Marking a key step in the long-anticipated modernization program of the Indian Army’s Aviation Corps, this Tuesday, July 22, the United States completed the delivery of the first three Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters—out of a total of six—after a 15-month delay from the original timelines and schedules. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the reception of these aircraft as a “significant step” toward strengthening the country’s defensive capabilities, highlighting their operational impact, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
The contract for the acquisition of this new batch of six Apache helicopters—in their most advanced variant, designated ‘Guardian’—was signed in 2020 during the official visit of then U.S. President Donald Trump. The agreement, valued at $600 million, originally stipulated that deliveries would begin between May and June 2024. However, various factors, including global supply chain disruptions and changes in the geopolitical landscape, caused significant delays to the planned schedule.
A few weeks ago, internal sources from India’s Ministry of Defence had anticipated the arrival of these aircraft, confirming that the U.S. would carry out the delivery on July 15. Ultimately, the first three helicopters arrived this Tuesday at Hindon Air Force Base in Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh state) aboard an Antonov Airlines An-124 transport aircraft operated by the Ukrainian company Antonov Airlines. The helicopters feature a desert camouflage scheme, in line with their potential deployment in the country’s mountainous and desert regions.
This delivery adds to the current fleet of twenty-two (22) Apache helicopters operated by the Indian Air Force. For its part, this new addition to the Indian Army marks a milestone, as it is the first time its Aviation Corps will have attack helicopters specifically designed for ground attack missions, armed reconnaissance, aerial coverage, and close air support in high-demand environments such as the Ladakh region.
Furthermore, the incorporation of the new Apache Guardians falls within a broader strategy to modernize attack and combat capabilities, which also includes the introduction of other locally designed and manufactured platforms, such as Light Combat Helicopters (LCH), Light Utility Helicopters (LUH), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Lastly, authorities confirmed that the remaining three AH-64E units for the Army Aviation Corps will be delivered before the end of the year, thus completing the batch of six helicopters.
You may also like: HAL finally receives first U.S.-made F404 engines for the Indian Air Force’s new LCA Tejas Mk1A fighters
