NEW DELHI — A politically charged remark by U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited a long-simmering debate in India over foreign defence delays, double standards, and allegations of systemic sabotage targeting indigenous aerospace programmes. The controversy has revived historical parallels between the fate of India’s first fighter aircraft, the HF-24 Marut, and recurring criticism surrounding the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), even as hard data on Apache helicopter deliveries tells a far more nuanced global story.
Speaking at a Republican Party gathering in the United States, President Trump claimed that India ordered Apache attack helicopters and waited five years for delivery, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally approached him to intervene. The remarks, widely circulated in Indian media, prompted a closer examination of actual procurement figures and delivery timelines, revealing a gap between political rhetoric and programme reality.
What India Actually Ordered
Official government disclosures and industry statements show that India’s Apache acquisitions were significantly smaller in number than implied in the speech, although delivery delays did occur.
In September 2015, India signed contracts with Boeing for 22 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters for the Indian Air Force (IAF) as part of a broader package that also included 15 CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters. The combined deal was valued at approximately ₹13,952 crore. Deliveries of the IAF’s Apaches began in 2019 and were completed by July 2020, broadly in line with contractual expectations.
A second, separate decision followed in February 2020, when the Indian government approved the purchase of six AH-64E Apaches for the Indian Army, valued at around ₹5,691 crore (about $600 million). This acquisition was intended to give the Army a dedicated attack helicopter capability independent of the Air Force fleet.
In total, India’s publicly recorded orders amount to 28 Apache helicopters, comprising 22 for the IAF and six for the Army.
The Five-Year Delay Explained
While the Air Force inducted its Apaches within the anticipated timeframe, the Army’s six helicopters faced prolonged delays. The reasons were not unique to India. Post-pandemic supply-chain disruptions, production bottlenecks, and logistical and transit complications slowed deliveries across the global aerospace industry.
The first three Army Apaches arrived in July 2025, with the remaining three delivered in mid-December 2025, completing the contract nearly five years after approval. This timeline explains President Trump’s reference to a long wait, even though the order size cited in his remarks does not match official records.
With the December 2025 handover, all 28 Apaches ordered by India have now been delivered.
How India Compares With The World (2020–2024)
A review of Apache programmes worldwide during the 2020–2024 period shows that India’s experience fits squarely within global norms, rather than standing out as an exception.
1. United Kingdom (Fleet Modernization)
The UK replaced its older WAH-64D fleet with the new "Echo" model.
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Order (2016): 50 AH-64E helicopters via Foreign Military Sales.
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Delivery Timeline: The first two aircraft arrived in November 2020 at Wattisham Flying Station.
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Completion: Continuous deliveries occurred through 2022–2024. The 50th and final aircraft was officially handed over in March 2025.
2. The Netherlands (Remanufacturing Program)
The Dutch program is a "remanufacture," where old D-models are stripped and rebuilt as E-models.
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Order (2018/2019): Upgrading 28 existing AH-64Ds to AH-64E v6.
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Delivery Timeline: The first upgraded unit was delivered in October 2022.
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Status: Deliveries were steady through 2023 and 2024. The program is on track to be fully completed by the end of 2025.
3. Morocco (New Operator)
Morocco became the 17th nation to join the Apache family during this period.
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Order (June 2020): Signed for 24 AH-64E helicopters (with an option for 12 more).
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Delivery Timeline: Initial training and production occurred 2021–2023. The first batch of 6 helicopters arrived in March 2025.
4. Australia (Replacement of Tiger Fleet)
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Order (2021/2022): Selected 29 AH-64E helicopters to replace the Airbus Tiger.
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Timeline: The formal contract was finalized in 2022. While no aircraft were delivered in the 2020–2024 window, production started, and the first aircraft was delivered in late 2025.
What The Data Shows
Across India, the UK, the Netherlands, Morocco and Australia, Apache programmes initiated between 2015 and 2021 typically resulted in first deliveries three to five years later, with final completion often extending close to a decade from the initial contract signature.
Against this backdrop, President Trump’s suggestion that India was uniquely stalled or neglected does not withstand scrutiny. India’s timelines sit firmly within global delivery patterns, especially when viewed against the backdrop of pandemic-era shocks to aerospace supply chains.
Political Rhetoric Versus Programme Reality
Defence analysts argue that President Trump’s statement should be seen as political exaggeration, aimed at highlighting U.S. leverage rather than accurately reflecting procurement history. While India’s Army Apaches were indeed delayed, similar or longer delays were experienced by multiple U.S. allies and partners.
The evidence indicates that the implication of special treatment or exceptional delay in India’s case was overstated, even if the remark tapped into genuine Indian frustration over long delivery cycles.
The global Apache delivery record from 2020 to 2024 reveals a consistent pattern of extended timelines across multiple countries, regardless of alliance status. India’s experience — often singled out in political commentary — was neither unique nor excessive by international standards.
As such, President Trump’s remark, while politically striking, fails a detailed timeline analysis, underscoring the gap between rhetoric and reality in the global defence supply chain.
