Friday, 18 July, 2025
In a significant enhancement of India’s strike capabilities along hostile borders, the first batch of three AH-64E Apache attack helicopters is scheduled to arrive from the United States on July 21, 2025. These helicopters are part of a larger order of six, which the Indian Army placed under a $930 million deal signed in 2020.
Manufactured by Boeing Defense, the AH-64E Apache is one of the world’s most advanced multi-role attack helicopters, renowned for its lethal firepower, exceptional performance in high-altitude warfare, and network-centric combat systems. The delivery comes at a time when India is actively upgrading its air combat capabilities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan.
Unlike the 22 Apache helicopters currently operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF), this new fleet of six will be operated by the Army Aviation Corps, providing the Indian Army with its own dedicated offensive rotorcraft support. This marks a significant shift in India’s force structure, as ground commanders will now have greater autonomy in planning and executing air-supported operations in real-time.
Each Apache is equipped with a 30mm chain gun, Hellfire missiles, Hydra 70 rockets, and advanced electronic warfare systems, enabling it to conduct precision strikes on enemy armour, bunkers, and infantry formations. The helicopters are also fitted with modern sensors such as Longbow radar and infrared targeting systems, making them effective in night operations and adverse weather conditions.
Defence sources indicate that the incoming helicopters are specially configured for high-altitude performance, a critical capability given India’s ongoing military presence in the Ladakh region and the Siachen Glacier, where aerial assets are challenged by extreme environmental conditions. During the 2020 Galwan standoff, IAF’s Apache played a crucial role in conducting surveillance and deterrent patrols.
Pilots and technical staff of the Army have already undergone extensive training in the U.S. under Boeing’s defence and support framework. Ground support and maintenance infrastructure for the Apache helicopters has been established at key Army Aviation bases, including Pathankot and Jodhpur, to enable rapid deployment along the western and northern frontiers.
The remaining three helicopters from the order are expected to be delivered by October 2025, completing the initial fleet. There are indications that the Army may eventually seek additional Apache helicopters as part of its next phase of modernization.
India’s acquisition of the Apache fleet is seen as part of a broader strategy to modernize its armed forces with high-tech weaponry, with a particular focus on offensive air mobility. It also reflects the strengthening defence ties with the United States, which has become one of India’s top arms suppliers over the past decade.
With this move, the Indian Army joins an elite group of forces worldwide—including the U.S. Army, Israeli Air Force, and British Army—that operate this combat-proven platform.
