IAF begins Apache trials

[sanjubaba]

Apache is really killer machine...

 

[Kinetic]

Yes Apache may be better than Mi-28.But startegically it will not be the wise decision.

It will not be a problem as India also take care of life time support and advance procurement of spare parts.

I am not sure how much comptent Apache is in high altitude but most probable IA will place them in weastern sector i.e desert and plains where Apache is best.So it will be like Apache is facing Apache as PA also have Apcahe much before than us.And if Us put arm embargo like 1971 then god help us...

Surely Apache can perform at high altitude. IA/IAF will test it everywhere before it get selected.

Also Chinook have all weater capability and design will be help full to deploy troops in difficult terrain.And if arm embargo happen then it will not hamper our capability much.

Mi-26 also has all weather capability and its been mordernised over the years.

 

[sudhir007]

Boeing AH-64D Apache a Favorite in Helicopter race for IAF

Indian Air force has been conducting trials for 22 attack helicopters ,while Boeing AH-64D Apache which arrived first for trials has successfully demonstrated it capability in deserts of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan few weeks ago , and will also be conducting similar grueling tests in the icy Himalayan heights of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir in month of August .

While its main competitor Russia’s Mi-28 will be arriving in India in mid of August for similar trials , but as per sources Boeing’s AH-64D Apache has impressed IAF Helicopter pilots mostly who have operated IAF’s current Mi-25s/35 Hind Attack choppers , Indian Air force have recently upgraded Mi-25s/35 Hind with latest hardware that includes night vision capability better sensors making it all weather capable ,but what might have impressed Iaf pilots seems to be shear fire power and better situation awareness capability of the Apache .

Retired Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major who himself was a Helicopter pilot was greatest Supporter of IAF acquiring Apache into force ,it has been said that Major had a chance to fly one Apache once and he loved it had appreciated Apache many times in Indian Media .

while its competitor Russian Mi-28 doesn’t lack behind Apache and is an all-weather day-night two-seater anti-armour attack helicopter. It carries a single gun in an undernose barbette, plus external loads carried on pylons beneath stub wings. It has two heavily armoured cockpits. Its engines are two 2,200 hp Isotov TV-3-117VM (t/n 014) gas turbines.

$550 million-tender to replace the ageing helicopter fleet was issued last year.and six contenders Sikorsky for the Black Hawk, Boeing for the Apache AH 64D, Bell for the Super Cobra , Eurocopter for the Tiger, Russian Mil for the Mi28 and Augusta Westland for the Mangusta responded for the RFI and RFP ,while other backed out due to various reasons including not able to meet technical requirements set by IAF .