Boeing initiates production of AH-64E Apache helicopters for Indian Army
17 Aug 2023
Boeing, the US-based aerospace and defense company, announced the initiation of production for AH-64E Apache attack helicopters in Mesa, Arizona. Boeing is set to supply the Indian Army with six AH-64E Apache helicopters at a cost of Rs. 4,168 crore. The delivery of the Apaches is scheduled to be completed by 2024.
Currently used by the US Army, the AH-64 Apache stands as one of the world’s most cutting-edge multi-role combat helicopters.
Since gaining independence in 1947, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has maintained a firm stance on retaining authority over combat aviation assets, particularly attack helicopters.
While the Army initiated the operation of light utility helicopters and established its own Army Aviation Corps, the Indian Air Force (IAF), on the other hand, maintained control over medium and heavy lift helicopters (Mi-17 and Mi-26) as well as attack helicopters (Mi-35).
In September 2015, $3 billion worth of helicopters, comprising 22 Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and 15 CH-47F Chinook heavy lift choppers, were entrusted to the IAF. This decision overruled the Indian Army's contention that attack helicopters, a vital component of ground combat, should be operated by army aviation pilots.
The Indian Air Force plans to employ its fleet of 22 Apaches for air defense operations, entailing the elimination of enemy radars and control centers. In contrast, the Army’s Apaches will be utilized to neutralize enemy tanks and armored vehicles within a mechanized battlefield context.
The fuselage of the helicopters is being manufactured by Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL), a joint venture between Boeing and the Tata group. It is through TBAL that the inaugural AH-64 Apache fuselage for the Indian Army has been delivered, from its facility in Hyderabad.
“The advanced technology and established performance of the AH-64 Apache helicopter will augment the operational preparedness of the Indian Army and bolster its defense capabilities,” remarked Salil Gupte, president of Boeing India.
Boeing’s yearly earnings from India now exceed $1 billion. The corporation maintains a workforce of over 5,000 people in the country, and an additional 13,000 personnel are employed with its network of supply chain partners.