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The supply of six Apache assault helicopters from the US will happen between February and June subsequent yr and can present built-in fight aviation assist to the Military’s strike corps. Moreover, plans have been finalized to amass 156 indigenous ‘Prachand’ mild fight helicopters for offensive operations in high-altitude areas studies TOI.
The Military is gearing as much as induct the primary lot of AH-64E Apache assault helicopters from February 2024 onwards and shall be deployed within the desert sector, whereas the larger contract for 156 indigenous Mild Fight Helicopters (LCH “Prachand”), 90 for the Military and 66 for the Indian Air Pressure, estimated to price ₹45,000 crore, is anticipated to be taken up by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) subsequent week.
“The primary Apache assault helicopter is scheduled to be delivered in February 2024. As a part of the deal, six pilots and 24 technicians have been educated by Boeing within the U.S. Supply of all six Apaches could be accomplished by April 2024,” a defence supply mentioned. The DAC is anticipated to fulfill subsequent week when the case for the 156 LCH “Prachand” shall be taken up for consideration, two sources independently said.
The Military Aviation, which has up to now operated utility helicopters, inducted its first devoted assault helicopter with the LCH “Prachand” and the primary squadron, 351 Military Aviation, was moved to Air Pressure Quarters, Missamari, Assam within the jap sector close to the Line of Precise Management (LAC) final November.
The Cupboard Committee had given sanction for the procurement of 39 AH-64 Apache assault helicopters from the U.S. Following this, the IAF inducted 22 Apaches below a deal signed in September 2015 following which the federal government has determined any additional Apache procurements would go to the Military. In keeping with this, India signed a deal for six extra Apaches, for the Military, at a value of round $800 million in February 2020. There’s a slight delay in deliveries of the Apaches because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whereas the Military has been pushing the case for 11 extra Apaches, the Chief of Defence Employees (CDS) not too long ago ordered a research on the variety of armored helicopters required which is anticipated to begin in November or early December. So, officers mentioned, the decision on extra Apaches could be taken as soon as the research was full. The Military presently operates 75 Rudra, the armed model of the Superior Mild Helicopter.
Modernization Plans
Speaking of the IAF’s modernization plans and indigenous push, Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari not too long ago mentioned that they had inducted 10 LCH “Prachand” final yr, within the 143 Helicopter Unit ‘Dhanush’, and are signing a contract within the coming yr for a complete of 156 of them, 66 of which might be for the IAF.
In March 2020, the Cupboard Committee on Safety (CCS) accepted the procurement of 15 Restricted Collection Manufacturing (LSP) variants of LCH “Prachand” at a value of ₹3,887 crore, together with infrastructure sanctions value ₹377 crore, 10 for the IAF and 5 for the Military.
The dual-engine LCH “Prachand” designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Restricted (HAL) is a 5-8 ton class devoted fight helicopter, conceptualized after the 1999 Kargil battle when the necessity for a devoted platform able to working in excessive altitudes was felt. It’s the solely assault helicopter on the earth that may land and take off at an altitude of 5,000 m (16,400 ft) with a substantial load of weapons and gas, considerably augmenting the firepower of the IAF and the Military in high-altitude areas. The helicopter has a fight radius of 500 km and might go as much as a service ceiling of 21,000 toes, which makes it ideally suited to function at excessive altitude areas of the Siachen glacier.
The LCH “Prachand” is armed with a 20 mm nostril gun, 70 mm rockets, an anti-tank guided missile ‘Dhruvastra’ and an air-to-air missile ‘Mistral-2’ of the MBDA which has a most interception vary of 6.5 km.
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