IAF inducts first Chinook helicopters, BS Dhanoa says big boost for national security
The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Monday, March 25, formally inducted the first unit of four heavy-lift Chinook helicopters in Chandigarh. Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa announced the induction at a ceremony and said the helicopters are national assets.
BS Dhanoa was quoted saying by news agency ANI that, “India faces multiple security challenges and that a vertical lift capability across a diversified terrain is required.”
The Air Chief Marshal further added, “Chinook helicopter can carry out military operations, not only in day but during night too; another unit will be created for the East in Dinjan (Assam). Induction of Chinook will be a game changer the way Rafale is going to be in the fighter fleet.”
“CH-47F (I) #Chinook : Quick Facts
Chinook is a heavy lift, tandem rotor helicopter which serves armed forces of 19 countries. It is a multi-role platform and is used for the transport of troops and material among other roles. It will greatly enhance IAF’s HADR capability,” later tweeted the official account of Indian Air Force.
IAF, on March 23, had tweeted that, “Chinook can deliver heavy payloads to high altitudes & is eminently suited for operations in the high Himalayas. It will greatly enhance India’s capabilities across a range of military & HADR missions. The IAF will be inducting the first unit of Chinook on 25 Mar 19 at Chandigarh.”
The Chinook helicopters will be deployed at Chandigarh’s Air Force Station 12 Wing. IAF has received the delivery of the four choppers from Boeing on Sunday (March 24).
IAF received its first CH-47F (I) Chinook heavy-lift helicopter on February 10, 2019 at the Mundra port in Gujarat. India has paid close to USD 1.5 billion for 15 of these helicopters.
