India is getting ready to order 22 heavy-duty Apache helicopters for
around $1.4 billion, in what will be yet another big defence deal to be
bagged by the US.
The US has already made military sales worth over $8 billion to India
over the last few years, despite it having lost out to France in the
almost $20 billion MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) project to
supply 126 fighters to IAF, which is in the final commercial
negotiations stage.
In the battle for the attack helicopters, Boeing’s AH-64 D Apache
Longbow met all air staff qualitative requirements during the field
trials conducted by the IAF, while the Russian Mil Moscow Helicopter
Plant’s Mi-28 Havoc failed to pass muster.
“It’s just a matter of time before the contract is inked for the
Apaches after final commercial negotiations. Most of the hurdles have
been cleared,” a defence ministry official said. The US and Russia are
also locked in battle to supply 15 heavy-lift helicopters to IAF, with
the Boeing-manufactured Chinooks pitted against the Russian Mi-26
choppers.
As first reported by TOI earlier, Indian armed forces are looking to
induct as many as 900 helicopters in the coming decade, including 384
light-utility and observation, 90 naval multirole, 65 light combat, 22
heavy-duty attack, 139 medium-lift and 15 heavy-lift, among others, many
of them from abroad.
The impending $1.4 billion deal for the 22 Apaches will also include
the supply of 812 AGM-114 L-3 Hellfire Longbow missiles, 542 AGM-114 R-3
Hellfire-II missiles, 245 Stinger Block I-92 H missiles and 12
AN/APG-78 fire-control radars.
Among the other military aviation deals already bagged by the US are
the $4.1 bn contract for 10 C-17 Globemaster-III strategic airlift
aircraft, $2.1 billion for eight P-8 I maritime patrol aircraft and $962
million for six C-130 J ‘Super Hercules” planes.
