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Indian Army Aviation
2025
The Indian Army Aviation Corps, tasked for tactical air support to the Army, came into being in 1986. It has the largest number of helicopters amongst the three services. It is widely felt that this arm has had a slow expansion and braved neglect over the years despite having performed credibly with its meagre resources in vastly varied conditions. The book is the product of papers presented and discussions held at two seminars on Army aviation organised by the Delhi-based think-tank, Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) at Delhi and Pune. The subject was selected because people at CLAWS were of the opinion that there was inadequate knowledge about the state of affairs in Army aviation, as well as its overwhelming importance on the modern battlefield. It is aimed at generating debate and discussion on various aspects of the Army Aviation Corps (ACC) so that it came become an effective force-multiplier. Several experts are of the view that the Air Force should develop and expand its strategic reach and leave tactical air support operations to the Army, which can integrate it with its formations under a single command. The editor, Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi, former Vice-Chief of the Army Staff and now director, CLAWS, argues that the growth of the Army aviation has been haphazard. Even though it came into its own as an integral part of the Army in 1986, it continues to be plagued with many infirmities. There is opposition from the Indian Air Force to its expansion and growth. Aviation assets are needed at all formations, from command to division level and at times even at brigade level, but the present assets are inadequate for the size and role of the Indian Army. Going beyond the rotary-wing component, former Director-General Army Air Defence, Lt Gen Amitava Mukherjee argues for induction of fixed-wing aircraft in Army Aviation to complement helicopters and perform key operational tasks essential for mission accomplishment. Reconnaissance, observation and surveillance, electronics warfare, command and control operations, air movement of troops within a tactical zone are some missions suggested for fixed-wing aircraft. He has a point that helicopters are limited by range and endurance, acute vulnerability to ground-based guns and missiles, complexity of logistics and maintenance and severe limitations of payload. Moreover, the author contends that helicopters are not the best platforms for mounting multiple electronic or electro-optical sensors along with their associated data processing and communication systems. Highlighting areas of optimisation and revitalisation for the ACC, former DG Artillery, Lt Gen Vinay Shankar opines that its primary role has remained surveillance, target acquisition and direction of fire. The larger role that ACC play has not been fully understood by officers other than Army aviators. Thus, there is an immediate need to educate a wider spectrum of officers at al levels on the nuances of Army aviation and its employment. Outlining the structure for future security challenges and key focus areas of Army aviation, Vice-Admiral Vinod Pasricha, a naval aviator who commanded both the Eastern as well as the Western naval commands, lays a strong emphasis on turf wars and inter-service coordination. He minces no words in saying that is time that the three service chiefs get together, shed their turf coats and ensure that amongst them they decide what aviation task each service must undertake and them work together as a team to ensure India’s security. Director of Delhi-based think-tank Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS), Air Cdre Jasjit Singh (retd) gives out his views on optimising the aviation corps in the backdrop of some key influencing factors like the emerging macro trend in expansion of the battle-space, the sort of war India may have to fight over the next two decades and commitments along disputed borders across the high-altitude and inhospitable terrain. His believes that the suggested vision for ACC to provide combat, combat support and combat service support across the entire spectrum of conflict to all field commanders, relying heavily on fixed-wing aircraft, is unrealistic and subject to misinterpretations. Giving a historic overview of Army aviation, defence analyst, K. Raja Menon cautions that the level of strategic thinking within the ACC is still in its infancy. How having more and bigger helicopters would give the country cross-border special forces capability and enhance the penetration capability of strike formations. The nature of warfare in either the desert, mountains or jungles would change, thereby affecting the country’s grand strategy. This is a big gap that Army aviation officers are untrained to fill, he contends. Discussing the integration of attack helicopters with joint operations on land, Brig Gurmeet Kanwal, senior fellow at CAPS, feels that attack helicopters must be under the operational control of the Army formation they are supporting and must form part of the planning process all stages. Pilots must train alongwith combat groups they would support in war so that they are able to understand each others’ radio procedures and target-indication methods. Professional and social interaction between the two should be frequent. Army aviation structures of various countries are highlighted by former GOC-in-C, Southern Command, Lt Gen G.S Sihota and Brig Devinder Singh, an artillery officer posted at the Army Training Command. The book has excerpts from the interaction sessions held during the two seminars as well as technical data on prominent attack and utility helicopters in service around the world.
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Aerial
