IAF Inducts first unit of Chinook helicopters, Dhanoa dubs it as 'gamechanger'

 The Indian Air Force has inducted the first unit of four US-made Chinook heavy-lift helicopters on Monday. The first four of such 15 choppers earlier arrived at Chandigarh's Air Force Station 12 Wing for their deployment by the IAF. Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa formally inducted the copters in IAF. 

On the features of the chopper, the IAF posted on its official Twitter handle: "Chinook is a heavy lift, tandem rotor helicopter which serves armed forces of 19 countries. It is a multi-role platform and is used for the transport of troops and material among other roles. It will greatly enhance IAF's HADR capability."

Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa at induction ceremony of Chinook helicopters in Chandigarh:Country faces a multiple security challenges; we require vertical lift capability across a diversified terrain. Chinook has been procured with India specific enhancements; it's a national asset pic.twitter.com/UWwXvcz9Fc

— ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2019

Speaking at the induction ceremony, IAF chief Dhanoa said, "Country faces a multiple security challenges; we require vertical lift capability across a diversified terrain. Chinook has been procured with India specific enhancements; it's a national asset". He further added, "Chinook helicopter can carry out military operations, not only in day but during night too; another unit will be created for the East in Dinjan (Assam). Induction of Chinook will be a game changer the way Rafale is going to be in the fighter fleet."

India has paid close to USD 1.5 billion for 15 of these helicopters which would be also used for deploying troops and machinery at high-altitude locations.
Chinook is one of the two helicopters other than the Apache attack choppers for which India had signed deals in 2015-16. The supplies of Apaches will also start by September this year when they start arriving at the Pathankot airbase.