Latest news with #ApacheHelicopters
The Hindu
22-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Army gets first batch of Apache helicopters from U.S.
Indian Army on Tuesday (July 22, 2025) received the first batch of Apache Helicopters from United States at Hindon Airbase. The induction of first batch of three advanced combat helicopters Apache AH-64E will bolster Army operational capabilities along Western Border. It will be deployed in Jodhpur with Army Aviation Corps. Before induction in Jodhpur, the helicopters will undergo a Joint Receipt Inspection before being handed over for immediate operational deployment, as per the protocol. 'Apache for Indian Army. Milestone moment for Indian Army as the first batch of Apache helicopters for Army Aviation arrive today in India. These state-of-the-art platforms will bolster the operational capabilities of the Indian Army significantly,' posted ADG PI on X. #Apache for Indian Army Milestone moment for Indian Army as the first batch of Apache helicopters for Army Aviation arrive today in India. These state-of-the-art platforms will bolster the operational capabilities of the #IndianArmy significantly.#YearofTechAbsorption… — ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) July 22, 2025 The development comes after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recently held a phone conversation with U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Both the leaders reviewed ongoing and upcoming initiatives to enhance defence cooperation between India and the United States. In the talk, U.S. has assued India of delivering the first batch of three Apache AH-64E attack helicopters from the United States in two weeks. And next batch of three helicopters will be delivered by November this year. The helicopters were delivered after delay of 15 months as it was scheduled to get delivered in May 2024 but it got delyed due to disruption in supply chain. The Indian Army had signed a USD 600 million deal with the United States in 2020 for six Apache attack helicopters.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
South Korea Canceling AH-64 Apache Order A Sign Of What's To Come
News has emerged out of South Korea that the country's plans for a follow-on buy of 36 AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters have been aborted. These aircraft would have joined 36 AH-64s already procured for Republic of Korea (ROK) service. The Korea Times reports that the $2.2B deal was cancelled after the funding was nearly zeroed out in a supplemental budget that was approved last Friday. The outlet also noted the 66% increase in cost of the aircraft compared to the first order around a decade ago. Talk that South Korea could cancel its follow-on Apache order had been present for some time now. Yu Yong-weon, a member of South Korea's National Assembly belonging to the People Power Party, told The Korea Times that the vulnerability of helicopters to proliferated air defenses and loitering munitions/drones that have been showcased to the world in Ukraine spurred the decision. Yu stated: 'Drones and smart systems are redefining modern battlefields… Rather than clinging to expensive legacy platforms, we must invest in capabilities that reflect the future of warfare.' As TWZ has noted for years now, well before Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine, the attack helicopter's utility has to be questioned. This doesn't mean it's irrelevant, it means the rationale behind how many resources to pour into this class of aircraft has to be reevaluated based on the glaring realities of today's battlespace, let alone what we can predict for that of tomorrow. Survivability is certainly at the top of the list here. How can a low and slow-flying helicopter operate close enough to its objective to be useful in a traditional direct attack sense without being put at extreme risk? New tactics and combined arms concepts can certainly go a long way here, but pop-up threats — such as man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), road-mobile SAMs and anti-aircraft artillery — that are very hard to predict and thus harder to plan for, remain a glaring issue. Footage of a Russian Mi-24/35 attack helicopter getting shot down this morning by Ukrainian forces near Kyiv using MANPADS (man-portable air-defense systems). #Ukraine️ — 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐏𝐢𝐱 (@combatpix1) March 5, 2022 Then there is the advent of cheap loitering munitions that can take down helicopters as targets of opportunity or be launched and chase them down on demand. These weapons pose a growing and highly dynamic threat, too. Mi-28N(M) smacked by Ukrainian AA FPV over Kursk, Russia — Cᴀʟɪʙʀᴇ Oʙsᴄᴜʀᴀ (@CalibreObscura) August 7, 2024 The fucking helicopter was hit by an FPV drone. That's insane.h/t @htet2k2 for the (TNISO): — Imjin (@Asia_Intel) May 22, 2025 The proliferation of look-down radar capabilities and advanced long-range air defense systems also pose huge threats to attack helicopters. This is especially so as sensor fidelity and advanced networking capabilities continue to expand, along with a range of counter-air missile technology. The exploitation of the radar horizon and terrain masking will be less effective at providing some protection from these threats with each passing year. New longer-range weapons, including missiles and air-launched effects (ALEs), the latter of which can act to attack, decoy, and jam air defenses, offer another survivability cushion, but only against some threats. Enhanced situational awareness and electronic warfare systems can also help. Suffice it to say that the growing risks to attack helicopters put their future in a murkier place. Then there is the range issue. Attack helicopters have notoriously short range, especially when laden for combat. In a modern era of anti-access capabilities, how attack helicopters would even get within launch range of their target area, let alone survive once they are there, at least in many combat scenarios, is also a huge question mark. Speed also buys some degree of survivability, which traditional helicopters don't have. These factors are especially magnified in the Pacific, which, in part, drove the U.S. Army to further develop and procure the tiltrotor V-280 Valor over the compound helicopter Sikorsky-Boeing SB-1 Defiant. You can read all about that here. When it comes to the Korean Peninsula, the range problem is far less pronounced, but the survivability one is arguably more so. If North Korea continues to acquire technological help from Russia to enhance its already rapidly expanding drone portfolio and its air defenses, this will only become more pronounced. So, it's not too surprising that the billions of dollars that were supposed to be spent on additional Apaches will be realigned to other programs, specifically drones and new capabilities. Among them will surely be one-way attack munitions, something South Korea is already an adopter of, that soon will be able to operate without a man-in-the-loop, with basic AI capabilities used to allow them to choose their own targets. You can read all about this looming revolution in warfare here. For a fight across the DMZ, there really isn't a more relevant weapon at this time, minus maybe artillery. In addition, South Korea has its own, albeit less capable attack-capable helicopters, including its Marine Attack Helicopter (MAH) and its Light Attack Helicopter (LAH), which could augment to augment the existing AH-64 force. A final note here is that often times pundits and the media will portray something as totally irrelevant or relevant. This binary, 'black and white' positioning makes for a good headline, but it usually isn't anywhere near representative of the nuanced reality we live in. The AH-64 and other attack helicopters still have their uses and are an important component of combined arms strategy today, but that does not mean expanding their fleet size or even maintaining the current fleet size is logical. A reduced force balanced against new capabilities can be a prudent solution and this can be realized over time as the existing force needs deep upgrades and overhaul. On the other hand, if the force is too small it won't be operationally relevant and it will be very costly to maintain for its size. So a balance is needed here, as well. And it's also worth highlighting that demand for the Apache remains solid, with continued interest abroad. Regardless, it's possible if not outright probable that we will see similar changes to the U.S. Army's force rotary wing inventory in the years to come. The service has roughly 825 Apaches in operation today. As the force adapts (at this time, far too slowly) to a new era of warfare, that number could change dramatically. We will be exploring this topic more in-depth in the future. Contact the author: Tyler@
India.com
13-06-2025
- Business
- India.com
15 months on, Indian army still awaits delivery of Apache Helicopters from the US, signed Rs 50100000000 agreement to buy…., delay reported due to…
15 months on, Indian army still awaits delivery of Apache Helicopters from the US, signed Rs 50100000000 agreement to buy...., delay reported due to... More than a year after the Indian Army created its first Apache attack helicopter squadron, the actual helicopters are still nowhere in sight. The squadron was set up in March 2024 at Nagtalao in Jodhpur, but it hasn't become operational yet, simply because the Apache AH-64E helicopters promised by the United States have not arrived. India had signed a USD 600 million agreement (current rate: 50,100,000,000 INR)with the US in 2020 to buy six Apache helicopters for the Army. As per the original plan, the first three were supposed to be delivered by May or June 2024. That deadline came and went. The delivery was then postponed to December 2024, reportedly due to global supply chain problems. But now even that date has passed, and there's still no word on when the helicopters will finally land in India. According to officials from the Defence Ministry, the delay is due to technical problems on the US side. Meanwhile, Indian Army pilots and support teams who were trained and ready months ago are stuck waiting, with nothing to fly. This is in contrast to the Indian Air Force, which had received 22 Apache helicopters earlier under a separate deal made in 2015. The delay for the Army has therefore become even more frustrating, as the squadron remains incomplete and idle despite all preparations.
LBCI
31-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Israeli drone strike targets Deir al-Zahrani in South Lebanon, killing one
An Israeli drone carried out an airstrike early Saturday morning in the town of Deir al-Zahrani, killing a young man identified as M.A.J., according to the National News Agency. J. (33) was on his way from home at dawn, as he did every day, to perform morning prayers at the mosque in his hometown when the drone targeted his Kia vehicle on the road adjacent to the Deir al-Zahrani–Nabatieh highway near the pedestrian bridge. He was killed instantly. He was the brother of a fighter who was killed in clashes with Israel in the town of Yohmor al-Shaqif during the 66-day war. The strike was preceded by Israeli Apache helicopters flying deep into the area's airspace.
Daily Mail
30-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE £2 billion UK Apache helicopter gunships to get protection from drones as they fly too slowly over the battlefield
Defence chiefs are to invest billions on drones to protect 'slowcoach' Apache helicopters previously flown by Prince Harry, the Mail has learned. With their 30mm chain guns and Hellfire missiles, Apaches saved countless lives in Afghanistan and are considered vital to future frontline operations. However, in Ukraine, Russian attack helicopters operating along the line of combat engagement have proved vulnerable to cheap to produce kamikaze drones. As a result, a major review of Britain's defence priorities will focus on purchasing drones to protect 'legacy' helicopters, other aircraft and armoured vehicles. The long-awaited Strategic Defence Review, to be published on Monday, could commit more than £4 billion in additional funding for crewless systems. The drones, or Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACPs), will be managed by the Royal Air Force and will be introduced into service over the next decade. Systems tipped by defence insiders to be on the Ministry of Defence's shopping list include 'Loyal Wingman' drones which incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI). The integration of crewed and uncrewed aircraft into a collaborative fighting force is known as Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T). The regular flying speed of the Army Air Corps' Apaches is around 180mph. Britain has a fleet of 50 (AH-6E) helicopter gunships made by Boeing and worth more than £2 billion. Last night, an Army source said: 'When you were on a mission in Afghanistan, the Apaches would take off first because they were slow and we would follow in a Chinook transport helicopter and catch them up. 'The vulnerability of helicopter gunships on the frontline has been a major takeaway from Ukraine and given the UK's long-term commitment to the Apache, this issue has to be addressed. 'To remain a viable option on the frontline, the Apaches will require crewless escorts to eliminate threats in what is a very crowded battlespace. 'Everything has changed in the last few years. Low-level flying was always danger but it has gone to another level now. 'The Apache fleet is worth around £2billion. That's a big write off if it has become obsolete.' The RAF published its Autonomous Collaborative Platform strategy last year. The service is committed to conducting MUM-T operations routinely by 2030. Last night, Matthew Savill, from the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) said: 'A figure of £4bn additional funding on uncrewed systems would be a start. The SDR will have to prioritised between crewed and uncrewed. 'It is an interesting idea to put up drones to protect helicopters but that is a lot of clutter close to the ground. Armoured vehicles and tanks, such as Challenger 3, will also require active protection by drones to protect against other drones.' According to insiders, the SDR will commit 'less than £10 billion of additional funding' for new equipment over the duration of this parliament. As the UK's annual defence budget is currently £56.9 billion, £10 billion or less over four years was described last night as 'less than transformational'. Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge said: 'If this proves a damp squib SDR then blames lies with Labour's failure to properly fund defence. 'It should resist further welfare spending so we can go to 3 per cent of GDP on defence and give our military the tools for the job.' In a bid to reengage Britain's military with the civilian population, schoolchildren are to be taught the value of the armed forces, also as part of the Strategic Defence Review. The Ministry of Defence is looking to engage with the Department for Education on a project to challenge an apparent 'disconnect' between the armed forces and civilians. For the UK to sustain any long-term conflict against a peer adversary, it will be required to regenerate its forces from its civilian population, either voluntarily or through drafting. The MOD hopes to make pupils more aware of employment opportunities within the Army, Navy and RAF beyond the stereotypical roles of each service. These classes would be delivered as part of the Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PHSE) curriculum. Last night, the MOD said: 'We will not be drawn into commenting on claims regarding the review ahead of publication. 'This Government has announced the largest sustained increase to defence spending since the end of the Cold War - 2.5% by 2027 and 3% in the next Parliament when fiscal and economic conditions allow, including an extra £5 billion this financial year. 'The SDR will rightly set the vision for how that uplift will be spent, including new capabilities to put us at the leading edge of innovation in NATO, investment in our people and making defence an engine for growth across the UK - making Britain more secure at home and strong abroad.'
