The Indian Air Force is all set to get more wings. The IAF had floated a global tender for 22 combat helicopters aimed at substituting its old Russian-made Mi-35 helicopters. US-based Boeing has emerged as the sole bidder for the deal, sources said. Boeing is offering its AH-64D Block III Apache Longbow attack or combat helicopters in a deal worth $1.4 billion in preference to the Russian made Mi-28N Night Hunter, which was also in the running.
However, IAF reportedly was more inclined towards the Apache 64D after field and weapon trials in environmental conditions specified by it. The US government had notified Congress almost two years back about the possible sale of Apache 64D helicopters to India according to mandatory procedure approval. If the IAF goes ahead with the deal, procurement will have lesser red-tape hassles and the copters would be available for quicker delivery. Capable of detecting 256 moving targets and engaging them, the twin-engine Apache 64D is operated by two pilots and has a composite fibre shell.
The US is known to be way ahead in terms of electronic warfare, and the Apache is considered to be one of the most advanced combat helicopters. It has successfully carried out missions during the 1991 Gulf War between US and Iraq and then in Afghanistan. On the other hand, the Russian Rosobor-onexport’s Mi-28N Night Hunter has hardly witnessed any field action since its induction into the Russian forces about six years back.
The deal would include a huge array of equipment including Lockheed Martin’s Hellfire and Rayth-eon’s Stinger missiles and Longbow Fire Control Radar in addition to engines, training, support, and spares. While the contract invo-lving both Direct Commercial Sale and Foreign Military Sales components is expected to be inked by 2013, it will take three years for delivery.