The delivery of three AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters to the Indian Army experienced an unusual setback. The Ukrainian cargo plane Antonov An-124, tasked with transporting the aircraft from Boeing to India, returned to the United States after a long stopover in England, with the helicopters still on board.
Boeing confirmed the existence of “logistical issues” that interrupted the transport, without specifying the nature of the problem.
The three helicopters were part of a six-aircraft contract valued at $796 million, signed in 2020 during Donald Trump’s visit to New Delhi. The first batch, delivered in July, is already in use for pilot training at the Nashik base, while the new Apaches were to complete the fleet and be assigned to the Nagtalao base in the northwest of the country. India had previously received 22 Apaches for the Air Force without incident.
It is not yet clear whether the issue is related to the aircraft, the An-124 cargo plane, or administrative matters such as customs or documentation. The incident comes at a time of closer military ties between the United States and India, despite recent political and trade tensions between the two countries.
Boeing stated that it is working with the U.S. government and the Indian Army to complete the delivery “as quickly as possible.”
Source: The War Zone | Photo: X @KiwaSpotter | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
Antonov An-124 UR-82008 arrived at KIWA this afternoon from Leipzig, Germany, to pick up 3 AH-64E Apaches for the Indian Army. pic.twitter.com/5PNuAYGIcx
— KIWA Spotter (@KiwaSpotter) October 30, 2025
