With the Indian Air Force embarking on modernisation, the skies over different parts of the country will witness yet another high-profile test with evaluations of attack helicopters due to start this summer.
Seeking to get off the mark, Boeing is fielding the AH-64D Apache helicopter for the trials, Dean Millsap, regional director, Asia Pacific International Business Development, told a group of visiting Indian journalists here.
Mr. Millisap said an IAF team was due to arrive in the United States and thereafter dates for the trials in different weather conditions would be finalised. Boeing is among the international companies that responded to the Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by the IAF last year for supply of 22 attack helicopters.
These will replace the Russian-made attack helicopters being operated by the IAF. Boeing is also offering Chinooks, its tandem rotor, twin engine, heavy lift twin rotor helicopters. The deal is estimated to be around $ 2 billion.
The Boeing representative told the journalists, after a tour of the facility where Chinooks are manufactured, that in the case of Apache, India would get the Block 3 helicopter, the same version that was being acquired by the U.S. Air Force.
Since 1984, over 1,700 Apache attack helicopters have been manufactured and Block 3 came on the assembly line last year equipped with improved target detection, increased situational awareness and survivability. One of the features, he said, was connectivity with unmanned aerial vehicles.
The present-day Apache helicopters can perform multimissions, including with fire-and-forget missiles, auxiliary fuel tanks, air-to-air missiles, crashworthy structure, advanced sensors, advanced targeting sight and integrated electronic maintenance.
Boeing is also augmenting its manufacturing facility to meet its orders by ramping up production from 4.5 Chinooks a month to six by 2011. The company is in the race for 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft and has completed a set of trials.
Correction and Clarification
The third paragraph of the above report was "Mr. Millisap said an IAF team was due to arrive in the United States and thereafter dates for the trials in different weather conditions would be finalised." The writer clarifies that it should have been "Mr. Millisap said a U.S. team will go to India and thereafter ...." The fifth paragraph was "The Boeing representative told the journalists, after a tour of the facility where Chinooks are manufactured, that in the case of Apache, India would get the Block 3 helicopter, the same version that was being acquired by the U.S. Air Force." It should have been the "U.S. Army."
Keywords: Indian Air Force, attack helicopters
we are depend on others for your defence requirements. we should reduce it by preparing our own equipments like helicoptors,missiles, radars,etc
It is somethimg beyond any logical mind. IAF must know which helicoptors are the best in the world. Is our air force assertaining its ignorence? India must be aware that USA has used these machines during her venture in the gulf. it is a waste of time calling for trials. These delays that have enfeebled India. These are self destrcitive measures that prevent India from swift actions that deprived her armed forces during the Kargil theater and again during Mumbai crnage. India even after her sordid ordeial, is not prepared to confront even a small conflict. All because of political squabbling and bad governance. After all India has a million plus army whom the leaders are ready to sacrifice. These are reasons why many unwilling to join the armed services.
To my understanding the US attack helicopter AH-64 Apache is the best among the lot that are bidding for the tender and the IAF knows it well that what it is looking for would be met by Apache. If the lowest rate bidder is not the criteria for the selection of the type to go for then why go for entire tedious ritual of trials of all the models of other competitors and delay the process of selection further without any cogent reason?
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