The Army will finally get its own heavy-duty attack helicopters after a bitter tussle with
the IAF over the last several years.
The defence ministry on Thursday cleared the acquisition of six Apache attack helicopters,
armed with Hellfire and Stinger missiles, for the Army at a cost of Rs 4,168 crore.
The 1.3-million strong Army had earlier sought the government's approval for the acquisition
of 11 Apache helicopters from the US as "a follow-on contract" to the Rs 13,952 crore
deal inked for 22 such choppers for the IAF in September 2015.
But after stiff opposition from the IAF, the Arun Jaitley-led Defence Acquisitions Council
(DAC) on Thursday cleared the Army's whittled down a proposal for the six AH-64E Apache
helicopters, which are manufactured by Boeing
The apaches will be deployed on the Western Front in support of tank formations in a role
similar to that of Indian Air Force helicopters.
The first Apaches are expected to enter service with the army in 2021.
The Army for long has been pushing for three squadrons of attack helicopters, among other
choppers, for its three primary "strike" corps geared for rapid armoured thrusts into enemy
territory.
The Army believes it should have "full command and control" over "tactical air assets" for
rapid deployment along with its strike corps, while the IAF should concentrate on its "larger
strategic role".
As of now, IAF's two existing but ageing squadrons of Russian-origin Mi-25/35 attack helicopters
are supposed to play that role.
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