Army To Increase Helicopter Fleet In Ladakh Sector

Army aviation assets in Ladakh, which faces active fronts with China and Pakistan, are going to be beefed up, not only for the offensive and defensive roles but also for deployments in assisting the civil support to handle bad weather conditions in the region.

- MAYANK SINGH

With the standoff in eastern Ladakh with China since May 2020, the aviation arm has been strengthened, Brigadier Gurdeep Singh said. "Our tasks have increased manifold, flying hours have increased. We may see more helicopters being inducted here," said the top aviator of the Fire and Fury Corps.

Army aviators operate all through the year in a dynamic condition, fulfilling multiple roles as the brigade maintains places in Kargil and Leh along with Siachen Glacier, the world's highest battlefield.

"The Army has a variety of helicopters for reconnaissance, besides various tasks such as the induction and de-induction of troops, and for casualty evaluation," said Brigadier Singh.