Army to get attack choppers

New Delhi: In a major decision, the defence ministry on Thursday approved procurement of six Apache helicopters along with weapons systems from American giant Boeing at a cost of `4,168 crore for the Army which will be its first fleet of attack choppers.

New Delhi, Aug. 17: In a major decision, the defence ministry on Thursday approved procurement of six Apache helicopters along with weapons systems from American giant Boeing at a cost of `4,168 crore for the Army which will be its first fleet of attack copters.

It will be a follow on order to the deal India had signed with Boeing and the US government for 22 Apache helicopters and 15 Chinook heavy-lift copters in September 2015.

The six ‘AH-64-E’ helicopters will come along with associated equipment, spares and weapons system, defence ministry sources said.

A meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council chaired by defence minister Arun Jaitley cleared the long-pending proposal to procure the attack helicopters for the Army which has been pressing for the copters, the sources said.

The ‘AH-64-E’ copters are known as one of the most advanced multi-role combat helicopters which have advanced weapons systems and night-fighting features.

After the government finalised the deal for 22 Apache helicopters for the Indian Air Force, the Army had been pushing for follow on orders of 11 copters for it, arguing that the ground forces need them considering the changing security scenario in the region. Till now, the Army does not have any attack helicopter. — PTI