Top 10 Indian Air Force active Helicopters Aircraft

Since Independence India is buying and modifying advanced helicopters for airforce and military. From 1965 War to 1999 Kargil war all these helicopters have proved there worth to Indian Soldiers. These top 10 Indian Airforce helicopters aircraft will amaze you with their specifications and capabilities on the field. India has all types of helicopters like transport, warfare, search operators, heavy lifting helicopters etc. Apart from High speed fixed wongs aircraft, these can be used anywhere especially in mountain ranges of Uttarakhand and Himachal where dense forests make these high-speed aircraft difficult to land and takeoff. Helicopters are more convenient and less spacious as compared to other flying aircraft.
Helicopters are not only used for fighting or mass combats, these are used in disaster management, transporting armory to soldiers at dense forests and hills. Hal also has started to build its indigenous helicopters to modify Indian army as well as air force to the US and Russia level.
Here are a few Airforce active Helicopters aircraft which are being used by Indian soldiers.

List of Indian Air Force active Helicopters Aircraft

1. MI-17 V5

MI-17 V5 Indian Airforce helicopter (source-airliners)

This potent chopper has been provided with advanced avionics and navigational equipment. An MI-17 V5 is equipped with weather radar, glass cockpit instrumentation, and are NVG compatible. It is an export version of Russian made Mi-8MTV-5, which has been modified by Canadian forces. Right now India has total 151 MI-17 V5 lately delivered in February 2016. Total 3 persons can sit in its cockpit, 2 Pilots and 1 engineer. It has been equipped with two 2400hp turboshaft engine. It can fly up to 280 M/s speed and move 800 Km with one-time full tank and fuel tanks. It can fly up to 6000m above the sea level.
It has been Modified according to Indian army and Indian Air force need and now can have about 1500Kg+ armory on its storage tank and a few weapons can also be fitted in it.

2. MI-25/MI-35

MI-25/MI-35 Indian_Air_Force helicopter

Mainly Designed for live combat with a four-barrel 12.7 mm rotary gun in nose barbette (gun), MI-25/ Mi-35 is the most advanced helicopter in Indian air force armories. This is an anti-armor helicopter which can load more than 1500 kg weight while flying with maximum 8 soldiers boarded on it including pilots and engineer. The max cruise speed of this machine is 310 Kmph.
It is a Russian developed warfare which was introduced in the Russian army in 1972 and later added in Indian army as a war helicopter. The Indian name of this lion helicopter is Akbar and often called as Hind Akbar.
It has twin-engine turboshaft with 2200 hp power which can fly in a range of 450 km once filled with fuel completely and can fly up to 4900m above sea level.

3. MI-26

MI-26 Indian airforce helicopter - source: airliners

Mainly developed to lift heavy armors and troops, MI-26 can load more than 20,000 kg while flying at a speed of maximum 295 km/h. The Mi-26 is also a Russian/Soviet heavy transport helicopter. It can load 5 troop members and 20,000 kg of cargo. In 2010 a Mi 26 was crashed due to imbalancing of the helicopter and it fell from 15 m height in Jammu Kashmir. With its super load limits, it can be said as top Airforce active Helicopters aircraft. It can fly with more than 70 combat-equipped troops which makes it such special helicopter of Indian Airforce.

4. Hal Chetak

Hal Chetak Indian air force helicopter

Developed in India with the cooperation of a French company and HAL. It is a license-built version of Alouette III. This Chetak was designed to carry light cargo and a few passengers. It can load 6 passengers and 500 kg weight while flying. The max speed of the helicopter is 220 km/h. More than 300 Chetak helicopters have been manufactured till date and many have been transformed into HAL Dhruve by changing its engine with a more powerful chopper Turbomeca TM 333-2B. In 2010 Indian government decides to modify it for flying in the Himalayas and improve its load capacity, but finally, it was not pursued.
Hal chetak has impressed many other countries of which result is Indian has sold a few helicopters to Namibia and Suriname. Nepal also has this Hal Chetak as India donates its second-hand helicopters to Nepal as disaster management equipment.

5. Hal Cheetah

Hal Cheetah Indian air force helicopter

A French and Indian collaborated Helicopter designed under license with HAL and Indian version of original SA 315B Lamas. This indigenously developed helicopter is a backbone of Indian Army as well as Indian Airforce. It has a cruise speed of 121 km/h and it can climb up to 1 km in just 4 minutes. It is a Liason based helicopter which is mainly used to transport food, soldiers, armors etc. in hilly areas and in Himalaya. It is later modified to Cheetal which can transport anything to Siachen Glacier. It has been used by Indian Military to reach unreachable zones of Himalayas and protect them. Indian Airforce has total 16 cheetah helicopters and in 2013 Nepal has ordered 20 cheetals worth of 300 crores from HAL India.

6. HAL Dhruv

HAL Dhruv Indian air force helicopter

Completely indigenous helicopter designed and developed by HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics limited) India. Hal Dhruv is a feather on Indian HAL hat. As it is completely developed by HAL with the cooperation of Germany MBB. it is a utility helicopter used for carrying food, soldiers, important things in a state of disaster. It was first introduced in 2002, however, HAL has designed it in 1992 and also tested its first flight then. A total of 231 helicopters have been manufactured till now and more are in manufacturing units to be exported to other countries.

It has a capacity of carrying 12 passengers in total and can fly with 290 km/h speed to cover 640 km in one time full fuel tank.

7. HAL Rudra

HAL Rudra Indian air force helicopter

The armed version of HAL Dhruv is this Rudra. As its name suggest a Rudra avatar of Dhruv embedded with light combat missiles and guns. Rudra is equipped with so many advanced technology and armors including 20 mm turret gun and 70 mm rocket pods. It has anti-tank guided missiles and can fight in the air with air to air missiles. This is a most advanced indigenous warcraft made in India. With 12 passengers capacity and 2600 kg load capacity it is best airforce helicopter aircraft. At present only 2 such helicopters have been developed but more in a queue and soon will give to Indian Airforce.

8. HAL Light Combat Helicopter

HAL Light Combat Helicopter

It is also an advanced version of Dhruv but intended to manufacture to export to other countries. These helicopters are under manufacturing and will be designated to Airforce as well as Army. A total of 4 helicopters has been developed till now and are in test mode to be deported. In Aero India 2017, HAL LCH has shown its tricks to Indian people and proved its worth to countries who wanted to buy it. 

9. Boeing AH-64

Boeing_AH64D_Apache_longbow

American Helicopter ordered by Indian Airforce in 2008 and soon will be given to India. This Boeing AH64 is termed as Raavan of all armed helicopters with most advanced and destructive armors attached to it. The US Built it in the 1970's and used in various wars and war-prone areas. On 12th June 2018 US Congress approved to sell 6 such AH 64E helicopters to India for $930 million along with armors attached with it. This killer machine can fly with a top speed of 300 km/h and can travel 470 km in one go. The 1700 hp engine can load up to 3000 kg's of armor and have space for only 2 pilots, one of them would be a gunner and other would be pilot.

10. Boeing CH-47 Chinook

Boeing CH-47 Chinook

A Heavy transport and utility helicopter are under consideration of US Congress to sell to India. India ordered a total 15 chinooks in September 2015 when Mr. Modi visited the US. The heavy transport air vehicle has the capacity to lift up to 22000 kg weight of anything in its storage. Total 30-35 soldiers can be transported in it to 740 km range in one go. The top cruise speed of this weight lifting machine is 296 km/h. Since in 1962 this advance transporting helicopter is used by the US and now India will also be able to use it after its delivery to Indian Airforce.