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| AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter (File Photo) |
Rajat Pandit
NEW DELHI: India is now close to inking major deals worth over $2.5 billion for two iconic American helicopters, the Apache attack and Chinook heavy-lift choppers, which thrashed their Russian rivals both technically and commercially earlier.
Defence ministry sources on Monday said the around $1.4 billion deal for 22 AH-64D Apache Longbow gunships, armed with deadly Hellfire and Stinger missiles, and the $1.1 billion one for 15 CH-47F Chinooks, equipped with powerful contra-rotating tandem rotors, are "almost ready" now.
"These two deals for IAF will be placed for approval before the first defence acquisitions council (DAC) meeting to be chaired by Arun Jaitley on July 19. Thereafter, the cases will be moved for the cabinet committee on security's final nod," said a source.
The deals for the two Boeing-manufactured helicopters, both of which have seen action in Iraq and Afghanistan, will further bolster the expanding US presence in the lucrative Indian arms market. It has already bagged defence contracts worth around $10 billion, including for aircraft like P-8I, C-130J `Super Hercules' and C-17 Globemaster-III, over the last decade.
Read the full story at Times of India