ltd in September 2015 for 22 Apache helicopters. The first batch of these helicopters is scheduled to be shipped to India by Jul this year.
Selected aircrew and ground crew have undergone training at the training facilities at US Army base Fort Rucker, Alabama. These personnel will lead the operationalisation of the Apache fleet in the IAF. It said the helicopter has been customised to suit the IAF's future requirements and would have significant capability in mountainous terrain.
The helicopter has the capability to carry out precision attacks at standoff ranges and operate in hostile airspace with threats from ground. It said the ability of these helicopters, to transmit and receive the battlefield picture, to and from the weapon systems through data networking makes it a lethal acquisition.
These attack helicopters will provide significant edge in any future joint operations in support of land forces. Additionally, the Defence Ministry in 2017 approved the procurement of six Apache helicopters along with weapons systems from Boeing at a cost of Rs 4,168 crore for the Army. This will be its first fleet of attack choppers.
Fuselages for this Army order will be produced by Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited, a joint venture between Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems in Hyderabad.