Trump Exaggerates India Apache Deal; Contracts Say Otherwise

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday reached once again for sweeping hyperbole, claiming that India had ordered 68 Apache attack helicopters from the United States and that delays were so severe that Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally sought a meeting with him to complain.

The claim, dramatic and delivered in Trump’s trademark style, does not withstand scrutiny.

A review of official defence contracts, delivery timelines, deployment data, and conversations with Indian military and diplomatic officials shows a clear mismatch between rhetoric and reality. India ordered only 28 Apache helicopters in total, not 68—and every one of them had been delivered by December 2025.

The episode reinforces a pattern long noted by critics: Trump’s public recollections frequently inflate numbers and compress complex timelines to underscore American leverage or his own centrality to global decision-making. This mirrors his repeated assertion that he single-handedly forced India and Pakistan into a ceasefire through tariff threats—another claim unsupported by documentary evidence.

“Sir, May I See You?” — A Familiar Trump Refrain

Trump also asserted that Prime Minister Modi deferentially asked, “Sir, may I see you, please?” to raise concerns about helicopter delays. As with similar anecdotes involving foreign leaders, there is no corroboration from Indian or US diplomatic channels.

In Trump’s recollections, nearly everyone—foreign leaders included, with the notable exceptions of Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping—addresses him as “sir.” Diplomats familiar with India-US engagements say discussions on defence deliveries did occur, but always as part of structured bilateral agendas rather than personal appeals.

Two Apache Deals, Not One Giant Order

The Trump Apache helicopter claim India becomes clearer when India’s procurement history is broken down.

India’s acquisition of the Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian took place in two separate phases, spread across different administrations.

The first deal, signed in September 2015 during the final months of the Obama administration, covered 22 Apache helicopters for the Indian Air Force. Valued at approximately $2.2 billion, the contract progressed largely on schedule. Deliveries were completed by 2020, during Trump’s first term, and the helicopters were inducted into two frontline squadrons that now form the backbone of India’s attack helicopter capability.

The second deal was signed in February 2020, during Trump’s visit to India. This follow-on contract covered six Apache helicopters for the Indian Army Aviation Corps, at a cost estimated between $600 million and $800 million.

Combined, both purchases total 28 helicopters—less than half the number Trump cited.

Where the Delays Actually Happened

While the Air Force’s Apaches arrived on time, the Army’s six helicopters did not.

Deliveries were originally scheduled to begin in early 2024. Instead, the first batch arrived in India in July 2025, roughly 15 months behind schedule. The final three helicopters were delivered in December 2025, completing the order nearly two years late.

The delays were real—and frustrating—but far smaller in scale than Trump suggested.

Supply Chains, Priorities and a Mid-Air Detour

Several factors contributed to the slowdown.

Boeing’s Apache production line in Mesa, Arizona, was hit by post-pandemic supply chain disruptions, including shortages of engines, gearboxes, and specialised avionics. In 2024, India also reportedly held a lower priority ranking under the US Defence Priorities and Allocations System, placing it behind other customers, including the US Army, for critical components.

Technical issues added further complications. Boeing temporarily paused some Apache deliveries worldwide to address electrical and power-generation concerns that required additional safety testing.

In one final twist, a shipment bound for India in November 2025 was forced to turn back mid-flight after Turkey denied overflight clearance to the Antonov-124 transport aircraft carrying the helicopters, pushing delivery back by several weeks.

Did Trump Mix Up Apaches and Chinooks?

Defence analysts say Trump may have conflated multiple Boeing helicopter deals.

Around the same period, India also ordered 15 CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters, all of which were delivered between 2019 and 2020. Even if both platforms are combined, the total reaches 43 helicopters, still far short of the claimed 68.

There is no record in India’s Ministry of Defence or US Foreign Military Sales notifications of any additional Apache orders beyond the 28 delivered. While the Indian Army once projected a requirement for 39 Apaches, no new contracts have been signed.

India’s Strategic Pivot Away From Dependence

Ironically, the controversy highlights why India is steadily reducing reliance on foreign military suppliers.

Despite the Apache’s formidable firepower, New Delhi’s experience with unpredictable supply chains and shifting geopolitical priorities—particularly in the context of China and Pakistan—has reinforced the need for domestic alternatives.

Under its “Make in India” push, India is now prioritising the HAL Prachand Light Combat Helicopter. Designed for high-altitude warfare, Prachand can operate above 20,000 feet, including in extreme environments such as Siachen, where heavier platforms like the Apache face limitations.

India plans to induct 156 Prachand helicopters across the Army and Air Force, gradually reducing dependence on imported attack helicopters.