NEW DELHI: The Indian Army has taken delivery of the final three AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, completing the induction of all six aircraft contracted for the Army Aviation Corps. The US Embassy in India shared the joint statement updating the delivery of the helicopters.The US Embassy in India shared the update in a post on X. Marking this move as a milestone in the US-India defence partnership, it said, “Delivering on the @POTUS and @PMOIndia joint statement, the arrival of the latest
@boeing_in AH-64E Apache helicopters for the Indian Army @adgpi marks another step forward in the US-India Major Defence Partnership.” With the arrival of the last batch, the long-delayed delivery schedule has formally concluded. The helicopters will be deployed after assembly, joint inspections and completion of mandatory technical and administrative procedures, the Army said. Once inducted, the fleet will be based in Jodhpur.The delivery marks the end of a process that saw repeated timeline revisions. While the first batch of Apaches was initially expected to arrive around February or March this year, the helicopters reached India only in July. Earlier projections had envisaged the start of deliveries in 2023, which were subsequently deferred to 2024 before further delays pushed the timeline back.The completion of deliveries now enables the Army to operationalise its full Apache fleet, significantly enhancing its attack and reconnaissance capabilities.The induction follows assurances made at the highest political and defence levels and reflects the growing strategic alignment between New Delhi and Washington on regional security and defence cooperation.The AH-64E Apache, one of the world’s most advanced attack helicopters, is expected to significantly enhance the Indian army’s combat capabilities with its precision strike, surveillance, and battlefield management systems. Defence officials said the platform would strengthen operational readiness, particularly in challenging terrain and high-threat environments.The arrival of the helicopters also underscores the expanding scope of US–India defence ties, which now extend beyond procurement to include co-production, joint training, and technology exchange. Officials from both sides have repeatedly highlighted defence collaboration as a key pillar of the broader strategic partnership.
