Indian Army Set To Sign Deal For Six AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopters Early Next Year

The Indian Army is set for a major capability boost as it moves towards signing a deal to procure six lethal AH-64E Apache attack helicopters for an estimated cost of around $930 million, reports The Hindu.

The deal is expected to be signed in the early part of 2020 and would be an addition to the 22 similar helicopters which are being inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF). The deal has reached an advanced stage and is now awaiting an approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).

The Indian Army expects the induction of the state-of-the-art helicopters to begin in 2022. The induction of the Apache will be a boost for the Army which is expected to receive indigenously built Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) soon along with the IAF. It should be noted though that the Indian Army had pitched for 11 helicopters which was then limited to six by the government.

Meanwhile, the IAF has already inducted the first batch of eight Apache helicopters and expects the remaining helicopters to be inducted by 2020. The first batch of helicopters have been deployed in Pathankot air base.