LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by wig »

Army to get its first attack copter squadron next year

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 Army’s 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 Army’s 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.


http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111120/nation.htm#6
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by rohitvats »

^^^Excellent news. But rather than give them to Strike Corps, put them with Pivot Corps - @1 Squadron per Corps for starters. Those Corps will require every bit of firepower for their D+X days of combat - till the time Strike Corps come in.
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by Pratyush »

One stupid sawal??

Why give it a different name. Why not just call it an Armed Dhruv. Its not like it is a different machine.
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by Shrinivasan »

Pratyush wrote:Why give it a different name. Why not just call it an Armed Dhruv. Its not like it is a different machine.
Rudra brings forth a fiery feeling as comparedto a more timid Druv. Wonder what they will name our Apache Attack helos?!?! Any suggestions?
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by Shrinivasan »

^^^ the Tribune article talks about. Weaponized Cheetah named Lancer with an integrated GUn and Rocket pod, this is the first time I am hearing this, Gurus, can some guide to me to more info on this, hope this is not DDMites. When did IA test it and induct it?
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by Shrinivasan »

rohitvats wrote:^^^Excellent news. But rather than give them to Strike Corps, put them with Pivot Corps - @1 Squadron per Corps for starters. Those Corps will require every bit of firepower for their D+X days of combat - till the time Strike Corps come in.
Rohit, let us start with the three/four STRIKE Corps and then army every Corps with one SQ of Attack helos, let us get the LCHs, then the pace of Induction of attack helos wil pick up. How many Rudra has the Army ordered? I think they have already ordered 57 LCHs correct?
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by Shrinivasan »

rohitvats wrote:^^^Excellent news. But rather than give them to Strike Corps, put them with Pivot Corps - @1 Squadron per Corps for starters. Those Corps will require every bit of firepower for their D+X days of combat - till the time Strike Corps come in.
Rohit, let us start with the three/four STRIKE Corps and then army every Corps with one SQ of Attack helos, let us get the LCHs, then the pace of Induction of attack helos wil pick up. How many Rudra has the Army ordered? I think they have already ordered 57 LCHs correct?
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by Rahul M »

Shrinivasan wrote:^^^ the Tribune article talks about. Weaponized Cheetah named Lancer with an integrated GUn and Rocket pod, this is the first time I am hearing this, Gurus, can some guide to me to more info on this, hope this is not DDMites. When did IA test it and induct it?
pics
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORC ... 4.jpg.html
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORC ... os/Lancer/
and a small report.
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Image ... 03/Lancer/
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by Shrinivasan »

^^^ thanks Rahul, I learnt something new today. I hope we have couple of SQ of these with the IA. Good CASEVAC as well as Flank protection!!!
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by pragnya »

Shrinivasan wrote:I think they have already ordered 57 LCHs correct?
DNA special: 114 light combat choppers to thwart any Chinese mischief
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by rohitvats »

114 LCH as per reports I've read.
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by prabhug »

65 is for the AirForce
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by Singha »

imo name or formation is not important, but every IA corps commander (whether strike corps, pivot corps or just regular horse cavalry) should have some LCH & WSI-Dhruv directly under his operational control without needing to call up his theater commander, IAF liaison or worse Dilli(!). his formations can take care of preparing refueling & rearming sites, hides and missions for his assets.

once that is done, the IA logistical chain will naturally evolve to support organic and frequent use of gunships. decision loop being a phone call from Col/Lt Col to the corps general staff HQ, hours can be saved in the fog of war.

even a single sqdn of 10 Rudra and another of 10 WSI-Dhruv per IA corps will be a massive force multiplier in protecting units under pressure and deftly clearing strongpoints of enemy resistance with a well aimed burst or atgm from the night sky 8) penny packets is fine, we need them all over the place, not at predictable points.

IAF can probably plan to create Shakinah massed gunship Natgeo special "hunting with the cobras" type formations of AH64D and Rudra, all spit n polish, bristling with helinas and hellfires and creeping around over swift flowing himalayan rivers below the treeline.... :wink: or 15 of these wingtip to wingtip flying slowly over the Nubra valley sand dunes, raising whirls of dust .... like pack of well fed wolves falling out in a show of strength.
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by Bala Vignesh »

Singhaji,
Imaging the picture that you paint here gives me goosebumps all over.
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by Singha »

here are 23 AH64A helis flying together over south korea....in a show of force for some unknown reason. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ozCw0zaQT8

just imagine this lot flying a bit lower, line abreast forming a rough 'rohan horsemen charge line' a couple kms long, with eddies of dust from the nubra sand dunes...
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by akshay »

The LAH Rudra; Its a recon option in the mountains and meant for anti terrorist ops and certainly not a force multiplier.
There is a big diff betn LAH and LCH.
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by tsarkar »

Karan M wrote:their other helicopters in the formation supporting them.
As I've explained earlier, this is practically impossible, no aviator will fly through flares launched by others and melt his airframe and if launched by others, the physical separation will be sufficient for those flares to be outside missile seeker FoV to have any effect.
Karan M wrote:Closely spaced targets and the missile will go after whichever is in its field of view.
Now you're coming to the point, and hence the need for the flare to originate from the aircraft.
Karan M wrote:The fact that their methods worked in terms of requiring salvos was one thing
Stingers cannot be fired in salvoes like Grad rockets. Because unless the operator gets seeker lock, the missile wont fire. Multiple operators acquiring targets at the same time gave the impression of salvoes.
Karan M wrote:In this case, the IAF did manage to create a formation wherein the flares managed to protect the formation from the peaks beside and below the target. How they did it is best left out of the discussion but that was what managed to protect the crew till that point
Leaving it out of the discussion wont make an apocryphal story true. This is what an Mi-17 with CMDS looks like http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Image ... 0.jpg.html. The installation is just aft of the wheel support truss.

These are images of Mi-17 at Kargil. 129 HU and 152 HU participated in those initial attacks.
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Histo ... rgil25.jpg
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Histo ... rgil01.jpg
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Image ... h.jpg.html
http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Image ... c.jpg.html
There are exhaust diffusers but absolutely no CMDS in sight anywhere on these birds.

The simple fact is there were no CMDS and flares on those birds. If those so-called tactics and were-there CMDS were so effective, then the Mi-17 wouldnt have been discontinued from strike missions and restricted to transport missions from the day of the loss.

The MiGs were still used for strike after their losses using revised GPS assisted high/medium altitude bombing techniques.
Nick_S wrote:Why did the Jags not work well with LGBs in Kargil?
Because the integration work on Jaguars were not complete. From the CAG report http://www.cag.gov.in/reports/defence/2 ... apter3.htm
The CCS approved a proposal of the Air Force in May 1996 [TS - way before Kargil] for procurement of 15 laser designator pods with thermal imagery for fitment on 10 Jaguars and 5 Mirage-2000 aircraft and modification of 30 Jaguar aircraft for carrying the pods at a total cost of Rs.125 crore. The Ministry concluded a contract with foreign firm ?D? in November 1996 for procurement of 15 laser designator pods with thermal imagery at a total cost of US $ 27.11 million, equivalent to Rs.95 ( 1 US $ = Rs.35) crore to be delivered between March 1998 and February 1999 in two phases.

The flight test and certification on Jaguar aircraft, which was planned to be conducted by March 1998, was completed by the ASTE (Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment), only in December 1999[TS - long after the war], after a delay of 20 months. The delays were attributable mainly to delay in software development and change in modification scheme of the aircraft by HAL owing to mechanical problems. Similarly, certification on Mirage-2000 aircraft was also delayed by nine months[TS - but completed in time for Kargil].

Only one twin seater Jaguar aircraft had been modified by HAL, Bangalore as of May 2000 and the fleet modification of 29 Jaguars was yet to commence.[TS - I believe this bird tried, but didnt succeed because it wasnt tested and defects ironed out]

Fitment of an auto pilot on the Jaguars is mandatory for executing missions with laser designator pods. While the availability of auto pilots for Jaguar aircraft is unlikely at least before 2002, mismatch and inadequate planning have seriously undermined the fleet modification of Jaguars with laser designator pods.
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by Singha »

>> The LAH Rudra; Its a recon option in the mountains and meant for anti terrorist ops and certainly not a force multiplier.

TFTA looks are not the Rudra's strong point. but a system that is networked, has night vision, can disappear into sniper hides upto 200km away and reappear with fresh fuel , crew and weapons , can fire 4 x ATGMs and helmet controlled cannon is a force multiplier in our context...its far more powerful than armed Lancer for example....and far more survivable than a lumbering Mi17....
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by pragnya »

Image
Burke says this latest model is also the one being offered to the IAF. The aircraft has also recently demonstrated the ability to allow its pilot to control Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). “The Indian government will get the Block III Apache – all of the improvements.” In fact, the Boeing brought a prototype of the Block III to India to undergo flight trials by the IAF. “We took an aircraft – a prototype of a Block III aircraft that had all the performance enhancements on it – we took it and we flew it in India (for the trials).”
[youtube]RmC1FvlCEH4&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

Apache ‘last man standing’ in Indian attack helo trial
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by chiragAS »

Guided helicopter Missiles like Hellphyrrr costs around $ 68000 (35 lakhs at todays exchange rate) as per wiki.
its probably worth to use such missles agianst tanks.
They use this (on predators) to target some mujahids in some TSP vehicles :roll: expensive affair

IMO those B-8 or B-13 pods firing unguided S-8 or more powerful S-13 (it can take out tanks ) probably would be more worthwhile to carry.
Wondering if we can integrate (read allowed) those UB pods on the 64s (S-8s and S-13s are probably cheaper than TFTA equivalents)

Philip saar
As per wiki M230 gun on the 64 has an effective range of 1500 meters (30 x 113mm rounds ) ground targets and the Shipunov 2A42 on mi-28 has effective range 2500 meters :shock: (30 x 165 mm rounds) on ground tragets. how true is it? i mean the mi-28 firing those rounds at 1500 meters would almost punch 2 times that of M230 round.
Shipunov 2A42
M230 chain gun

and the marketing of 1200 rounds carrying capability of 64s are a farce as it uses the auxillary fuel tank area to accomodate that. otherwise its same 300 rounds like mi-28
From the above link on M230->
The Apache is capable of carrying up to 1,200 rounds for the gun in a device known as the flat pack. However, utilization by the US Army of a special internal fuel tank, the Robertson IAFS (known as the Robby Tank to the crews), reduces this capacity to 300 rounds
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by chiragAS »

pragnya wrote:
Burke says this latest model is also the one being offered to the IAF. The aircraft has also recently demonstrated the ability to allow its pilot to control Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). “The Indian government will get the Block III Apache – all of the improvements.” In fact, the Boeing brought a prototype of the Block III to India to undergo flight trials by the IAF. “We took an aircraft – a prototype of a Block III aircraft that had all the performance enhancements on it – we took it and we flew it in India (for the trials).”

Apache ‘last man standing’ in Indian attack helo trial
UAV controlled from Apache available to us !!! 8) That would give some serious capability.
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by VishalJ »

Recent upload from Eric, Sarang over Waddington, 2008.
Image
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by ramana »

chiragS, I wish that DRDO develops a small 125-250 lbs bomb and fits Sudarshan based LGB kits to give more punch. It will be more cost effective than those Hellfires and will be a all purpose tank, bunker killer.
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by Gaur »

Vishal Jolapara,
Wonderful pic. Thanks for sharing. :)
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by Philip »

I echo Ramanna's sentiments.It seems incredible that the ordnance factories and other PSUs meant to develop missiles and munitions for the forces have not developed a cheap cost-effective PGM using a bomb kit as is being doem worldwide,for fitment onto "dumb bombs" tuning them into cheap PGMs.There is little point in spending millions using ATGMs crushing jihadi insects by an "elephant"! Similarly,even the IN/CG require a simple short ranged ASM.guided bomb for use against small infiltrator boats,pirate skiffs.The same could also be very effective against enemy bunkers,armoured vehicles,etc.,targets of opportunity that could be dealt with at low cost.

We were supposed to be keen on acquiring Israelii "Harpy's and Harops." DEtails of these drones are here.
http://defense-update.com/products/h/harop.html
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by vasu_ray »

helis are very sensitive to unbalanced lateral loads off from the main rotor vertical axis, which could be the reason why armament load hanging from the booms is very light compared to their payload capacity

maybe one way this is compensated is by carrying EFT's on the sides of the fuselage where fuel could be pumped between tanks as and when a lateral load is expended, like a bomb is dropped from one pylon, so as to keep the center of gravity of the heli

the Mi-17 seems to come with EFTs and yet its armament payload remains at 1500kg, what gives? carrying drop tanks on the far end pylons enables better lateral payload capacity, of course the armament boom has to be wet pylon enabled
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by vasu_ray »

Mi-17 with EFTs

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Czech-Re ... 0903549/M/

they could very well be replaced with PGMs
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by Singha »

MBDA is working on a small weapon called SABER which even small UAVs could carry
test video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lERkmjvsLWQ
http://www.defence-update.net/wordpress ... _mbda.html

looks like a kind of analogue to smaller AASM...stuff that can be triple racked onto pylons of manned a/c as well for smaller targets like BAI missions against enemy columns or infra.
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by vardhank »

Code: Select all

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/comanches-child-the-arh70-armed-reconnaissance-helicopter-updated-02421/
Hah. We should offer them the Rudra. Exactly what they're looking for...
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by Philip »

HAL's helicopter division has been developing helicopters for our uniqure requirements rather well in recent times.The Dhruv,Rudra now,LCH,Lancer and the light helos derived from the Allouette-3 design,Cheetah/Chetak and Lama ,are all good enough to be displayed at a def.expo.There is a vast market for helos,especially medium sized helos.The robust Cold War design of the MI-8/17V series is the world's best selling helo,with a huge market even for secondhand ones.It is the helicopter's equivalent to the Kilo sub.If the MOD/HAL think visionary,the full caboodle of our indigenously designed helos should be displayed at the next international ekpo,as pricewise we should be very competitive.

We now have to think beyond light helos and develop with assitance preferably a multi-purpose medium sized helo of 10t weight,that can serve aboard our existing naval warships under construction and for the other two services too.One option is to also leverage the huge order for naval helos,60+ medium 10t and more Merlin class AW-101s for carriers and larger warship.With such a large order for 10t helos which will swell to 100+ when the IA and IAF add their wants too,why not ask for TOT just as we are doing with the MMRCA? This way there will be no need for yet another type to be developed and add to the maintenance/logistic burden?
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by Cybaru »

A new version of Arididen is out. It seems to have more power than the older shakti engine.

http://www.turbomeca.com/IMG/pdf/ardide ... l_data.pdf

Compared to older shakti engines.

http://www.turbomeca.com/IMG/pdf/fiche_ ... en_1h1.pdf
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by S_Prasad »

Cybaru wrote:A new version of Arididen is out. It seems to have more power than the older shakti engine.

http://www.turbomeca.com/IMG/pdf/ardide ... l_data.pdf

Compared to older shakti engines.

http://www.turbomeca.com/IMG/pdf/fiche_ ... en_1h1.pdf
The shakti still seems to have more continous max power than the the newer one.
I am no guru in engine parmeters , but some educated person can throw some light on the changes and their implications. As Far as I see, the major modification seems to be the power output shaft, I am pretty sure there are other smaller changes too.
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by Austin »

Ardiden 3g power the Ka-62 which is a 6.5T class chopper , Shakti powers the ALH which is 5.5 ton class , so the higher power compensates for greater take off weight.
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by andy B »



Hmm abduls havent seen this one posted.

some interesting info on Apache onlee GD hope you like this one!
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by shiv »

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/news ... wsid=17029
Great stuff. Up until now my mind had been full of the Air Force viewpoint on the issue as enunciated by Jasjit Singh is his Air Power book. But here the Army has very clearly stated its case in elegant but easy to understand language and here I support the Army viewpoint
But the Army feels that it should have attack helicopters of its own to perform the task since the “aviation brigade is tailor-made” to move continuously with the Army formations on ground and maintain the “forward edge in the tactical battlefield area”. Currently, the Army does not have its own attack helicopters.
Attack helicopters that are being developed for the Army by the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) are currently undergoing trials.
“Unplanned fleeting opportunities present themselves at different points in time and space, which, if not capitalised upon, lead to a standard toe to toe slugging match. The presence of aviation brigade headquarters in the tactical battlefield area negates these misses,” said a source.
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by KiranM »

Shivji, just to debate this through; will not asking AF to setup up a 'Wing' HQ (which controls and deploys the helicopters depending on Army requirements) tagged along with the tactical Army HQ (Division level??) also work?

Added later: What is AF's view or Jasjit Singh write about in his book regarding Army operating helicopters?
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by shiv »

KiranM wrote:Shivji, just to debate this through; will not asking AF to setup up a 'Wing' HQ (which controls and deploys the helicopters depending on Army requirements) tagged along with the tactical Army HQ (Division level??) also work?

Added later: What is AF's view or Jasjit Singh write about in his book regarding Army operating helicopters?
Jasjit Singh basically classifies the use of air power into close air support (support to the grunt which the grunt on the ground wants to see) and attacks into the rear lines of the enemy (interdiction) where supply routes, stores and Command and Communication are disrupted. Jasjit Singh says something to the effect that given that air power assets are limited in number what the grunt wants to see will help only in a localised area, but the attacks on the enemy's rear will eventually slow down and stop the war while the battlefield interdiction will merely blunt an offensive. Singh concludes that the grunt getting hit may be a price that has to be paid in war for the "larger issue" of taking the enemy's logistics and support. This is a very very "Air Forcy" view where the Air Force, controlling all assets gets to decide where they are best employed and may not be able to provide the grunt with support in given situations.

The army's viewpoint seems to be "Balls. You guys go ahead and do your job and we are grateful for that. But let us have our own little air force of attack and support helos to support the grunt exactly when he needs support rather than calling you and finding out that you are busy elsewhere"

The Air Force has some objections to this. They are valid, I guess, but I think the army has a point.
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by Singha »

given that our wars are only likely to be 2-3 weeks at best, the effect of deep strikes on enemy logistics and movement are likely to be much less than a 'proper' war of say 3-6 months .... usually both our enemies will be the one to initiate the war and they will stock up properly before igniting the fuse.

so I have to say the IAs pov makes sense in our context. and now that they are paying for it out of their own budget, all doctrinal objections should be overruled. IA are the best guys to setup FARPs and hiding places for the attack helicopters and the divisional commander being able to call up attack helis directly is a great boost for us.
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by Bala Vignesh »

Well, I believe that if this happensit will be relagated to a secondary role in the decision making loop, behind the Army.
shiv
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Joined: 01 Jan 1970 05:30
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Re: LCH and other Helicopters Discussion Thread

Post by shiv »

Bala Vignesh wrote:Well, I believe that if this happensit will be relagated to a secondary role in the decision making loop, behind the Army.
In a larger philosophical sense the "Air Force" like those of many other nations may worry about being made redundant by other parallel air forces. That is why the AF is looking now at "aerospace commands" and it may the Air force that talks of ability to knock out satellites. But I'm speculating.

There seems to be a lot of work going on to make all 3 forces "integrated". It may be the integration issues that the Air Force worries about. For example the Air Force is tasked with Air Defence and interception of intruding aircraft. Now unless they have a very clear understanding of where the Army is using its helos - the army helos can be killed by friendly fire. Of course it would be instructive to see how the US integrates is various air forces.

The other thing is bases and maintenance. Where will the army base its helos? Who will maintain them? Is the army going to have separate areas or share them with the air force. Whose jurisdiction will this come under? The navy has its own airfileds I think. What about the army?
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