First batch of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters will be introduced by the Army in February 2024

With an estimated cost of ₹45,000 crore, the larger contract for 156 indigenous Light Combat Helicopters (LCH), 90 for the Army and 66 for the Indian Air Force, is expected to be taken up by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) next week. Meanwhile, the Army is preparing to introduce the first batch of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters in February 2024 and will be stationed in the desert sector. It is anticipated that the first Apache assault helicopter would be delivered in February 2024. 30 technicians and 6 pilots were trained by Boeing in the United States as part of the agreement. One defence official stated that the delivery of all six Apaches will be finished by April 2024.

According to two separate sources, the DAC is scheduled to convene the following week to deliberate on the 156 LCH issue. The purchase of 39 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters from the United States has received approval from the Cabinet Committee. Subsequently, the IAF received 22 Apaches as part of an agreement made in September 2015, and the government determined that the Army would receive any further Apache procurements. Accordingly, in February 2020, India inked an agreement to purchase six more Apaches for the Army at an estimated cost of $800 million. The COVID epidemic has caused a small delay in the Apaches' delivery.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has ordered a study on the number of armoured helicopters necessary; the investigation is anticipated to begin in early December or by the end of November, despite the Army's persistent arguments for 11 additional Apaches. According to authorities, the decision to deploy more Apaches would be made when the research was finished. The armed variant of the Advanced Light Helicopter, designated 75 Rudra, is now in use by the Army. Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari recently spoke about the IAF's modernization plans and push for indigenous hiring, stating that they had inducted 10 LCH into the 143 Helicopter Unit "Dhanush" last year and are planning to sign a contract in the upcoming year for 156 of them, 66 of which would be for the IAF.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) authorised the ₹3,887 crore purchase of 15 Limited Series Production (LSP) versions of LCH in March 2020. Additionally, ₹377 crore in infrastructure sanctions were granted, with 10 of them going to the IAF and five to the Army. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) designed and developed the twin-engine LCH, a 5-8 tonne class dedicated combat helicopter. The necessity for a dedicated platform that could operate at high altitudes was realised during the 1999 Kargil conflict. Because it is the only attack helicopter in the world capable of landing and taking off at an altitude of 5,000 metres (16,400 feet) while carrying a sizable load of weaponry and fuel, it greatly increases the IAF's and the Army's capability in high-altitude environments. The helicopter is perfect for operating in high-altitude regions of the Siachen glacier since it has a combat radius of 500 km and a service ceiling of 21,000 feet.

The LCH is equipped with a 20 mm nose cannon, 70 mm rockets, an MBDA air-to-air missile called Mistral-2 that has a maximum interception range of 6.5 km, and an anti-tank guided missile called Dhruvastra.