Army to get expanded avation wing soon

Yusuf

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NEW DELHI: Having recently won a hard-fought turf war with the IAF to get heavy-duty "attack" helicopters of its own, the Army is now pressing the throttle to get its "mini" air force up and flying as soon as possible.

Army chief General Bikram Singh has approved the creation of a permanent cadre for the Army Aviation Corps (AAC) by the end of this month, which will operate light observation and attack helicopters in the short-term and medium-lift choppers and even fixed-wing aircraft in the long-term, sources said.

The US, China and Pakistan are among countries that have a dedicated aviation wing within their armies.

Moreover, raising of "aviation brigades" for each of the 1.13-million strong Army's three "strike" and 10 "pivot" corps (each has around 75,000 soldiers) has already commenced, with one already in place at the 14 Corps deployed in Ladakh.

At present, the AAC operates around 250 light helicopters like Druv, Cheetah and Chetak, while attack and medium-lift choppers were always the IAF's preserve. The Army now wants one attack helicopter squadron (10-12 choppers) for its three "strike" formations - 1 Corps (Mathura), 2 Corps (Ambala) and 21 Corps (Bhopal) -- in keeping with their primary offensive role. Moreover, it has plans to induct another 114 'Rudra' light combat helicopters for the 10 'pivot' corps.

The force's long-term plans include a squadron each of attack/armed, reconnaissance/observation and tactical battle-support helicopters for all the 13 corps. In addition, the force wants each of its six regional or operational commands to get "a flight" of five fixed-wing aircraft for tactical airlift of troops and equipment.

At present, the AAC has a temporary cadre of around 10,000 personnel, half of them being technicians. The other 5,000 come on deputation of two to three years from the infantry, artillery, air defence, mechanized infantry and the like. "These 5,000 will now be given the option to opt permanently for AAC," said a source.

Direct recruitment of junior commissioned officers (JCOs) and other ranks for the AAC, in turn, will begin from April 2015. As for officers, Gen Singh has directed the military secretary to "substantially increase" the officers being commissioned into AAC from the Indian Military Academy (Dehradun) and the Officers Training Academies (Chennai and Gaya).

"The overall plan is to enhance the complete capability of AAC, from manpower and training to equipment and infrastructure," said the source.

All this comes within two months of defence minister AK Antony ruling that "future" procurements and inductions of attack helicopters -- armed with guided missiles, cannons and rockets to target enemy infantry and tanks on the ground -- will be for the Army.

IAF is worried that it will lead to sheer duplication of efforts and waste of scarce resources. The Army, however, is all gung-ho about getting its own "tactical" mini air force, implying IAF can continue with its "strategic" air role.

Now, Army to get own mini air force soon - The Times of India on Mobile
 

Ray

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It will make the ground battle more cohesive.

The Army should also have control over the tactical air battle too for a cohesive response over the ground battle.

As it is, the IAF is chary of allotting air effort in the beginning of the war since it is important to allot resources for Counter Air Ops and destroying the enemy's industrial base and airfields.

If the ground battle is separated from the air space control battle, it would allow the IAF to concentrate on their important and primary role and the IA, theirs.
 

Yusuf

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It will make the ground battle more cohesive.

The Army should also have control over the tactical air battle too for a cohesive response over the ground battle.

As it is, the IAF is chary of allotting air effort in the beginning of the war since it is important to allot resources for Counter Air Ops and destroying the enemy's industrial base and airfields.

If the ground battle is separated from the air space control battle, it would allow the IAF to concentrate on their important and primary role and the IA, theirs.
Well that's the logic but IA and IAF have always been at loggerheads on this topic
 

Patriot

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Who wants to lose their Empire?
Their is no empire on stake, it is the life of moving infantry on stake when their is no CAS available in time.

At present there seems to be no synergy between IA & IAF. It takes lot of time for IAF to respond due to bureaucratic command structure. CAS available on demand will boost the confidence & performance of our infantry.

I feel there should be joint theater level command for IA & IAF. The IAF should be limited for specialized strategic roles.
 

Ray

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Their is no empire on stake, it is the life of moving infantry on stake when their is no CAS available in time.

At present there seems to be no synergy between IA & IAF. It takes lot of time for IAF to respond due to bureaucratic command structure. CAS available on demand will boost the confidence & performance of our infantry.

I feel there should be joint theater level command for IA & IAF. The IAF should be limited for specialized strategic roles.
In the defence hanging on like a mother hen or adding on is known as 'empire building'.

Jointmanship will always be prevented by the bureaucrats since it will be crumbling their 'Empire' and the politicians have a foolish fear that one could do a Musharaf.

That is why a paid agent like Shekhar Gupta sensationalised the routine exercise of two battalions as an 'attempted coup'; little did this subjanta military illiterate know that two battalions cannot take over a whole nation.Neither did this cretin realise that there was enough military in Delhi, the brigades and the Republic Day contingents as also there was a Division in Meerut, which if all were mustered, then there could have been such an alleged situation.

It proves that even editors of newspapers are paid journalists or are camp followers of vested interests!

If he wanted to do down Gen VK Singh at the behest of his paymasters, he should not have done such a foolish way to 'prove' so coming out as a total buffoon!
 

JBH22

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What about a dedicated CAS aircraft?
 

Yusuf

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What about a dedicated CAS aircraft?
The Report talks about the army acquiring fixed wing aircrafts in the future. So I guess they will have dedicated CAS aircrafts
 

mikhail

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The Report talks about the army acquiring fixed wing aircrafts in the future. So I guess they will have dedicated CAS aircrafts
well if they go for a dedicated CAS fixed wing aircraft,then they should probably buy a couple of dozens of Embraerer Super Tucano CAS a/c.it will be a worthy CAS platform for AAC!and beside they will also induct 114 LCHs in the near future(though here its written that they are going to induct 114 Rudras but i think they have mixed the Rudras with LCH,beside the Army has already ordered around 76 Dhruv mk-3 most of which will be the armed version "Rudra").so we are going to have one of the largest AAC in the world by 2020!:thumb:
 

W.G.Ewald

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Will CAS be a role for IA Aviation, or for IAF?
 

Yusuf

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Both, CAS is mainly done by IAF..

What Army is getting is merely Gunships and Media is sensationalizing the issue..
Gen Singh talked about fixed wing aircrafts. These will be for CAS.
 

Kunal Biswas

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Gen Singh talked about fixed wing aircrafts. These will be for CAS.
I read about logistics and so on..

Even if by chance we have CAS, Still IAF will provide CAS to troops where IAF can do the job but not IA Aviation..
 

W.G.Ewald

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Both, CAS is mainly done by IAF..

What Army is getting is merely Gunships and Media is sensationalizing the issue..
Just my guess: Air Force guys won't yield CAS to IA Aviation. :)
 

JBH22

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well if they go for a dedicated CAS fixed wing aircraft,then they should probably buy a couple of dozens of Embraerer Super Tucano CAS a/c.it will be a worthy CAS platform for AAC!and beside they will also induct 114 LCHs in the near future(though here its written that they are going to induct 114 Rudras but i think they have mixed the Rudras with LCH,beside the Army has already ordered around 76 Dhruv mk-3 most of which will be the armed version "Rudra").so we are going to have one of the largest AAC in the world by 2020!:thumb:
The SU-25 is the answer for CAS sturdy and reliable plane plus its ultra cheap :)
 

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