On July 30, 2018, Boeing and India completed the first inaugural flights of Apache and Chinook helicopters planned to be delivered to the Indian Air Force next year.
The unveiling flights were conducted in Mesa, Arizona and Philadelphia respectively.
Indian Air Force has heavily been reliant on aging Russian attack and heavy lift helicopters. The country is purchasing a total of 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and a total of 15 CH-47F Chinook transport helicopters from Boeing, a major step in an effort to modernize its Air Force’s helicopter fleet.
A look at the CH-47F Chinook
CH-47F Chinook is a twin-engine tandem rotor and a multi-role, vertical-lift platform commonly used for transport of troops, artillery, equipment and fuel.
The helicopter is largely used by U.S. forces, NATO and other allied countries. CH-47F Chinook primary mission is to transport troops and large payloads at high speed and long ranges.
- Capable of external sling-load operations
- Placing artillery
- Battlefield resupply
- It has air assault operation capabilities. (This military transport chopper can be armed with up to three 7.62 mm machine guns or miniguns. Two of them can be mounted in the doors and one on loading ramp).
- CH-47 Chinook has a maximum speed of 315 km/h and cruising speed of 291 km/h.
The CH-47 Chinook helicopter series has been in use since its introduction in 1962 and has been upgraded and refurbished many times.
The CH-47F helicopter accommodates 33 to 55 passengers. It is operated by a crew of three, including two pilots and a flight engineer.
AH-64e Apache
Ah-64e Apache is multi-role combat helicopter. This one of the most advance U.S. Army model attack helicopter that has been exported across the world. It has;
- Armor features
- Advanced targeting systems
- Can carry a large variety of weapons ranging from Hellfire missiles and unguided rockets to air-to-air-missiles.
- Has a rotating 30mm cannon that can fire armor-piercing and high-explosive anti-personnel ammunition.
- Max rate of climb: over 2,800 ft/minute
- Max level flight speed: over 279 km/hr
The Apache attack helicopters have extensively been in service in Iraq and Afghanistan by U.S. forces in the mission.
