logo
Boeing delivers 3 Apache choppers to Indian Army

Boeing delivers 3 Apache choppers to Indian Army

Hans India5 days ago
New Delhi: American aerospace major Boeing on Tuesday delivered three Apache attack choppers to the Indian Army, officials said.
The company delivered the AH-64E Apaches choppers as part of a contract to supply six helicopters to the Indian Army.
The AH-64 Apache is one of the world's most advanced multi-role combat helicopters and is flown by the US Army.
'These state-of-the-art platforms will bolster the operational capabilities of the Indian Army significantly,' the Army said in a social media post. In 2020, Boeing completed delivery of 22 E-model Apaches to the Indian Air Force (IAF) and signed a contract to supply six AH-64Es for the Indian Army.
The delivery of the Indian Army's Apaches was scheduled to begin in 2024.
The IAF had signed a multi-billion dollar contract with the US government and Boeing Ltd in September 2015 for 22 Apache helicopters.
Additionally, the Defence Ministry in 2017 approved the procurement of six Apache helicopters along with weapons systems from Boeing at a cost of Rs 4,168 crore for the Army.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

No Rafale or F-35! Army Demands Rs 1.12 Lakh Cr Defence System, Gets Only Rs 36,000 Cr
No Rafale or F-35! Army Demands Rs 1.12 Lakh Cr Defence System, Gets Only Rs 36,000 Cr

India.com

time21 minutes ago

  • India.com

No Rafale or F-35! Army Demands Rs 1.12 Lakh Cr Defence System, Gets Only Rs 36,000 Cr

New Delhi: After Operation Sindoor, India's defense upgrades are speeding ahead like a bullet train. With over Rs 3 lakh crore being pumped into military modernisation, the government is on a mission to acquire or indigenously develop fighter jets, submarines and advanced missile systems. One by one, big-ticket purchases are being cleared, and the pace is relentless. Earlier this month, the Ministry of Defence approved military procurements worth over Rs 1 lakh crore in one go. Among them, Rs 44,000 crore has been set aside for 12 Mine Counter Measure Vessels and Rs 36,000 crore has been sanctioned for six regiments of the Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile system, better known as QRSAM. These six QRSAM regiments will be split evenly between the Indian Air Force and the Army. But here is the twist. This is only a fraction of what the armed forces actually asked for. The Army had demanded 11 regiments. What they got was only three. The Air Force's separate demand? Also unmet. If both services were to receive the full complement, 11 regiments each, the total cost would have soared to Rs 1.12 lakh crore. But the government stopped short. Enter the 'Baby S-400' Apart from being a missile defense system, QRSAM is being nicknamed the 'Baby S-400'. India already has three operational regiments of Russia's S-400 system and expects two more by next year. But defense planners know that S-400s and indigenous Akash systems alone cannot transform the country into a secure fortress. The threat matrix has changed. China is watching, and so is Pakistan. And they are not standing still. Operation Sindoor proved India's air defense muscle. But it also exposed gaps, ones that Pakistan tried to exploit through waves of drone incursions, many supplied by Turkey and China. Hundreds were launched. All were neutralised. But the lesson stuck – air defense needs to be multi-layered, relentless and everywhere. That is where the QRSAM fits in. Designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), it is built to intercept fighters, drones and helicopters within a 30 km radius. Not as long-range as the S-400's 400 km or Akash's 100-200 km reach, but perfect for quick and short-range airspace protection in dense threat environments. More importantly, it's Indian-made, fast, precise and combat-ready. Not Enough for a Fortress At Rs 6,000 crore per regiment, scaling up to the Army's full demand alone would cost Rs 66,000 crore. Add the Air Force's likely mirror request and you are staring at a Rs 1.12 lakh crore bill. Expensive? Yes. But what is the price of making the skies over India completely off-limits to 5th-gen fighter jets, drones, cruise missiles or worse? With full deployment, India's air defense would shift from deterrence to denial. Nothing would be able to breach the perimeter. During Operation Sindoor, India's air defenses held. But in military planning, holding is never enough. The military is not asking for luxury, it is asking for survivability. Against future drone swarms, supersonic fighters or long-range missile salvos, six regiments are just a start. If the government greenlights the remaining 16 regiments, the Army and the Air Force both, it would send a message that India is preparing. And once QRSAM rings the nation's skies, even the birds will need clearance to fly.

Boeing Defense Workers Reject Contract in New Labor Turmoil
Boeing Defense Workers Reject Contract in New Labor Turmoil

Mint

time21 minutes ago

  • Mint

Boeing Defense Workers Reject Contract in New Labor Turmoil

(Bloomberg) -- Boeing Co. faces the risk of a strike at its St. Louis defense hub after union workers rejected a contract offer that would boost their wages by 20% over four years. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 837, which represents 3,200 Boeing defense workers in Missouri and Illinois, voted overwhelmingly against the new terms Sunday. The Boeing proposal 'fell short of addressing the priorities and sacrifices' of the company's skilled workforce, the union said in a statement. 'Our members are standing together to demand a contract that respects their work and ensures a secure future.' While the present contract expires at 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, management still has a chance to win over rank-and-file members by sweetening its offer during a seven-day 'cooling off' period. If that's unsuccessful, IAM Local 837 workers will walk off the job and shut down manufacturing in Boeing's military aircraft hub. The aerospace manufacturer is seeking to avoid another labor standoff after a strike by a Seattle-based Machinists union crippled manufacturing at its commercial jet factories for more than two months last year. Boeing could not be immediately reached for comment. Any labor strife would be costly for Boeing's defense division, which hasn't earned an annual profit since 2022 and is in the middle of a turnaround. A strike would shut down assembly lines for Boeing's F-15 and F/A-18 fighter jets, T-7A trainer, MQ-25 drone refueler and other weapons systems. The labor uncertainty will be a focus for analysts when Boeing reports quarterly earnings on Tuesday. It's also a bellwether as GE Aerospace launches contract negotiations with a separate IAM local on Sunday. St. Louis workers last went on strike in 1996 and don't have a history of activism, unlike Boeing's unions in the Pacific Northwest, according to Scott Mikus, an analyst with Melius Research. Union members initially rejected management's offer during the last negotiation with Boeing in 2022, before accepting a three-year deal with a 14% general wage increase and cost-of-living adjustments. While Puget Sound labor leaders endorsed Boeing's initial offer last year, they were rebuffed by rank-and-file members embittered by an earlier 10-year contract that stripped away pensions and locked in low wage increases while inflation soared. The lengthy strike squeezed the company's working capital and spurred Boeing to sell equity worth almost $24 billion. --With assistance from Bill Haubert. (Updates with comments from labor union in third paragraph, attempt to reach Boeing in fifth paragraph.) More stories like this are available on

US, EU seal trade framework after Trump's tariff talks with top European leader
US, EU seal trade framework after Trump's tariff talks with top European leader

India Today

time21 minutes ago

  • India Today

US, EU seal trade framework after Trump's tariff talks with top European leader

The United States and the European Union have agreed on a new trade deal, announced by former President Donald Trump on Sunday. Under the new framework, a 15% tariff will be applied to EU goods entering the US. In return, the EU has agreed to buy large amounts of American energy products and military equipment. However, the 15% tariff is still seen as a disappointing outcome for Europe, especially since the EU had initially hoped for a "zero-for-zero" deal—no tariffs on either side. Still, the current deal is better than the earlier threat of a 30% tariff, which had alarmed European leaders and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen travelled to Scotland to meet Trump and finalise the agreement. Her visit was crucial in sealing the deal at the last minute. This is a developing story.- Ends

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store