Indian Air Force Bolsters Its Capabilities: To Induct Heavy-lift Chinook Helicopters Soon

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is readying itself for induction of 15 CH-47F(I) Chinook transport helicopters into service, Financial Express has reported.

Earlier this month, training of the IAF crew on Chinook helicopters began at Delaware, United States. The crew consists of four pilots and four flight engineers of the IAF.

The Chinook is a twin engine, tandem rotor, heavy-lift helicopter which is in use with army of the United States and many others. It can transport troops, artillery and equipment, and thus, is an excellent choice for disaster relief operations and mass evacuations.

US aerospace company Boeing, earlier this year, had completed the first flights of the AH-64E Apache and the CH-47F Chinook helicopters which are scheduled to join the IAF next year. Both of these helicopters will be the most advanced helicopters in the fleet of the IAF.

India has, earlier, signed a $3 billion deal with United States in 2015 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and 15 CH-47F (I) Chinook transport helicopters. An agreement was later struck in which an additional order was given for six more Apaches for the Indian Army in 2017.

Dynamatics, an Indian private sector company is involved in manufacturing some parts of the Chinook while the joint venture of Tata and Boeing in Hyderabad is manufacturing the complete fuselage of the Apache.