“Milestone moment for Indian army as the first batch of Apache helicopters for army aviation arrive today in India,” the army posted on its official social media account. “These state-of-the-art platforms will bolster the operational capabilities of the Indian army significantly.”
Vivek Mishra, deputy director of strategic studies at the Observer Research Foundation, told This Week in Asia that the Apache helicopters’ ability to operate effectively over land and in a maritime environment made them a valuable defence asset for India.
“[The Apache] has a maritime component to it. Although it will be deployed on the western front [bordering Pakistan] for now, it can also be used in the Indo-Pacific if needed,” Mishra said.
India’s military should aim to acquire more helicopters, such as the Apache, as they can enhance its capacity to deal with threats from the Chinese and Pakistani fronts, according to Mishra.
