New Delhi, January 2: The first batch of United States-built Chinook and Apache helicopters are likely to be delivered to India in March. Meanwhile, one of the CH-47 Chinook helicopters will reach Mundra port in Gujarat next month. Later, these helicopters will be flown to their permanent base in Chandigarh, after acceptance trials. Two hangars and a maintenance bay are to be set up in Chandigarh along with associated technical and logistics facilities, whereas, Apaches will be stationed at Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad. IAF Pilots Start Training to Operate US-Made Heavy-Lift Chinook Choppers.

The IAF’s crew is also getting trained on the Apache AH-64 E and Chinook CH 47F (I) helicopters. India signed a $ 3 billion deal to buy 22 Apache and 15 Chinook helicopters in September 2015 with Boeing and the government of the United States. The Indian government signed a direct contract with the Boeing to procure Chinook helicopters, while the deal to buy Apache helicopters is a mixed one. A part of the deal was signed with the US aviation company and the other half is signed with the US government under foreign military sales route. Meanwhile, the US President Donald Trump has also approved India’s proposal to buy six more Apache helicopters. Indian Air Force Sends Six-Member Crew To France For Rafale Jets Training.

Chinooks have a payload capacity of about 10 tonnes. The IAF had four Mi-26s to airlift weapons and men, but now left with only one serviceable chopper. The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an American twin-engine, tandem rotor, heavy-lift helicopter developed by American rotorcraft company Vertol and manufactured by Boeing Rotorcraft Systems, earlier known as Boeing Vertol. Meanwhile, the Boeing AH-64 Apache is an American twin-turboshaft attack helicopter. It is armed with a 30 mm (1.18 in) M230 chain gun carried between the main landing gear. The Apaches which are to be delivered to India will be armed with Hellfire missiles.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 02, 2019 06:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).