COMBAT HELICOPTERS WITH THE INDIAN ARMED FORCES

The IAF and the Indian Army have been operating rotary-wing platforms, but traditionally, ownership of combat helicopters had been restricted to the former

- AIR MARSHAL B.K. PANDEY (RETD)

ALTHOUGH THE AERIAL COMBAT REGIME OF THE INDIAN armed forces is dominated by fixed-wing combat aircraft, the rotary-wing component is beginning to gain ground as it has a significant role to play in tactical combat scenarios. The Indian Air Force (IAF), as well as the Aviation Corps of the Indian Army, have been operating rotary-wing platforms, but traditionally, ownership of combat helicopters had been restricted to the former. The Army Aviation Corps has been operating primarily light helicopters to operate to areas not easily accessible by other means. However, in recent times, there has been a major change in policy due to which the Army Aviation Corps is now going to induct combat helicopters in large numbers in the years to come. As a result, the involvement of combat helicopter fleets of the IAF in tactical battle scenarios, is expected to reduce. The current state of combat helicopter fleets in both the IAF and the Army Aviation Corps has been described in the succeeding paragraphs.

AH-64E APACHE ATTACK HELICOPTER