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Army to get its first attack copter squadron next year | idrw.org
Twenty-five years after the Army established its own aviation wing to provide tactical air support to ground formations, it is getting its own dedicated attack helicopter squadron. This marks a notable shift in its operational capabilities and the beginning of a new chapter in the doctrinal book of the Army Aviation Corps (AAC) that has till now been largely restricted to surveillance and communication roles.
Sources said the first attack helicopter squadron is scheduled to be raised early next year with the induction of indigenously developed Rudra, the weaponised version of the Dhruv the advance light helicopter that is already in service. The new squadron is likely to be attached with one of the Armys strike corps.
So far, the Army is the only customer for the Rudra that is stated to be undergoing weapons trials. The machine would be armed with anti-tank guided missiles, rockets and machineguns. It can also carry torpedoes and anti-ship missiles.
The basic concept of the Rudra is similar to that of the Russian made Mi-25/35 helicopter gunships in service with the IAF. Both are heavily armed with the capability to ferry 6-8 combat-ready soldiers in their passenger cabins. This serves the twin purpose of providing close air support to advancing mechanised formations or ground forces in varied operational scenarios as well as deliver troops to the combat zone as reinforcements or for special missions.
Such roles are presently fulfilled by the Mi-25/35, which though operated by the IAF, have been paid for by the Army. Over the years, the IAF has been opposing the growth of the Army Aviation on the grounds that all aerial assets should be with one force to make training, maintenance and logistics easier.
The AAC is primarily equipped with the Cheetah and Chetak light helicopters. Experts have argued
that for the AAC to be an effective combat arm it must have adequate offensive and ground attack capability to provide the requisite tactical air support.
The ACC got some teeth recently with the induction of the Lancer, which is basically the Cheetah retrofitted with two integrated weapons pods each carrying a machine gun and three rockets that can provide limited close air support.
The ACC has also equipped a limited number of Cheetah helicopters airborne battlefield surveillance systems, giving field commanders real-time operational information. The system can relay its feed to a ground based receiver unit as far as 400 km away or it can record the input on to a CD for later viewing.
Assault Fleet
* The first attack helicopter squadron is scheduled to be raised early next year with the induction of indigenously developed Rudra, the weaponised version of the Dhruv the advance light helicopter that is already in service.
* The new squadron is likely to be attached with one of the Armys strike corps.
* The Rudra is undergoing weapons trials. The machine would be armed with anti-tank guided missiles, rockets and machineguns. It can also carry torpedoes and anti-ship missiles.
Twenty-five years after the Army established its own aviation wing to provide tactical air support to ground formations, it is getting its own dedicated attack helicopter squadron. This marks a notable shift in its operational capabilities and the beginning of a new chapter in the doctrinal book of the Army Aviation Corps (AAC) that has till now been largely restricted to surveillance and communication roles.
Sources said the first attack helicopter squadron is scheduled to be raised early next year with the induction of indigenously developed Rudra, the weaponised version of the Dhruv the advance light helicopter that is already in service. The new squadron is likely to be attached with one of the Armys strike corps.
So far, the Army is the only customer for the Rudra that is stated to be undergoing weapons trials. The machine would be armed with anti-tank guided missiles, rockets and machineguns. It can also carry torpedoes and anti-ship missiles.
The basic concept of the Rudra is similar to that of the Russian made Mi-25/35 helicopter gunships in service with the IAF. Both are heavily armed with the capability to ferry 6-8 combat-ready soldiers in their passenger cabins. This serves the twin purpose of providing close air support to advancing mechanised formations or ground forces in varied operational scenarios as well as deliver troops to the combat zone as reinforcements or for special missions.
Such roles are presently fulfilled by the Mi-25/35, which though operated by the IAF, have been paid for by the Army. Over the years, the IAF has been opposing the growth of the Army Aviation on the grounds that all aerial assets should be with one force to make training, maintenance and logistics easier.
The AAC is primarily equipped with the Cheetah and Chetak light helicopters. Experts have argued
that for the AAC to be an effective combat arm it must have adequate offensive and ground attack capability to provide the requisite tactical air support.
The ACC got some teeth recently with the induction of the Lancer, which is basically the Cheetah retrofitted with two integrated weapons pods each carrying a machine gun and three rockets that can provide limited close air support.
The ACC has also equipped a limited number of Cheetah helicopters airborne battlefield surveillance systems, giving field commanders real-time operational information. The system can relay its feed to a ground based receiver unit as far as 400 km away or it can record the input on to a CD for later viewing.
Assault Fleet
* The first attack helicopter squadron is scheduled to be raised early next year with the induction of indigenously developed Rudra, the weaponised version of the Dhruv the advance light helicopter that is already in service.
* The new squadron is likely to be attached with one of the Armys strike corps.
* The Rudra is undergoing weapons trials. The machine would be armed with anti-tank guided missiles, rockets and machineguns. It can also carry torpedoes and anti-ship missiles.
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