Indian Air Force might gets boost with two new Chinook helicopters

The Indian Air Force might was boosted on Monday with the induction of two new CH-47F (I) Chinook helicopters. India has bought 15 Chinook and 22 AH-64E Apache helicopters from the US's defence and aviation major Boeing. India is also purchasing six AH-64 Apaches for the Army.

The first four Chinooks had landed at Gujarat's Mundra airport on February 10. With the advanced multi-mission Chinooks joining its fleet, IAF will receive a massive boost in its strategic airlift capability. The Chinooks will be based at IAF's Chandigarh air base to take care of the supply line to Siachen glacier and the Line of Actual Control with China in Ladakh.

After India signed the deal with the US for Chinooks, four IAF helicopter pilots and a similar number of flight engineers were sent to Delaware, USA for training by Boeing to operate them. The first Chinook was officially handed over to India on February 2, 2019, during the 'India-Chinook Transfer Ceremony' at Boeing's facility in Philadelphia.