NEW DELHI: In a lift to India’s rotary wing fight capabilities, the Military is about to get supply of three remaining Apache AH-64 assault helicopters from US, whereas the Navy will fee its second squadron of MH-60R Seahawk submarine-hunting choppers this week.The induction of those much-delayed American helicopters will plug current operational gaps however the actual punch will come when the Military and IAF start getting 156 indigenous ‘Prachand’ mild fight helicopters from 2028 onwards.Armed forces need over 1,000 new helicopters of various sorts in subsequent 10-15 years to make up for main deficiencies and change out of date Cheetah and Chetak fleets.They embody 484 light-utility helicopters in 3.5-tonne class and 419 Indian multi-role helicopters in 10-15 tonne class, however there have been delays in these tasks being executed by HAL.The three Apache gunships, dubbed “tanks within the air” since they’re armed with Stinger air-to-air missiles, Hellfire Longbow air-to-ground missiles, weapons and rockets, will landing in India in a few days, defence officers advised TOI.India had ordered six heavy-duty Apaches for the Military in a Rs 5,691 crore cope with US in February 2020, beneath which the primary three had been delivered in July after an enormous delay as a result of provide chain issues confronted by Boeing. These six Apaches will add to the 22 such choppers inducted by IAF in 2019-2020 beneath a Rs 13,952 crore cope with US in Sept 2015. The Military Apaches shall be deployed at Jodhpur, the place a squadron was raised in March final 12 months to cater for the western entrance with Pakistan.Navy will fee its second squadron of Seahawks, armed with Hellfire missiles, MK-54 torpedoes and precision-kill rockets in addition to superior sensors, at INS Hansa in Goa on Dec 17.The US has thus far delivered 15 of the 24 Seahawks, that are manufactured by Sikorsky-Lockheed Martin, beneath a Rs 15,157 crore contract in February 2020. By the way, the defence ministry final month inked one other Rs 7,955 crore contract with the US for follow-on assist and spares for the multi-mission helicopters.Whereas fairly costly, the Seahawks are essential as a result of the 140-warship Navy is presently grappling with only a handful of outdated Sea King and Kamov-28 anti-submarine warfare helicopters at a time when the presence of Chinese language submarines is simply going to additional improve within the Indian Ocean Area.
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