Strengthening Border Operations: Indian Air Force All Set To Induct Chinook Heavy-Lift Helicopters

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is all set to induct four Chinook helicopters in its fleet on 25 March at an event, that is likely to be presided over by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in Chandigarh, reports Defence News.

The IAF base at Chandigarh, where these four helicopters will be based at, has a transport and helicopter fleet which caters to high altitude operations of the armed forces. These Boeing-made helicopters will be used for transport artillery, troops and other heavy equipment along with fuel to the remote border areas.

According to the report, India had ordered 15 CH-47F Chinook helicopters from the United States defence manufacturer Boeing, of which the first batch of the four choppers arrived at Mundra port in Gujarat on 10 February.

The heavy-lift helicopters will reportedly join the IAF’s 126 helicopter flight unit which operates the last batch of Russian made Mi-26 choppers, that would be phased out soon.

As per the report, India, in September 2015, had signed a $3 billion deal with Boeing for the purchase of 15 CH-47F Chinook transport and 22 Apache AH-64E attack helicopters.