Six helicopters ordered from Boeing by the Indian Army are set to be delivered this month, with the first three scheduled for delivery. Boeing, based in the United States, manufactures Apache gunship helicopters. These helicopters are equipped with machine guns, missiles for striking ground targets from the air, and rocket projectiles. They are referred to as ‘flying tanks.’ In 2015, the Indian Air Force procured 22 Apache helicopters for a total of ₹13,952 crores, which were subsequently inducted into the army. One of these helicopters sustained significant damage while landing in Ladakh last year. Six Apache-class helicopters were procured for Rs. 5,691 crores for the purpose of utility in the year 2020. The delivery of these helicopters has been delayed. In this regard, the United States Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, spoke on the phone with the Indian Defense Minister, Rajnath Singh, last Thursday. During the conversation, it was indicated that the first three Apache helicopters would be delivered this month, while the next three helicopters are scheduled for delivery in November. The Apache helicopter unit of the Indian Army is being established in Jodhpur, which is adjacent to the Pakistan border.After the operation sindoor, 12 types of explosive devices worth Rs. 44,000 crore are set to be manufactured domestically. The DRDO is preparing ground-to-air missiles, surveillance aircraft known as ISTAR, small underwater drones for naval operations, and 76 mm artillery shells that will be utilized in combat operations, all amounting to a procurement of equipment valued at Rs. 1 lakh crore for the three armed forces. The approval for this has been granted by the Ministry of Defence.
