First batch of Apache helicopters arrives for Indian Army aviation corps

After months of delays, the Indian Army has finally received the first batch of three Apache AH-64E attack helicopters at Hindon Airbase. Transported aboard a US military aircraft, the helicopters mark a major advancement for the Army’s newly-formed Aviation Corps, established in March 2024.

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Sources confirmed the helicopters will undergo assembly and final inspections before being deployed to their operational base in Jodhpur. Army officials have hailed the delivery as a milestone, with the new platforms expected to greatly enhance the Army’s firepower and mission flexibility, especially along the western front.

These Apaches are part of a $600 million deal signed in 2020 between India and the U.S., originally scheduled for delivery by June 2024. Supply chain issues led to revised timelines, pushing the first shipment by over a year. The full order includes six helicopters, set to arrive in two equal batches.

The Indian Army’s Aviation Corps pilots, who completed training in 2024, are ready to begin operations with the newly arrived fleet. The helicopters bring cutting-edge combat capabilities, including superior agility and advanced targeting systems, ideal for high-intensity scenarios.

While the Indian Air Force already operates 22 Apache helicopters from a separate 2015 deal, this delivery marks the Indian Army’s independent leap into advanced rotary-wing combat readiness, with a particular focus on Western sector deployments post-Operation Sindoor.