Days after the Air Force escalated its tussle with the Army on the control of attack choppers with Air Chief N A K Browne saying that the nation cannot afford little air forces, the Army headquarters has conveyed its position that it is firm on the demand that combat helicopters need to be an integral part of its strike formations.
Sources said that the position of the Army has been conveyed by Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh himself.
On Tuesday, Defence Minister A K Antony also put his weight behind the Army on the issue by confirming that its demand to hand over combat choppers has not been rejected. There is no tussle. We are in the final stages of finding a solution, an amicable solution, Antony said. He responded to a query on whether a decision had been taken on the Armys demand by saying this has not been rejected.
It is learnt that a decision on the control of attack helicopters will soon be taken by the MoD that is veering towards the opinion that the aerial combat elements need to be a part of the Army, as it the norm the world over.
At present, the two squadrons of attack helicopters that India has are operated by the IAF but are under the operational command of the Army that uses them in cohesion with strike forces.
Link: Army firm on attack choppers demand | idrw.org
Sources said that the position of the Army has been conveyed by Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh himself.
On Tuesday, Defence Minister A K Antony also put his weight behind the Army on the issue by confirming that its demand to hand over combat choppers has not been rejected. There is no tussle. We are in the final stages of finding a solution, an amicable solution, Antony said. He responded to a query on whether a decision had been taken on the Armys demand by saying this has not been rejected.
It is learnt that a decision on the control of attack helicopters will soon be taken by the MoD that is veering towards the opinion that the aerial combat elements need to be a part of the Army, as it the norm the world over.
At present, the two squadrons of attack helicopters that India has are operated by the IAF but are under the operational command of the Army that uses them in cohesion with strike forces.
Link: Army firm on attack choppers demand | idrw.org
