Singh also talked about the \"professional manner\" in which the IAF conducted the air strikes deep inside Pakistan's Balakot last year and appreciated the force for its proactive response in bolstering its operational capabilities over the past few months

IAF Chief started his visit to Leh and Srinagar air bases on Wednesday evening after holding a top security review meeting with Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and Army Chief General MM Naravane

Chairman and Managing Director of HAL R Madhavan said the aim of the mega project is to stop import of more than Rs 4 lakh crore worth of military helicopters for the three services in the coming years

Modi's cabinet committee on security is expected to clear the purchase of 24 MH-60R Seahawk helicopters for the Indian navy in the next two weeks

Air Marshal RKS Bhadauria, was commissioned into the fighter stream of Indian Air Force on June 5, 1980, with the 'Sword of Honour', and has held various Command, Staff and Instructional appointments at various levels

The newly-inducted helicopters will soon be part of India's wargaming and military exercises and will be kept ready to take on any threat. The helicopters are also called 'flying tanks'.

Apache AH-64E inducted by Indian Air Force: The chopper is equipped with an advanced targeting system and can be part of an all-weather combat operation.

The AH-64E Apache is one of the world's most advanced multi-role combat helicopters, and is flown by the US Army

India inducts four CH-47 Chinook choppers, joining a long list of 19 countries including the US, UK, Japan, and South Korea that deploys the twin-engined, heavy-lift helicopters.

Unlike the US and Europe, Russia has shown willingness to transfer 'crown jewel' technologies.

Boeing and Indian partner Tata have begun to produce Apache fuselages at a plant in India, but today's approval concerns a direct sale of finished products from US manufacturers.

India had signed the Rs 4,000 crore deal for the second batch of six C-130J Super Hercules from the US at the end of 2013 through the American Foreign Military Sales route under which the planes are to be provided by the US Air Force to the Indian Air Force.