A day before National Technology Day 2019, Indian Air Force has received its first lethal attack helicopter the AH-64E Apache Guardian, at the chopper production facility in Arizona, US. The helicopter is said to be one of the most lethal attack helicopters and the Indian Air Force has received its first one.
On May 10, in presence of US government representatives Air Marshal AS Butola accepted the first Apache. The training of the aircrew and ground crew who will lead the Apache fleet in IAF, is already done at the training facilities at US Army base Fort Rucker, Alabama, as per the reports.
So far over 2100 choppers have been produced worldwide and India has received the latest Block III configuration that the US got in 2011.
India has signed a deal for 22 of the Apache Guardian choppers with the US.
Apache is designed for all kinds of missions – including the stealth ones, according to the defence experts. It’s equipped with infrared systems for bad weather, operable in day-night and loaded with Hellfire missiles, in addition to its arsenal of 70 mm rockets and an automatic cannon.
Russian Mi 35 attack helicopter is the chopper India currently operates, which was specifically designed to carry troops into enemy territories whereas Apache is a dedicated attack chopper.
India is getting the Apache chopper which has been customised to suit IAF’s future requirements and will have significant capability in the mountainous terrain. It has the ability to transmit and receive the battlefield picture to and from the weapon systems through data networking.
