India-US to discuss sale of additional Apache attack choppers

NEW DELHI: India is planning to buy 39 more Apache choppers from the US for its Army and the issue is expected to be discussed tomorrow during the meetings of US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel with Indian leadership.

India has already negotiated a deal for procuring 22 Apache attack choppers for the IAF and it is in final stages of being concluded.

The Defence Ministry has sanctioned 39 Apache attack helicopters for the Army along with 22 for the IAF. The matter is expected to be part of discussion between the two sides tomorrow, Defence Ministry officials said here.

The IAF and the Army were engaged in a tussle over the ownership of Apache gunships but the Defence Ministry decided that the two forces can have their separate fleets.

The deal for the 22 Apache choppers is expected to cost over Rs 6,000 crore and likely to be supplied with deadly Stinger missiles.

The sale of military hardware by the US to India in a major way started in 2003 with the procurement of ANTPQ-37 weapon locating radars for the Army and has continued with the sale of 12 C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft, C-17 transport aircraft, Harpoon anti-ship missiles and P-8I aircraft.