Big Defence Boost: Indian Army Gets Apache AH-64E Helicopters – Everything You Need to Know!
📢 Introduction: Stay Ahead in Your Exams with This Major Defence Update!
Preparing for SSC, CDS, or UPSC exams? Then here’s a powerful current affairs topic you must know!
On July 22, 2025, the Indian Army received the first batch of three Apache AH-64E combat helicopters from the United States. These helicopters are considered some of the deadliest flying weapons in the world and mark a historic step in strengthening India’s air strike power along the western borders.
Want to know what makes these helicopters so special, why this deal matters, and how it could show up in your next exam? Let’s break it down!
✅ Event Summary: What Happened, Where, and When?
- On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, the Indian Army took delivery of its first batch of Apache AH-64E attack helicopters at the Hindon Airbase in Uttar Pradesh.
- These state-of-the-art combat helicopters are set to be stationed in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, close to the India-Pakistan border, for frontline deployment
- The deal was for six Apache helicopters, out of which three have been delivered now, and the remaining three are expected by October–November 2025.
- These helicopters have been acquired under a defence deal valued at approximately ₹5,691 crore, which is around $600 to $800 million.
🛫 Before being sent to the border, the helicopters will undergo joint receipt inspection and final checks.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only
✅ Why This News Matters for India
This development is strategically important for India’s military, especially the Army Aviation Corps, which is building its own aviation strength separately from the Indian Air Force.
Here’s why this is a big deal:
- The AH-64E Apache stands among the world’s most advanced and powerful attack helicopters, known for its cutting-edge technology and combat capabilities.
- 🇮🇳 For the very first time, these cutting-edge machines will be operated directly by the Indian Army, not the Air Force.
- Stationed in Jodhpur near the Pakistan border, their presence will significantly strengthen India’s combat preparedness and frontline security.
- They are designed to assist in both attack missions and intelligence-gathering operations
✅ Background & Context: A Deal with Delays
Let’s rewind a bit to understand how this deal happened and why it got delayed.
- The Apache helicopter was first introduced in the US Army in 1984 and has since become a symbol of air superiority.
- India already has 22 Apache helicopters with the Indian Air Force, bought in 2015 under a $3.1 billion deal.
- A new deal for six Apache helicopters specifically for the Indian Army was signed in 2020, during former US President Donald Trump’s visit to India.
- These helicopters were originally scheduled to be delivered in May 2024..
- However, delivery got delayed due to:
- Global supply chain issues
- India’s diplomatic position amid ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and rising global geopolitical tensions.
- Change in US leadership (from Trump to Biden and back to Trump)
🗣️ After Donald Trump returned to power in January 2025, the deal was finally pushed forward, and India received the first batch in July 2025.
✅ Apache Helicopter: Features You Should Know for Exams
Want a quick list of features you can remember for MCQs? Here you go:
🔍 Key Specifications of Apache AH-64E:
| Feature | Detail |
| Type | Attack Helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Boeing, USA |
| Crew | 2 (Pilot + Gunner) |
| Weapons | Hellfire Missiles, Rockets, 30 mm Chain Gun |
| Targeting | All-weather and night vision capable |
| Connectivity | Advanced communication & network systems |
| Engine | T700-GE-701D twin engines |
| Max Weight | ~10,400 kg |
| Indian Usage | IAF (22 units), now Indian Army (6 units) |
Nickname: “Tank in the Air”
✅ Why It’s Exam-Relevant
This news is very likely to appear in General Awareness or Current Affairs sections of exams like:
- SSC CGL, CHSL
- UPSC CDS, NDA, CAPF
- State PSC exams
- Railways and Defence recruitment
📌 Here’s how you might see it in your paper:
- Which advanced combat helicopter was recently inducted into the Indian Army in 2025?
a) Mi-35
b) AH-64E Apache
c) HAL Rudra
d) Cheetah
✅ Correct Answer: b) AH-64E Apache - At which location will the Indian Army station the newly inducted Apache AH-64E attack helicopters?
a) Leh
b) Pathankot
c) Jodhpur
d) Ambala
✅ Correct Answer: c) Jodhpur
📚 Did You Know? (Trivia Section)
Here are some fascinating facts that can impress both friends and interviewers:
- Apache helicopters are in use in over 13 countries, including USA, UK, Israel, Japan, and now India.
- They can control drones mid-air — a rare feature in modern helicopters!
- Each Apache helicopter costs approximately $100–120 million, depending on the configuration.
- The 30 mm gun can fire up to 625 rounds per minute — that’s about 10 bullets every second!
🎯 Pro Tip for Aspirants
When studying defence-related topics, always connect them with:
- Geography (e.g., where they’re deployed)
- Budget & Deals (e.g., amount spent)
- Strategic Use (e.g., which borders or missions)
Add the Apache deal to your “Defence Acquisitions” notebook along with Rafale, INS Vikrant, and BrahMos.
Quick Quiz – True or False?
Let’s test your memory in 30 seconds!
- ✅ The Indian Army inducted Apache helicopters into its fleet for the first time after 2015.
- ✅ The Apache AH-64E is called a “Flying Tank.”
- ✅ Each Apache helicopter is armed with a 50 mm machine gun.
- ✅ Apache helicopters will be deployed in Leh to guard the China border.
- ✅ The AH-64E was first inducted in the U.S. Army in 1984.
Answers:
- ❌ False (2015 was for the Air Force)
- ✅ True
- ❌ False (It’s a 30 mm chain gun)
- ❌ False (They’re being deployed in Jodhpur)
- ✅ True
Final Words for Exam Warriors
This Apache helicopter induction is not just a military event — it’s a high-value current affairs topic with multiple exam angles:
- Defence modernisation
- Indo-US relations
- Border security
- Technology in warfare
Make sure you revise this topic before your next exam or mock test. Bookmark it, add it to your notes, and maybe even use it in your GDs or essays.
Want more such simplified updates? Follow TezKhabrein.com for regular current affairs summaries, MCQs, and full exam coverage!
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