US made CH-47F (I) Chinook helicopters to be formally inducted into IAF at Chandigarh base today

The US made CH-47F (I) Chinook, an advanced multi-mission heavy-lift helicopter will be formally inducted in the Indian Air Force (IAF) today at an induction ceremony planned at the 3-BRD (Base Repair Depot) in Chandigarh.

CH-47 Chinook helicopter (AFP)

Chandigarh: The US made CH-47F (I) Chinook, an advanced multi-mission heavy-lift helicopter will be formally inducted in the Indian Air Force (IAF) today at an induction ceremony planned at the 3-BRD (Base Repair Depot) in Chandigarh. As per sources close to the matter IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, Air Officer commanding-in-chief (AOC-in-C) Western Air Command Air Marshal R Nambiar are expected to attend this ceremony here. However it is still not very certain if defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be attending this function or not due to the model code of conduct in place because of Lok Sabha elections. Four of these advanced double-rotor choppers which would help the armed forces in combat operations and transportation of the troops recently reached the 3-BRD base in Chandigarh for assembly. The IAF would get fifteen of these helicopters as per the deal with the US. With their induction, the air force's capability to deliver payloads to high altitudes will enhance as presently Soviet-origin Mi-26 chopper is carrying out such operations which is the world's heaviest helicopter. Since 1986 the IAF has four Mi-26 based at the 3-BRD base here.