CCS clears Military helicopters deal with US aviation giant Boeing

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has given its approval to a multi-billion dollar deal to purchase Military helicopters from United States aviation giant Boeing.
Under this deal, India will purchase 22 Apache Attack helicopters and 15 Chinook heavy-lift choppers from Boeing.

• Apache Attack helicopters: These attack helicopters are equipped with Longbow gunships and are armed with deadly Hellfire and Stinger missiles.
• They are potent as fighter helicopters and are capable of destroying enemy helicopter and tank forces.
• There addition in Indian Air Force (IAF) will help to replace the ageing fleet of 15 Russian Mi-35 attack helicopters which already have undergone life extension upgrades.
• Chinook heavy-lift choppers: It will help IAF to enhance its heavy-lift chopper capabilities and replace existing fleet of Russia made four gigantic Mi-26s. These choppers will play important role in warfront as well humanitarian operations for proving logistics support.

This defence deal of India with US will further push and bolster US presence in the growing defence market of the country. It will further help to advance the nascent efforts by the Indian private defence sector to create an aerospace industrial base in the country.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2015