In a boost to the Indian armed forces, United States’ defence manufacturer Boeing officially handed over first of the Chinook helicopters to India in the presence of country’s ambassador to US Harsh Shringla. The ‘India-Chinook Transfer Ceremony’ was conducted at Boeing’s facility in Philadelphia, Zee News has reported.

India, in 2015, had placed an order for 22 AH-64E Apache attack choppers, and 15 Ch-47F(I) Chinook transport helicopters.

According to the report, director general air operations Air Marshal A Dev, from Air Headquarters (Vayu Bhawan), consul general of India in New York Sandeep Chakravorthy and Air Attache Air Cmde Shivanand were also present during the event.

Ambassador Shringla, during his address, praised the growing industry partnerships between India and US and commended Boeing for their commitment to ‘Make in India’.

Boeing is also training the IAF crew for the helicopter and in October 2018, had trained four pilots and four flight engineers of IAF for operating Chinook helicopters in Delaware, US.

The induction of AH-64E Apache attack and CH-47F(I) Chinook transport helicopters, which are the latest models of these aircrafts, is expected to help in modernising the IAF’s helicopter fleet.

As per the report, CH-47F Chinook is an advanced multi-mission helicopter which can help in delivering heavy payloads at high altitudes. The transport helicopter is reportedly being used by 18 other defence forces around the world. Large sections of the fuselage of the Chinooks are reportedly being manufactured in India.