Chinook heavy lift helicopters ordered by IAF

The first of the 15 Chinook heavy lift helicopters ordered by the Indian Air Force (IAF) arrived in India on Sunday.

The CH-47F (I) was received at the Mundra Port in Gujarat and would be transported to its home base at Chandigarh.

Boeing, the maker of Chinooks, announced the arrival of the helicopter that will significantly enhance IAF's air lift capabilities.

The helicopter, which can carry around 10 tonnes of load, has been delivered ahead of schedule.

It will fill the gap in IAF's heavy lift capability that had taken a hit after the problems in maintaining three ageing Mi-26 helicopters - the world's heaviest helicopters - of Russian origin.

India had signed a $3 billion deal with the US in September 2015 for the purchase of 15 Chinook heavy lift and 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.

Chinooks have a unique twin engine, tandem rotor design which has become one of the most visibly recognised symbols of the American armed forces.

--IANS

gautam/mr