Army to buy copter-borne early warning systems

[Gessler]

Naval Dhruv was integrated with LRDE super vision 2000 radar

Something similar may be done for IA requirement.

5.5-ton choppers like Dhruv don't have te required kind of endurance for
this battlefield surveillance requirements. What IA wants here is a typical
12-ton chopper like Mi-17v-5 fitted with new radar and surveillance systems.

France was using a similar system in 90's but thats probably cancelled by now. But the system was based on Cougar helicopter.

Yes it was the AS-532 Horizon.

 

[sancho]

Now they are going over board with their new freedom. Whenever IA makes offesive actions, they will be covered by IAFs fighters, recon, intel and AWACS aircrafts. They are much more capable than such a helicopter based system, so why waste money on a dedicated system? Seems more like IA again wants to try to want less interoperability with IAF, then to increase it. How do they want to argue this time, since AEW capabilities are used for IAF in first place, not like it was the case with the other helicopters.

 

[jha]

^^^ They are probably looking for a GMTI system which will be a must for every strike corps of Indian Army.

IAI can offer its ELM-2054 radar to mount on Dhruv/Mi-17..Or, we can ask France to provide assistance as they have the experience of operating such system.

 

[karan21]

what is this sv2000 radar. I have heard of this before. Can anyone share some details??

 

[Gessler]

Now they are going over board with their new freedom. Whenever IA makes offesive actions, they will be covered by IAFs fighters, recon, intel and AWACS aircrafts. They are much more capable than such a helicopter based system, so why waste money on a dedicated system? Seems more like IA again wants to try to want less interoperability with IAF, then to increase it. How do they want to argue this time, since AEW capabilities are used for IAF in first place, not like it was the case with the other helicopters.

IA does not want chopper-based AEW. They only want a battlefield surveillance
chopper for scanning the immediate combat scenario, its not everytime that a
full-fledged AEW&C aircraft can be deployed by IAF to support every small op
of IA.

 

[illuminatidinesh]

IA does not want chopper-based AEW. They only want a battlefield surveillance
chopper for scanning the immediate combat scenario, its not everytime that a
full-fledged AEW&C aircraft can be deployed by IAF to support every small op
of IA.

That is right... Every time they cant depend on the IAF for the emergency.

 

[sancho]

IA does not want chopper-based AEW. They only want a battlefield surveillance
chopper for scanning the immediate combat scenario, its not everytime that a
full-fledged AEW&C aircraft can be deployed by IAF to support every small op
of IA.

From the article:

will give formation commanders an insight into enemy territory while serving as warning systems for approaching aircraft and armoured units

So we are talking about an Ka 31 like aircraft with a radar that can scan the air and the ground for "enemy" targets. Not to mention that a AWACS aircraft will cover a way wider area, can track way more targets and will be in a safe distance to the battle field itself, but who will protect this helicopter from enemy fighters, or even ground forces with SAMs?

No matter how hard IA might try now, at the end they will be dependent on IAFs air support and that is not bad at all in this case, they simply have to find a way to develop joint tactics instead of everybody is doing their thang.

 

[Tshering22]

I don't know guys...

Helos are pretty vulnerable in the areas we are having hostility. On plains with a flat land, they'd do fine but in mountains that are as high or higher than a helicopter's altitude, you never know where a rogue rocket in a conflict might come out of.

I have my apprehensions about Army wasting its money on such acquisitions.

They should only focus on getting the LCHs and the AH-64s into the Aviation Wing and training the pilots adequately.