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Army to sign deal for six Apache attack helicopters
Why is it in news?
- The deal for six AH-64E Apache attack helicopters for the Indian Army, estimated to cost around $930 million, is likely to be signed early next year.
- These are in addition to 22 Apaches being inducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF).
More in news
- More about the deal
(1) August 2017: The Defence Acquisition Council, chaired by then Defence Minister Arun Jaitley approved the purchase of six Apache attack helicopters from the U.S. for the Army.
(2) For this, India is exercising the optional clause in the original deal for 22 Apaches signed in November 2015 worth Rs. 13,951.57 crore through the Foreign Military Sales programme.
- Apache AH-64E
(1) The Boeing AH-64 Apache is an American twin-turboshaft attack helicopter with a tailwheel-type landing gear arrangement and a tandem cockpit for a crew of two.
(2) It features a nose-mounted sensor suite for target acquisition and night vision systems.
(3) Weaponry: It is armed with a 30 mm (1.18 in) M230 chain gun carried between the main landing gear, and four hardpoints mounted on stub-wing pylons for carrying armament and stores, typically a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and Hydra 70 rocket pods.
Source
The Hindu, Wikipedia