Ahead of Modi's US visit, Centre clears 2.5 billion dollar chopper deal

New Delhi: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US, the Cabinet Committee on Security  (CCS)  cleared a multi-billion dollar deal for 22 Apache  attack helicopters and 15 Chinook heavy-lift choppers with American aviation giant Boeing. "The deal for Apache and Chinook (helicopters) has been cleared," government sources said.  The CCS met after a Cabinet meeting, they said.  Many in the defence sector had expected the deal, valued  to be over USD 2.5 billion and pending since 2013 following  finalisation of cost negotiations, to be signed during the  visit of US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter in June this year. 

The deal for Apache is "a hybrid one", with one contract  to be signed with Boeing for the helicopter and the other with  the US government for its weapons, radars and electronic  warfare suites.  The US has been pushing for this contract as it will  further bolster American presence in the burgeoning defence  market of India.  American companies have over the last decade bagged  defence contracts from India worth around USD 10 billion,  including for aircraft like P-8I maritime surveillance planes,  C-130J 'Super Hercules' and C-17 Globemaster-III in the  transport category. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will leave for the US tomorrow to attend the UN General Assembly. The helicopter deal had survived over 10 price extensions  from the American side with the last one being for a month as  desired by India. 

The contract will have clauses to place follow-on orders for 11 more Apaches and four extra Chinooks. Both platforms, which have been in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, had beaten off competition from Russia, which had  offered its Mi-28N Night Hunter and Mi-26 heavy-lift copters. The 22 Apache AH 64D Longbow helicopters are one of the most advanced multi-role combat helicopters, featuring all-weather and night fighting features, ability to track upto 128 targets in less than a minute and engage with 16, besides  stealth characteristics, advanced sensors and beyond visual  range missiles.  India will also be acquiring Hellfire missiles and rockets.