India Army's wait for a fleet of highly advanced attack helicopters, AH-64E Apache, developed by American defence and aerospace major Boeing, is likely to get longer in the wake of a few crashes involving the Apache helicopters of the US Army.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has a fleet of 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, famed for their “unparalleled lethality and survivability”. In 2020, Boeing signed an agreement with India to supply six more Apache helicopters for the Army. These were to be delivered in May 2024. The production had began in 2023.
READ MORE: Developing space, electronic warfare integral to tackling modern-day challenges, says Rajnath Singh
In March, an AH-64E attack chopper belonging to the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade of the US Army crashed during a routine training exercise. This was the third crash involving the Apache helicopter in just two months.
It has to be noted that in 2023, a US Army aviation official had flagged concerns of AH-64E Apaches experiencing electrical power generator failures, leading to “potentially hazardous” conditions as the cockpit would be filled with smoke when such a failure happens.
The Apache helicopters were intended to replace the older Russian Mi-35 attack helicopters in the Indian Army's arsenal. “The advanced technology and proven performance of the AH-64 will enhance the Indian Army's operational readiness and strengthen its defence capabilities,” president of Boeing India,Salil Gupte, had said earlier.
Nonetheless, in the wake of these incidents, Boeing has reportedly put on hold new deliveries of AH-64E Apache multi-role combat helicopters until the issues faced by it are completely addressed and validated after tests.
IDRW reports that Boeing is likely to deliver the helicopters only by the end of the year.
