Boeing’s iconic CH-47 Chinook heavy lift chopper to be delivered in India in 2019Boeing India on Friday announced the completion of first flights of multi role attack helicopter Apache and troop transport Chinook helicopters to be delivered to the Indian Air Force next year. Announcing this significant step Boeing India President Pratyush Kumar in a statement said, “First flight of India’s Apache and Chinook helicopters are important milestones towards strengthening Indian armed forces capabilities.” “India will receive the most advanced versions of both the AH-64E Apache and the CH-47F Chinook. Indian industry partners such as Dynamatics are building large sections of Chinook, and the Tata Boeing joint venture in Hyderabad is building the complete fuselage of the Apache” he added. India had in September 2015 finalized a contract with Boeing for the purchase of 22 AH-64E Apache attack, and 15 CH-47F (I) Chinook transport, helicopters in a bid to modernize its helicopter fleet. Additionally, six Apaches were cleared for purchase for the Indian Army in 2017. Fuselages for this Army order will be produced by Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited, the joint venture between Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems in Hyderabad.
AH-64E Apache is the world’s leading multi-role attack helicopter and is flown by the US Army, features enhanced performance, joint digital operability, improved survivability and cognitive decision aiding. Chinook is a multi-role, vertical-lift platform, emphasizing heavy-lift transport of troops, artillery, equipment, and fuel. It is the helicopter of choice for humanitarian disaster-relief operations, in missions such as transportation of relief supplies and mass evacuation of refugees.
