New Delhi: US aviation major Boeing is working out a fresh delivery schedule of the last three Apache attack helicopters for the Indian Army after a similar effort this month was blocked by Türkiye, which sat on permission for them to fly to India through its airspace.
Sources in the defence and security establishment said that on 1 November, a heavy-lift cargo aircraft, Antonov AN-124 (serial number UR-82008), took off from Mesa Gateway Airport, also known as Phoenix–Mesa Airport, in Arizona, carrying the second tranche of three Apache helicopters for the Indian Army.
The Antonov aircraft landed at East Midlands Airport in England, where it had stopped for refuelling. However, it remained on the ground for 8 days and then on 8 November, it flew back to Mesa Gateway Airport rather than to India.
Sources said the three helicopters were unloaded at the American airbase and the Antonov aircraft flew out.
Asked why the aircraft flew back to the US instead of India, Boeing said in a statement, “We remain closely engaged with the U.S. government and the Indian Army, and continue working to execute our contract as expeditiously as possible to meet India’s needs and fleet requirements.”
“We are currently addressing logistical issues caused by external factors to complete the delivery process for the remaining aircraft,” it added, noting that it has delivered 22 Apaches to the Indian Air Force and 3 Apaches to the Indian Army to date.
Sources explained that the real reason was that Türkiye refused to give permission for the Antonov aircraft to use its airspace.
The sources also said that while alternate routes were being worked out, the Antonov aircraft had another pre-scheduled flight. So the option was either to drop the cargo in the UK or take it back to the US.
Interestingly, the first three Apache helicopters were delivered to India in August by the same aircraft, which had to fly through Turkish airspace.
However, this time Türkiye sat on the permission.
Last month, officials in the Indian government had skipped Turkish National Day celebrations in New Delhi, in a message to Ankara following its support for Islamabad, particularly during Operation Sindoor.
The decision to give the event at the Turkish embassy a miss indicates the extent to which New Delhi is miffed over Türkiye’s support for Pakistan and its repeated criticism of India’s position on Jammu & Kashmir at international forums such as the United Nations General Assembly.
(Edited by Shashank Kishan)
Also Read: Army and IAF fought over Apache choppers, costing us Rs 2,500 crore more. Blame their silos