India enhances air capabilities with additional AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.

On 20 March 2024, the Indian Army set up its very first squadron of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters at the Nagtalao Military Base. These helicopters, manufactured by Boeing, will be operated by the 451st Army Aviation Squadron (AH), with the first batch expected to arrive in May. An additional six AH-64E Apache attack helicopters are expected to join the Indian Armed Forces in May, bringing the total number to 28.
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India AH-64E Apache attack helicopter (Picture source: India MOD)

India already operates 22 AH-64E Apaches. The first attack platform for the Indian Air Force was launched on the production line at Boeing's facility in Mesa, USA, in April 2018. The order for an additional six platforms for the Indian Army was finalized in 2017, with these six AH-64E Apache attack helicopters expected to join the Indian Armed Forces in May, bringing the total number to 28.

Many countries utilize the Apache, with the E model being the backbone of the U.S. Army's attack helicopter fleet. According to a press release from January 2022, the U.S. Army considered the AH-64E Version 6 helicopters as the final iteration of the platform, but Boeing announced last October the successful first flight of the newest version of the AH-64E, known as Version 6.5 (V6.5).

The Apache is primarily designed for anti-tank missions. The unit cost of an Apache is $35.5 million. This aircraft requires a crew of two, a pilot and a gunner, and features notable dimensions: a total length of 17.76 meters with the rotors, a height of 3.84 meters, and a width of 3.55 meters.

With a maximum weight of about 10 tons, the Apache is powered by a 4000 horsepower engine, enabling it to reach a maximum speed of 304 km/h. Currently, various countries operate this helicopter, including the United States, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Greece, India, Indonesia, Israel, the Netherlands, Qatar, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan, with varying acquisition dates.

The Apache's armament, regardless of version, includes a 30 x 113 mm turret gun capable of firing up to 600 rounds per minute. Although its firing angle is limited to 11° upwards, this helicopter is equipped for air-to-air combat with four hardpoints for anti-air weapons on each wing.

For engaging ground targets, the Apache can launch AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, with variants like the Brimstone for the United Kingdom, or use 70 mm rockets like the Hydra 70. For aerial targets, it has infrared air-to-air missiles AIM-92 Stinger or AIM-9 Sidewinder.

The Apache program began in 1972 to replace the Bell AH-1 Cobra, with the prototype flying in 1975. The AH-64D and AH-64E represent notable evolutions of this helicopter, with the AH-64E incorporating innovations such as the ability to remotely control drones, new engines, and improved rotors.

Apaches are also equipped with countermeasures such as flares to deflect thermally guided missiles and chaff to disrupt enemy radars, making them difficult to target and shoot down.

The AH-64E Apache is designed to accommodate a standard crew of two. It has a length of 48.16 feet (about 14.68 meters) and a height of 15.49 feet (about 4.72 meters). With a rotor diameter of 48 feet (about 14.63 meters), this aircraft is designed to excel in its missions.

The Apache’s standard mission gross weight is 15,075 pounds (about 6,838 kilograms), and it can operate up to a maximum weight of 23,000 pounds (about 10,432 kilograms). Capable of a rapid climb, the Apache can reach a speed of over 2,800 feet (about 853 meters) per minute, demonstrating its ability to ascend quickly in combat situations.

In level flight, its maximum speed exceeds 150 knots (over 279 kilometers per hour), and it can reach a service ceiling of 20,000 feet (about 6,096 meters), offering great flexibility for operations at different altitudes.

Moreover, the AH-64E Apache Guardian represents a significant advancement over its predecessors, notably due to its ability to remotely control drones. This functionality allows the Apache’s crew to extend its operational scope and enhance reconnaissance, giving it the capability to direct drones like the MQ-1C Gray Eagle for observation, surveillance, and attack missions, thus expanding its action range and intelligence-gathering capacity without exposing the crew to unnecessary danger. This integration of drones into Apache operations highlights the ongoing evolution of military tactics and technologies, making the AH-64E an even more versatile and formidable weapon system on the battlefield.