IAF inducts first unit of four Chinook helicopters

Indian Air Force inducts the first unit of four Chinook helicopters. Chinook is a heavy-lift helicopter which will enhance IAF's humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capability. It is used by the armed forces of 19 countries.

Chandigarh: The Indian Air Force has inducted the first unit of four US-made Chinook heavy-lift helicopters on Monday.

Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa inducted the first four of such 15 choppers at Chandigarh's Air Force Station 12 Wing.

On the features of the chopper, the IAF posted on its official Twitter handle: "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 humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) capability."

The helicopter has been used by the US Air Force since 1962. The US-based company, Boeing Vertol has so far created 1,179 Chinook helicopters.

Chinook is one of the two helicopters other than the Apache attack choppers for which India had signed deals in 2015-16. The supplies of Apaches will also start by September this year when they start arriving at the Pathankot airbase.