Indonesian army starts training for Apache`s pilot

Wikipedia

Indonesia has started training pilots to fly the Apache AH-64E, the combat helicopters that were bought from the United States. The helicopters are slated for delivery in 2017.

Indonesia had bought eight Apache helicopters of the type AH-64E from the United States as part of the program to strengthen the nations primary weapons defense system.The United States will lend a few Apache helicopters to train the Indonesian pilots.

Half of the Apache helicopters that were bought would be placed in Natuna Islands, while the others will be stationed in Jakarta.

Taiwan to receive six more Apache helicopters

One of the Apache helicopters delivered to Kaohiung Harbor, Jan. 2. (File photo/Hsieh Ming-tso)

A shipment of six AH-64E Apache attack helicopters from the United States is set to arrive in southern Taiwan Monday 17-03-2014, and they will later be flown to a base in Tainan, according to a military source.

The Apaches are scheduled to arrive at Kaohsiung Harbor around mid-day Monday, and will be flown to an Army Aviation Special Forces base in the neighboring city of Tainan after passing initial checks, the source said.This will be the third shipment of a 30-helicopter package that is costing Taiwan more than US$2 billion.The Army said it has also begun deploying the 12 Apache helicopters Taiwan took delivery of to an Army base in Taoyuan, northern Taiwan. All 30 helicopters will be stationed at the Taoyuan base in the future, it added.

The process of taking delivery of the helicopters has not been without snags. Taiwan was notified by the US in mid-December of a main transmission failure on an Apache AH-64E in service in the US, forcing Taiwan to ground the first six helicopters it received in November.The second group had also been grounded since its arrival in Taiwan in early January.All 12 helicopters, however, have since been fitted with new main transmission boxes and were put back into service recently after completing test flights and safety verifications, according to an Army official.

The final two batches of six choppers will each be delivered with new transmissions later this year, and are expected to arrive in May and July, respectively, the official said.The model E is the latest in the Apache attack helicopter series. The U.S. and Taiwan are the only two countries that use the latest Apache helicopter model so far.

World's Deadliest Helicopter

India gears up to order 22 Apache helicopters for $1.4 bn

 NEW DELHI: India is getting ready to order 22 heavy-duty Apache helicopters for around $1.4 billion, in what will be yet another big defence deal to be bagged by the US.

The US has already made military sales worth over $8 billion to India over the last few years, despite it having lost out to France in the almost $20 billion MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) project to supply 126 fighters to IAF, which is in the final commercial negotiations stage.

 In the battle for the attack helicopters, Boeing's AH-64 D Apache Longbow met all air staff qualitative requirements during the field trials conducted by the IAF, while the Russian Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant's Mi-28 Havoc failed to pass muster.

"It's just a matter of time before the contract is inked for the Apaches after final commercial negotiations. Most of the hurdles have been cleared,'' a defence ministry official said. The US and Russia are also locked in battle to supply 15 heavy-lift helicopters to IAF, with the Boeing-manufactured Chinooks pitted against the Russian Mi-26 choppers.

Indian armed forces are looking to induct as many as 900 helicopters in the coming decade, including 384 light-utility and observation, 90 naval multirole, 65 light combat, 22 heavy-duty attack, 139 medium-lift and 15 heavy-lift, among others, many of them from abroad.

The impending $1.4 billion deal for the 22 Apaches will also include the supply of 812 AGM-114 L-3 Hellfire Longbow missiles, 542 AGM-114 R-3 Hellfire-II missiles, 245 Stinger Block I-92 H missiles and 12 AN/APG-78 fire-control radars.

Among the other military aviation deals already bagged by the US are the $4.1 bn contract for 10 C-17 Globemaster-III strategic airlift aircraft, $2.1 billion for eight P-8 I maritime patrol aircraft and $962 million for six C-130 J 'Super Hercules'' planes.