India's Defence Procurement Council to Consider Apache, Chinook, P-8i Purchase

The Indian Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) is likely to take up clearance of Boeing Apache, Chinook helicopters and P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft tomorrow.

Boeing earlier this week had agreed to extend the price deadline for Apache and Chinook procurement by three months after the earlier deadline ended June 30.

The proposals have clauses to place follow-on orders for 11 more Apaches and four extra Chinooks. Both platforms have seen combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. Boeing had beaten off competition from Russia, which had offered its Mi-28N Night Hunter and Mi-26 heavy-lift copters to the IAF.

The Apache attack choppers, armed with fire-and-forget Hellfire missiles, can track up to 128 targets in a minute and prioritize threats. These missiles equip the helicopter gunships with heavy anti-armor capabilities. The army is moving a case to buy 39 Apache helicopters. The Chinook’s main roles include transporting troops, artillery and battlefield resupply.

The Indian Navy plans to buy additional four Boeing P-8I Maritime Surveillance and anti-submarine warfare Aircraft. “The Cost Negotiating Committee (CNC) has recently completed the negotiations. The talks between the Navy and Boeing are at an advanced stage to add four more P-8I aircraft to an existing order of eight,” Defense ministry officials told Indian media last week.

“The CNC file would soon be sent to the Defense Ministry’s finance wing and then to the Finance Ministry for approval before the Cabinet Committee on Security headed by the Prime Minister,” the officials said.

India had signed a $ 2.2 billion contract to purchase eight P-8Is in 2009 with an optional clause for four more. The negotiations to buy four more aircraft have been going on for a year. Seven of the eight aircraft ordered earlier have already been inducted for service. The eighth aircraft is scheduled for delivery by October.