another report on the same:
Apache likely to clinch Rs3,600-cr defence deal
Apache-64 D attack helicopter manufactured by Boeing is likely to bag the Rs3,600-crore contract for 22 helicopters for the IAF as the other competitor MI-28-N could not meet certain technical requirements during trials in India recently.
Apache and MI-28 were shortlisted for trials after a global tender was floated last year for procuring attack helicopters. At present, IAF has two squadrons (one squadron has 12 to 14-helicopters) of Russian made MI-35s.
While the final selection of Apache will take some more months as the defence procurement procedure entails that the lowest bidder has to be selected after technical trials, sources said here on Wednesday if the Russian machine fails to meet the technical parameters then the Defence Ministry will negotiate with Apache.
As regards the technical trials, they said the MI-28 did not fare well in hot weather conditions in deserts and most of the Indian attack helicopters are based there to destroy enemy tanks and fortified positions.
Apache is one of the most potent fighting machines of contemporary era and is battle tested. The US has used this helicopter extensively in Afghanistan and Iraq while Israel had deployed it during conflict in Lebanon and Gaza strip. Besides these two countries, Saudi Arabia, Netherlands, Singapore, Greece and Japan have also inducted Apaches.
This helicopter has four blades and two engines and a tandem cockpit for a two-man crew. Apache has a nose-mounted sensor suite for target acquisition and night vision systems. It is armed with a 30-millimeter M-230 Chain Gun carried between the main landing gear, under the aircraft’s forward fuselage. It has four hard points mounted on stub-wing pylons, typically carrying a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and Hydra 70 rocket pods. The AH-64 has a large amount of systems redundancy to improve combat survivability.
Apache likely to clinch Rs3,600-cr defence deal