Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam
Indian Air Force formally inducted its first unit of Chinook CH-47F (I) helicopters on Monday, 25 March. The induction ceremony took place at Air Force Station 12 Wing in Chandigarh.
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 is manufactured Boeing.
Chinook CH-47F (I) was inducted to IAF in presence of Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa.
(Photo: IAF/Boeing)
Chinook can deliver heavy payloads to high altitudes and is eminently suited for operations in the high Himalayas. It will greatly enhance India’s capabilities across a range of military and Human Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions.
“Our country faces a multitude of security challenges which require vertical lift capability across very diversified terrain. The IAF operates from bases [which range] from sea level to very high altitude advanced landing ground. The Chinook with service ceiling of 20,000 feet will redefine heli-lift not just in operations such as inter-valley troop transportation transport of artillery guns and other heavy loads for the Border Road Organisation in some role but also in HADR to far flung crisis hit area.”Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa
Dhanoa also said that Chinook, like Rafale, will be a game-changer for the Indian Air Force.
“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.”Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa
The 10-tonne capacity helicopters reached Mundra port in Gujarat on 10 February in semi-knocked down condition. They were reassembled in Chandigarh.
The 'Featherweights' (No 126 Helicopter Flight), which has been flying the massive Soviet-era Mi-26 helicopters for the past many years, will be flying the Chinooks from the Chandigarh base.
Apart from Chinook, the only other heavy-lift helicopter that Indian Air Force has in its inventory is Russian-made Mi-26. IAF will induct a second unit of Chinooks at the airbase in Dinjan, Assam.
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