Overview
- At the Pokhran Field Firing Range in Rajasthan, AH-64 Apache attack helicopters executed the Army’s first field firing by the type, hitting targets with Hellfire missiles, rockets, and 30 mm cannon fire.
- The Army said advanced sensors, fire-control systems, and real-time data links let crews spot targets fast and turn shared intelligence into immediate strikes.
- The drills showcased close coordination with ground troops in a high-threat setting that included small-arms fire, shoulder-fired missiles, and drones.
- Before the Pokhran display, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi flew a sortie in the indigenous LCH Prachand at HAL Bengaluru, highlighting both Apache induction and home-grown capability.
- The first of six Apaches arrived in July 2025, and the type is now deployed with 451 Army Aviation Squadron in Jodhpur, marking a move from acquisition to operational use.