A fleet of 8 US-made Apache AH-64E(I) helicopters were inducted at Pathankot airbase. The helicopters have been introduced into the IAF’s helicopter fleet as a part of India’s modernization of defence plans.
The IAF gave the good news to the world with a tweet with a 4-minute video. “#NewInduction: Glimpses of AH-64E Apache attack helicopter’s maiden flight at AFS Hindan. The helicopter is planned to be inducted into the IAF on 03 Sep 19 at AFS Pathankot,” the tweet read.
During the induction Wing, Commander Kshitij Avasthi and squadron leader Munish Dogra assisted by co-pilots AK Shrivastava and Anoop Kumar Singh flew two of the helicopters and presented the tactical manoeuvres. The induction was conducted before a select gathering where IAF chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa was also present.
During the induction ceremony, Wing Commander Shelly said: “Since long a need was felt to have the latest attack helicopter in IAF arsenal and hence the choice was Apache AH-64E.” As further described by her, Apache’s assault capabilities and the ability to hit enemy targets with precision is matchless.
8 Received, More to Come
The fleet of 8 Apache helicopters has been received as a part of a billion-dollar deal. In September 2015, India had signed a deal with US defence giant Boeing. The deal valued at $1.1 Billion demanded Boeing supply 22 Apache choppers to IAF. This arrival was part of the first Apache squadron raised as a part of the deal. It is expected that the rest 14 choppers will be delivered to the IAF through the year 2020.
During the induction ceremony, Wing Commander Shelly said: “Since long a need was felt to have the latest attack helicopter in IAF arsenal and hence the choice was Apache AH-64E.” As further described by her, Apache’s assault capabilities and the ability to hit enemy targets with precision is matchless.
IAF’s Plan with the Choppers
The helicopters arrived in July 2019 at the Hindan Air Force Station. They were transported in batched of 4 each over 2 days. Further, before the induction, they were transported from Hindan to Pathankot, Punjab. Out of these eight choppers, four are to be stationed at Pathankot Air Force Station only. It is a prime airbase because it is just a few miles away from the International Pakistan Border.
A terror attack that took place at the airbase in January 2016 took lives of 6 soldiers. Further, the other 4 are to be stationed at Assam’s Jorhat Airbase.
The whole new fleet of Apache helicopters is bought to form part of 125-Helicopter squadron which is popularly known as “Gladiators” of the IAF.
Power of Apache
·Apache has the capabilities to shoot:
– Fire-and-Forget Anti-Tank Guided Missiles
– Air-to-Air Ground Hellfire Missiles
– 70mm Hydra Rockets
– Air-to-Air Stinger Missiles
– 30 mm automatic cannon chain gun & other ammunitions.
· With an endurance of 3 hours 9 minutes, Apache is one of the fiercest, lethal survivable, deployable and maintainable multi-mission helicopters in the world developed by Boeing.
· It is powered by 2 high-performance turbo-shaft engines which can make it fly at a whopping speed of around 284 km/hour.
· Every single Apache AH-64E is equipped with a 30mm automatic cannon chain gun which can fire 1200 rounds of ammunition as a part of area weapon sub-system. It can fire 625 rounds per minute.
· It is equipped with advanced laser infrared and a fire control radar with 360-degree coverage. It allows the chopper to designate target acquisition and to track up to 128 targets in less than a minute. The chopper can affect an attack in less than 30 seconds on 128 targets.
· Apart from this, the main threat that the enemy has from this chopper is that every chopper can carry eight fire-and-forget Hellfire missiles with a firing range of 8 to 12 km. It also has threat prioritizing abilities.
· With a wingspan of 17.15 ft and height of 15.24 ft, it’s primary mission gross weight is 6838 kg and a vertical climb rate (can reach a height) of 2000 ft (889 metres) per min. which can be extended to a maximum of 2800 ft per min.
Need for Apache
IAF currently flies Soviet-origin Mi-25, Mi-35 & Mi-26 helicopter gunships. The introduction of the Apache to the IAF’s helicopter squadron will be a game-changer for Indian Military. Up till now, our forces relied on Russian Mi-17 which is a medium-lift helicopter. It was used for the rapid induction of forces. Apart from this, an obsolete fleet of Russian Mi-26 helicopters and two squadrons of Mi-35 helicopters which formed part of Soviet Union squadrons during Afghanistan’s occupation in the 1980s.
Apache will go on to replace these obsolete Mi-35 helicopters in the squadron. Further, as a part of IAF’s modernization program, IAF had also inducted Boeing CH-47F (I) heavy-weight Chinook helicopters to the IAF squadron earlier this year in March.
Apart from this, the Indian Army is also in the process of buying six Apache attack helicopters from the US for Rs 4,168 crore.
Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa said, “With abilities to shoot ‘Fire-and-Forget Anti-Tank Guided Missiles’, Air-to-Air Missiles, Rockets and other ammunitions, Apache has modern electronic warfare capabilities which provide versatility to helicopters in network-centric aerial warfare.”
As explained by the official experts, Apache attack helicopter can carry out precision attacks at standoff ranges and has abilities to operate in hostile airspace while dealing with ground-based threats.
The introduction of the fleet of the helicopter is being termed as a “deadly acquisition” by IAF. The helicopter uses data networking technology along with weapon system to transmit & receive pictures of the battlefield.
An IAF official also said, “It would also provide a significant edge in any future joint operations in support of land forces.”
Further, as reported by IAF officials, The IAF pilots have already undergone training in the US to fly these attack helicopters.
Source: www.hindustantimes.com & www.timesofindia.com
