First batch of US-made Apache helicopters to arrive in India after long delay

India is set to receive its long-awaited first batch of Apache AH-64E attack helicopters from the United States, following a delay of over 15 months.

The Indian Army, which signed a $600 million deal in 2020 for six of the advanced combat helicopters, had initially expected deliveries between May and June 2024, Caliber.Az reports, citing Indian media.

Sources familiar with the delivery timeline have indicated that the first three helicopters will be handed over to the Indian Army’s Aviation Corps in the coming weeks, with the remaining three expected later this year. The Apache helicopters are slated for deployment along the western border to bolster the Army’s combat readiness, especially following Operation Sindoor.

The Army raised its first Apache squadron in Jodhpur in March 2024. However, due to the prolonged delay, the squadron has been operating without its core combat assets. “The Army focuses on enhancing its combat capabilities along the western border,” a source said, adding that the helicopters’ arrival “appears to be over” after the long wait.

Originally, the six helicopters were to arrive in two batches of three. However, technical issues and supply chain disruptions in the United States pushed the expected delivery date to December 2024. The first batch, delayed since mid-2023, will now likely be delivered this month.

The Apache AH-64E helicopters are renowned for their agility, firepower, and advanced targeting systems, making them essential to India’s strategic needs. The Indian Air Force already operates 22 Apache helicopters from a separate 2015 order. The Army’s addition of the Apache fleet marks a significant step toward strengthening its aerial offensive capabilities on the western front.

In addition to the incoming Apaches, the Army Aviation Corps operates a wide range of aircraft, including the ALH Dhruv, Rudra, Cheetah, Chetak, and Mi-17 helicopters, as well as UAVs like Heron and Searcher for reconnaissance.

These assets play a pivotal role in battlefield support, surveillance, logistics, and casualty evacuation—capabilities that will be further enhanced once the Apache fleet becomes operational later this year.

By Vafa Guliyeva