5 months ago
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The Indian Army connected Tuesday (December 16, 2025) received the last batch of 3 AH-64E Apache onslaught helicopters, completing its six-unit fleet astatine the 451 Army Aviation Squadron based successful Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The helicopters landed astatine Hindon Air Force Station successful Ghaziabad earlier being inducted into the service.
The Apaches were contracted successful February 2020 nether a $600 cardinal woody with the United States. The archetypal batch of 3 helicopters was delivered earlier this year, and the accomplishment of the last tranche volition guarantee afloat operationalisation of the Army’s dedicated Apache squadron.
The six precocious onslaught helicopters volition beryllium stationed astatine Jodhpur, importantly enhancing the Army’s onslaught and reconnaissance capabilities on the occidental assemblage facing Pakistan. The squadron was raised successful March past twelvemonth to cater specifically to operational requirements connected the occidental front.
The deliveries travel successful the backdrop of a telephonic speech betwixt Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth successful July this year, during which some sides reviewed ongoing and upcoming initiatives to fortify bilateral defence cooperation. During the talks, the United States had assured India of delivering the archetypal batch of 3 Apaches wrong 2 weeks and the remaining 3 by November this year.
The archetypal batch was delivered aft a hold of astir 15 months from the archetypal transportation docket of May 2024, chiefly owed to planetary proviso concatenation disruptions.
In November, a specialised Antonov AN-124 cargo craft carrying 3 Apache helicopters took disconnected from Mesa Gateway Airport successful Arizona and landed successful England for refuelling. The craft remained grounded for astir a week aft Turkey denied overflight clearance, forcing it to instrumentality to the United States.
The AH-64E Apache is regarded arsenic the world’s astir precocious multi-role combat helicopter, equipped with cutting-edge avionics, sensors and limb systems, and susceptible of operating successful each upwind and terrain conditions. Its induction is expected to supply a large boost to the Indian Army’s violative and deterrence capabilities on the occidental border.
