NEW DELHI: In a bid to bolster India’s rotary-wing combat capabilities, the Army is expected to receive three remaining Apache AH-64 attack helicopters from the US, while the Navy will induct its second squadron of MH-60R Seahawk submarine-hunting helicopters this week.The introduction of these much-delayed American helicopters will fill existing operational gaps, but the real blow will come when the Army and IAF begin procuring 156 indigenous Prachand light attack helicopters from 2028.The armed forces want over 1,000 new helicopters of various types over the next 10 to 15 years to address major shortfalls and replace aging Cheetah and Chetak fleets.These include 484 light utility helicopters in the 3.5 tonne class and 419 Indian utility helicopters in the 10-15 tonne class. However, there were delays in the execution of these projects by HAL.The three Apache gunships, called ‘airborne tanks’ as they are armed with Stinger air-to-air missiles, Hellfire Longbow air-to-surface missiles, cannons and missiles, will land in India in a few days, defense officials told TOI.India had ordered six heavy Apaches for the army in February 2020 under a Rs 5,691-crore contract with the US, with the first three delivered in July after a huge delay due to supply chain issues at Boeing. These six Apaches will be in addition to the 22 such helicopters that the IAF inducted in 2019-20 under a ₹ 13,952 crore contract with the US in September 2015. The Army Apaches will be based in Jodhpur, where a squadron was raised in March last year to serve the Western Front with Pakistan.The Navy will commission its second squadron of Seahawks, armed with Hellfire missiles, MK-54 torpedoes and precision missiles, along with advanced sensors, on December 17 at INS Hansa in Goa.The US has so far delivered 15 of the 24 Seahawks manufactured by Sikorsky-Lockheed Martin in February 2020 under a contract worth Rs 15,157 crore. Incidentally, last month, the defense ministry signed another contract worth Rs 7,955 crore with the US for follow-on support and spare parts for the multi-role helicopters.Although quite expensive, the Seahawks are crucial as the 140 warship Navy is currently struggling with only a handful of old Sea King and Kamov-28 anti-submarine helicopters, at a time when the presence of Chinese submarines in the Indian Ocean region is only set to increase.
