The first lot of heavy-lift Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters arrived at Gujarat’s Mundra Port from the US on 10 February.

Boeing CH-47F(I) Chinook (Picture source: Air Recognition)

The four Boeing CH-47F(I) Chinooks, part of a 15-helicopter order placed by India three years ago, will be assembled and flown to their home base in Chandigarh where they will be formally inducted in the Indian Air Force (IAF) later this year. “The CH-47F(I) Chinook is an advanced multi-mission helicopter that will provide the Indian armed forces with unmatched strategic airlift capability across the full spectrum of combat and humanitarian missions,” a Boeing release said. The Chinook’s primary roles include artillery, battlefield resupply and transportation of troops.

The United States is India’s second largest arms supplier after Russia. Since 2008, India has bought or ordered military equipment worth $15 billion from the United States, including Lockheed C-130J special operations planes, Boeing C-17 transport aircraft, Boeing P-8I submarine hunter planes, Harpoon missiles, AH-64 Apache and CH-47 Chinook helicopters, and BAE Systems M777 lightweight howitzers.