Fuselage of 6 Apache copters for Army to be manufactured in India: Boeing official

Fuselages of six Apache helicopters that the government has planned to procure for the Army from US aviation major Boeing will be manufactured at a Hyderabad facility, a senior Boeing India official said here on Tuesday.

The Defence Ministry had in 2017 approved the procurement of six Apache helicopters for the Army, along with weapons systems, from Boeing at a cost of Rs 4,168 crore. This will be the Army's first fleet of attack helicopters.

The Indian Air Force had also signed a multi-billion-dollar contract with the US government and Boeing Ltd in September 2015 for 22 Apache helicopters, out of which eight were inducted into the IAF on Tuesday and the rest are expected to be delivered by 2020.

Asked by when the remaining Apache helicopters will be delivered, Boeing India President Salil Gupte said, "Delivery of Apaches are on schedule."
In his address during the induction ceremony, the Boeing India president said, "We are proud that the IAF has chosen Boeing as a partner in its modernisation journey... Some of the specifications of these Apache AH-64E attack helicopters have been tailored to meet IAF's requirements, to support its operational needs and mission readiness."