Apache helicopters finally arrive after 15-month delay, Army hails milestone moment

The first batch of three Apache attack helicopters, the delivery of which had been delayed numerous times, has reached Hindon Airbase this morning. The helicopters were transported to India in a US transport aircraft.

Sources aware of the schedule have confirmed that the freshly received helicopters are to be assembled and inspected before they are handed to the Indian Army’s Aviation Corps. These helicopters will fly to their base in Jodhpur after due process.

The Army Aviation Corps has been waiting for these helicopters since its founding in March 2024 in Jodhpur.

The delivery of the Apache AH-64E attack helicopters from the U.S. failed to meet many deadlines. The Indian Army was initially expecting the delivery by June 2024. The helicopters were part of a $600 million deal signed in 2020 with the U.S. The timeline was later shifted to December 2024 due to supply chain disruption.

The original schedule planned the delivery of six of these helicopters in two batches of three each. After the delay of more than a year, the first batch has finally arrived.

The Indian Army’s Aviation Corps' pilots, trained back in 2024, are ready to take flight.

The Apache helicopters are expected to support the Army in crucial operations in the Western regions of the country. These advanced aircrafts are known for enhanced agility, firepower, and advanced targeting systems.

The Indian Air Force, on the other hand, has inducted 22 Apache helicopters already owing to a separate order signed in 2015.

The newly trained Aviation Corps is a planned critical component of the Army's operational team, providing aerial support for a number of missions.

In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, these helicopters will play a prominent role on the western border.

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