Existing fleet of attack copters to stay with IAF
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 12
The Ministry of Defence has agreed “in principle” to split the helicopter force between the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army. The MoD has “accepted” the projected requirement of the Army for having attack helicopters - so far being operated only by the IAF.
In a letter yesterday, the Joint Secretary (Ground and Air) in the MoD conveyed to the Army that the attack helicopters procured in the future will go to the Army.
The existing fleet of 22 Russian-origin Mi-25 and Mi-35 attack helicopters will continue to be operated by the IAF, while the next lot of helicopters will go to the Army.
It is yet be decided if the forthcoming purchase of the 22 Boeing Apache attack helicopters will go to the Army or stay with the IAF. The IAF has selected the future attack helicopters at the cost of $ 1.4 billion but the deal is yet to be inked. The MoD will lay down a detailed policy at a later stage which will list out the operating procedures, force strength among other things.
The MoD, in its letter, has clarified that the medium-lift helicopters - Mi-17 - will continue to be operated by the IAF, but it will review the prioritisation of tasks, sources said. The Army had highlighted the need for having a squadron of attack helicopters at each of the three ‘Strike Crops’ based at Ambala, Mathura and Bhopal.
These three corps have their forward formations along the Western border with Pakistan. The Army had also projected the need for having light combat helicopters for each of the six pivot crops based in the North and North-West. This has also been “accepted” by the MoD.
These pivot corps will get the armed version of the Dhruv helicopter produced by the Bangalore-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The Army has been demanding attack helicopters for its strike corps formations, as these support tank and ground troops. The IAF helicopters are currently attached with the Army formations.
This also means that the IAF will now have an increased number of attack helicopters. The light attack helicopters are already being test-flown and their weapons are being tested.
So far, the helicopter assets have been divided under the Joint Army and Air Implementation Instructions, 1986. The Army Aviation operates utility helicopters like the cheetah/chetak, while the IAF operates the attack helicopters, medium-lift helicopters and heavy-lift helicopters. The Navy helicopters are separate from this division of assets.
The decision has come after dramatic developments over the issue in the past one week. At a press conference on October 5, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne had said it was not possible to have “little air forces”.
On October 9, Defence Minister AK Antony, termed the tussle between the IAF and Army a “family problem”.
More teeth
Next lot of attack helicopters will go to the Army
Six pivot crops based in North and North-West to get armed version of Dhruv helicopter
Medium-lift helicopters - Mi-17 - to be operated by IAF
No decision on operational control of 22 Boeing Apache attack helicopters yet to be procured
Division of assets
The Army Aviation operates utility helicopters like cheetah, chetak
The IAF operates attack helicopters, medium-lift helicopters and heavy-lift helicopters
The Navy helicopters are separate from this division of assets
Source : Tribune News
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 12
The Ministry of Defence has agreed “in principle” to split the helicopter force between the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army. The MoD has “accepted” the projected requirement of the Army for having attack helicopters - so far being operated only by the IAF.
In a letter yesterday, the Joint Secretary (Ground and Air) in the MoD conveyed to the Army that the attack helicopters procured in the future will go to the Army.
The existing fleet of 22 Russian-origin Mi-25 and Mi-35 attack helicopters will continue to be operated by the IAF, while the next lot of helicopters will go to the Army.
It is yet be decided if the forthcoming purchase of the 22 Boeing Apache attack helicopters will go to the Army or stay with the IAF. The IAF has selected the future attack helicopters at the cost of $ 1.4 billion but the deal is yet to be inked. The MoD will lay down a detailed policy at a later stage which will list out the operating procedures, force strength among other things.
The MoD, in its letter, has clarified that the medium-lift helicopters - Mi-17 - will continue to be operated by the IAF, but it will review the prioritisation of tasks, sources said. The Army had highlighted the need for having a squadron of attack helicopters at each of the three ‘Strike Crops’ based at Ambala, Mathura and Bhopal.
These three corps have their forward formations along the Western border with Pakistan. The Army had also projected the need for having light combat helicopters for each of the six pivot crops based in the North and North-West. This has also been “accepted” by the MoD.
These pivot corps will get the armed version of the Dhruv helicopter produced by the Bangalore-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The Army has been demanding attack helicopters for its strike corps formations, as these support tank and ground troops. The IAF helicopters are currently attached with the Army formations.
This also means that the IAF will now have an increased number of attack helicopters. The light attack helicopters are already being test-flown and their weapons are being tested.
So far, the helicopter assets have been divided under the Joint Army and Air Implementation Instructions, 1986. The Army Aviation operates utility helicopters like the cheetah/chetak, while the IAF operates the attack helicopters, medium-lift helicopters and heavy-lift helicopters. The Navy helicopters are separate from this division of assets.
The decision has come after dramatic developments over the issue in the past one week. At a press conference on October 5, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne had said it was not possible to have “little air forces”.
On October 9, Defence Minister AK Antony, termed the tussle between the IAF and Army a “family problem”.
More teeth
Next lot of attack helicopters will go to the Army
Six pivot crops based in North and North-West to get armed version of Dhruv helicopter
Medium-lift helicopters - Mi-17 - to be operated by IAF
No decision on operational control of 22 Boeing Apache attack helicopters yet to be procured
Division of assets
The Army Aviation operates utility helicopters like cheetah, chetak
The IAF operates attack helicopters, medium-lift helicopters and heavy-lift helicopters
The Navy helicopters are separate from this division of assets
Source : Tribune News
Exp:56%
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