Indian Army receives 3 Apache helicopters via Antonov airlift
These three helicopters are part of the Indian Army's order for six Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopters.
Image courtesy: Indian Army via X
Ukrainian cargo airline Antonov Airlines recently transported a batch of three Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopters for the Indian Army using its Antonov An-124 aircraft.
These three helicopters are part of the Indian Army's order for six Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, under a deal signed in 2020 valued at approximately $600 million.
The helicopters were transported by Antonov Airlines’ An-124 aircraft, registration UR-82029. The 34.6-year-old aircraft bears the inscription 'Be brave like Bucha'.
Although the flight path was not available on Flightradar24, the aircraft landed at Hindon Airbase in Ghaziabad, India, on 22 July 2025 after departing from Boeing’s Mesa facility in Arizona. According to data from Plane Finder, the aircraft left Arizona on 19 July, made a stop at London Stansted Airport, then flew to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) before reaching Hindon.
The delivery by Boeing was delayed, as the Indian Army had initially expected the attack helicopters to arrive in 2024. However, it was pushed by a year, primarily due to global supply chain issues that impacted the production and delivery of the helicopters.
Image courtesy: Indian Army via X
“These state-of-the-art platforms will bolster the operational capabilities of the Indian Army significantly,” the Indian Army said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
Notably, the Indian Air Force already operates a fleet of 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, the same variant now being inducted by the Army. These attack helicopters are among the most lethal and advanced in the world, capable of performing both offensive and defensive operations.
The fuselage of the AH-64 Apache helicopters is manufactured in India by Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL) at its Hyderabad facility. TBAL is a joint venture between Tata Advanced Systems and Boeing.
The remaining three Apache helicopters are expected to be delivered by Boeing by the end of 2025.
Antonov Airlines currently operates a fleet of seven An-124 aircraft, with three active and four parked. The average age of the fleet is 35.6 years. The airline specialises in the transportation of outsized and project cargo worldwide.
The Ukrainian cargo airline also recently completed the transatlantic transportation of the HALO (Habitation and Logistics Outpost) module, the first component of the future lunar space station, Gateway. The delivery was carried out in collaboration with international logistics partner Fagioli.
The Antonov An-124 has a maximum range of 14,000 km with a minimum payload and maximum fuel. With a maximum payload of 120 tonnes, its range is 5,200 km.
