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| US ARMY PHOTO |
Half a century after the Indian Air Force last operated U.S.-built helicopters, it’s about to happen again. India will push through deals for 22 Boeing Apache Block IIIs and 15 CH-47F Chinooks this month, a little under two years after the two American choppers beat out Russian rivals in two separate Indian Air Force competitions. That’s amazingly swift by Indian procurement standards. The Indian MoD’s Defence Acquisition Council will meet for the first time under India’s new government on July 19, where both deals are expected to be signed off on and moved up for final clearance from the Union Cabinet.
Two reports today confirm in Mail Today and Times Of India that the two deals are final and are primed for signing.
The Apache beat out the Russian Mi-28NE, while the Chinook defeated the Mi-26T. They won’t be the first American-built choppers in Indian military service though — the Indian Navy received six UH-3H Sea King choppers along with the erstwhile USS Trenton (now INS Jalashwa) in 2007. The first US-built chopper with the Indian armed forces was the Sikorsky S-55 in the fifties.
For a country like India to operate the same number of Apaches and Chinooks as tiny Singapore where I live is not a matter to be boasting about…then again at least SOMETHING is moving.
Maybe taking the full strength of IAF and comparing it to the Singapore where you live might give you a tiny reason to be proud of….
What is the hurry of buying?? Are they the most crucial weapons?
Artillery, is there any news on this front ?
Rs5000 cr provided by Modi govt over 2014 interim budget. Now we can buy these choppers, Rafales,subs, space ships, two planets…
Let us stop these stupid purchases. We are the largest arms importer and it is stupid.
Any purchase has to be a)absolutely necessary b)result in a JV between an Indian and Foreign company c) Have no involvement of the PSU sector especially HAL, BDL etc which are the biggest threat to our defence more than China and Pakistan combined!!
apache shud be co manufactured & co produce in India.
I read this news in 2012 but now 2014 and no deal sign, i am sure I will read this news after two Years in 2016 again but no deal sign. ( this is a INDIA)
India should buy more american stuff as it is more reliable than russian