New Delhi: The Defence ministry today cleared a long pending proposal to procure six Apache attack helicopters for the Indian Army at a cost of Rs 4,168 crore, official sources said.

The go ahead was given at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Arun Jaitley.

This is the first time the Army will get attack helicopters.

The DAC also cleared a proposal to procure two gas turbine engines for naval ships at a cost of Rs 490 crore, sources said.