Army rolls out first Apache Block III aircraft

[h=3]Army rolls out first Apache Block III aircraft[/h]
The first Apache Block III helicopter was delivered to the Army today during a ceremony at the Boeing plant here in which the aircraft was rolled out on stage under bright lights and a wisp of generated smoke.

Hundreds of industry, government and military officials attended the event in which two of the new AH-64 aircraft were actually delivered to the Army ahead of schedule. The first Block III helicopter was finished about a week early and the second about a month ahead of schedule, according to David Koopersmith, Boeing Attack Helicopter Programs vice president.

"It's an amazing game-changer," said Maj. Gen. Tim Crosby about the new Apache. Crosby, the Army's program executive officer for aviation, went on to say during a press conference that no other helicopter in the world could match the Apache Block III.

Very good vidieo. Having seen this no one in IAF should have doubts who needs this plateform? The ground forces or the Air Force? And who needs to operate and control this asset?

This kind of technology can be conceived only if you are at war constantly which gives you great experience and teaches you a lot of stuff. I mean just to think of all the connectivity and release of weapons away from the battlefield by linking up with a UAV, you can think of it while you are in the job.

Moral of the story, keep making wars and keep your military industry running and create lethal killing machines.

PS:- please dont leave behind tail rotors or anything while conducting ops behind enemy lines and end up losing your hard work to the enemy.

woh amaiging video ,want to see those birds in india soon .

Bhadra said:

Very good vidieo. Having seen this no one in IAF should have doubts who needs this plateform? The ground forces or the Air Force? And who needs to operate and control this asset?

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Has there been a dispute between IA and IAF in that regard?

if paper work in over, then when will be the first batch arriving ?

W.G.Ewald said:

Has there been a dispute between IA and IAF in that regard?

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regarding who is going to have major command over the aircraft and helicopters at the time of war, IAF and Indian army, Locked in a spat for years, specially after the kargil, over who should operate battlefield assault helicopters, the army has asked the government to allow it full command-and-control over all tactical battlefield air assets.The IAF remains unmoved, and has argued that while attack helicopter flights will be controlled by the army, sorties will be flown only by IAF pilots.

Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), 54 of which will go to the Air Force and 105 to the Army under a US$3.56 billion order. Dhruvs will replace the Air Force's approximately 65 HAL Chetak light utility helicopters. Deliveries are expected to be completed by 2013-2014

Additionally, the Indian armed forces in 2007 launched a search for 197 light reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters (64 for the Air Force and 133 for the Army) The winner of the US$750 million competition should be announced soon. The Eurocopter AS 550 Fennec and Kamov Ka-226 are being considered after passing trials

The IAF has ordered 65 Light Combat Helicopter (LCHs) for about US$1.4 billion, while the Army is buying 114. HAL expects certification next year and production to begin in 2013. The LCH carries the same armament as the WSI Dhruv.

W.G.Ewald said:

Has there been a dispute between IA and IAF in that regard?

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Unlike US..

In 80s their was a agreement between Air-force and Army that all airborne assets will be under Air-force..
But as time goes, IA realized the need for its own air-aviation, IA aviation grew strong day by day, Now Army want its own attack and medium logistic assets, Which is oppose to 1980`s agreement..

Their were issues:

1. 1962 airforce was denied led to India`s defeat.
2. 1965 their were uproar coz of IAF took Indian Tanks in friendly fire accident..
3. In Indian Peace keeping force intervention in srilanka, In some instance IAF didn't provided basic logistic support in some areas..
4. 1999 Kargil war Airforce was not active for a month coz MOD didnt allowed it, After when it activates CAS for troops was 24-48 hours and sometime no CAS..

Majority in Air-force agree abt the issue in favor of Army, But the paper work is lot and MOD is lazy..
Their is no Ego issue it all abt better force deployment and nothing else..
Hoping for best, I am very PRO IA aviation expansion myself....

mahesh said:

Additionally, the Indian armed forces in 2007 launched a search for 197 light reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters (64 for the Air Force and 133 for the Army) The winner of the US$750 million competition should be announced soon. The Eurocopter AS 550 Fennec and Kamov Ka-226 are being considered after passing trials

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It is called as a LIGHT UTILITY HELO.

I thought the Dhruvs were made exactly for that as a LIGHT UTILITY HELO. If they have a home-made version of the same why are going for an import of a similar HELO ?

Replied here:

http://defenceforumindia.com/milita...pters-used-india-discussion-2.html#post346906