Apache- Attack Helicopter Deployed By India And China Will Be Wary

The Apache the deadliest helicopter gunship has come to India. The Times of India has reported a deal of $ 22 billion for purchase 22 heli-gunships which will be deployed at Pathankot and Jorhat in Assam. the target is obvious i.e. Pakistan and China.not forgetting the Jihadi elements that come from so called Azad Kashmir into the valley.

What is a helicopter gun ship?  It is a robust and low flying helicopter armed with missiles and guns and equipped with Electronic Counter Measures( ECM).  The Apache, is presently the best in the field and though the Russian MI-35 was good it's

becoming obsolete and there is no up-gradation available. The IAF was using the Russian MI-25 and 35 which will now be replaced by the Apache. This also marks the diminishing "Russian connection" in military aviation which was ushered in by Krishna Menon when he was the Defense Minister in Nehru's cabinet in 1959.

The geopolitical situation at that time demanded a Russian alliance as the West had sided with Pakistan but there is a changing scenario now, with Russia playing ball with China and holding joint military and naval exercises with a country that has declared, India as an enemy.

India and the USA are now getting into a military strategic alliance and the military logistic agreement has been signed. This worries China and Pakistan

The Apache will lend muscle to ground operations of the Indian army. The army had asked for its own dedicated corps of gunships but though the GOI has agreed in principle yet  the Apache have not come in the Indian army's lap. The Apache will also be a boon when tracking Jihadi elements which infiltrate into India from Pakistan and create anarchy. Chian will also be wary as these gunships could tilt the balance in a tactical battle.  The Indian air force and army have asked for nearly 50 of these machines but depending upon finance for it will be the limiting factor. In the mean time, the Indian border forces will be happy at the induction of the Apache which has been used successfully by the US army in Afghanistan and Iraq.