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Army Aviation Corps - Modernization

The Army planned to become the world's largest operator [indeed, almost only operator] of the indigenous Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter with proposed induction of 125 ALHs in both the transport and weapons system integrated versions. The 15-year Army Aviation Plan envisioned acquisition of an attack helicopter version of the ALH, equipped with guns, rockets, anti-tank guided missiles and air-to-air missiles. By the end of the current 10th army plan, it was envisaged to arm Army aviation formations with six utility helicopter squadrons of ALH and six squadrons of 10 tonne-class.

The IAF and Indian Army were at some degree of odds over the Army's plans to dramatically increase the number of air assets it operates. The large RFP for 317 helicopters for the Army and also later added IAF is back to 197, with 12 Heavy Lift and 12 VIP helicopters also in the pipe line. As of 2007 the Army Aviation Corps modernisation plans were:

• Reconnaissance and Surveillance Helicopters. These helicopters will replace the existing fleet of Cheetah / Chetak helicopters. While some helicopters will be procured as 'Buy' category, others will be 'Designed and Developed' by HAL as 'Make' category. RFP for the former has been issued and the procurement was likely to commence soon.
• Utility Helicopters. Three squadrons of indigenously developed state-of-the-art Advanced Light Helicopters(ALH) are already in service (one under raising). Additional squadrons are planned and will form an important and integral part of Field Formation Commander's battle.
• Armed Helicopters. ALH (weapon system Integrated) are being developed by HAL. Integration of weapon systems on the ALH is already under way including test firing of weapons. The helicopter was to be ready for first flight by 2009.
• Tactical Battle Support Helicopter. This is being developed as a tri-services project by HAL. The helicopter will be called Indian Multi Role Helicopter. By 2007 the procurement process had already has been "set into motion" for Battle Support helicopters. These machines should be capable of carrying 10 - 12 men into the battlefield.
• Spl Ops Sqn. A Spl Ops Squadron is being raised to provide dedicated integral aviation support to the Special Forces.
• Heliborne EW Flt. Raising of a HB EW flight has been planned to optimally exploit the third dimension to enhance the reach and potency of Electronic Warfare effort.
• Light Fixed Wing Aircraft. The Army is also planning to induct light fixed wing aircraft in future for surveillance and communication tasks.

By 2012 the Army was set to replace its ageing fleet of helicopters with induction of new versions of light and combat choppers. The induction of 197 light observation helicopters was then in the final stages. Meanwhile, army was to induct 114 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) suited for deployment along the mountainous terrain. LCH which was designed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) carried out its maiden flight in March 2010. The proposal of inducting tactical battle support helicopters, also known as Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH) of 10-20 tonne class was also in the pipeline. At the end of 2011 the Army had a fleet of over 250 helicopters.

The armed forces were looking to induct as many as 900 helicopters in the coming decade through 2025, including 384 light-utility and observation, 90 naval multi-role, 65 light combat, 22 heavy-duty attack, 139 medium-lift and 15 heavy-lift, among others.

The Army Aviation had few helicopters to carry out a number of extremely specialised roles in the Tactical Battle Area (TBA). The present Army Aviation assets are inadequate for the size of the Indian Army and the tasks it is required to perform - its expansion therefore is imperative. To make the Army Aviation a potent force capable of supporting the Indian Army operations across the entire spectrum of conflict in the TBA it must grow and transform, having a mix of both, helicopters and fi xed wing aircraft with helicopters available in larger numbers. At the same time a concerted effort needs to be made to overcome the various bottlenecks. The helicopter fleet should consist of attack and armed helicopters, heavy, medium and light utility (lift) helicopters and light observation helicopters. There also would be a need for specialised helicopters suitably modified for special operations.

The gap between desire and reality is presently very large and is likely to narrow down provided the acquisitions and developments proceed as planned - the urgent need to replace the 200 odd ageing and obsolete Cheetah / Chetak fl eet cannot be over emphasised. Despite its pivotal role in future conflicts recognised, the Army Aviation received a major setback in 2014 with the government scrapping the long pending and operationally critical Cheetah / Chetak replacement project, involving the acquisition of 197 light reconnaissance and observation helicopters. The government instead decided to go for a ‘Buy and Make in India’ project - which basically meant the participation of the Indian defence industry in collaboration with foreign helicopter companies to manufacture this class of helicopters in India. Though a positive step towards Prime Minister's ‘Make in India’ policy and overall indigenisation thrust, this decision left the Army bereft of a suitable helicopter in this class and affect the overall operational capability, especially in high altitude areas including the Siachen Glacier. This move was likely to have a major impact on the flight safety of the Cheetah / Chetak fleet operations, as these helicopters were now 40 years old and obsolete, with their maintenance itself becoming a nightmare and the spares situation critical.

Kamov 226T

By 2016 procurement cases of major equipment like Kamov helicopters which would be replacing the ageing fleet of Cheetah and Chetak Helicopters and Advanced Light Helicopters were underway. Modernisation plan is being pursued with an aim to give impetus to indigenisation and to beef up the defence manufacturing base and the eco system. IAF has already identified series of defence equipment that can be manufactured under ‘Make in India’. Ministry of Defence is also considering to include the private sector in production of defence equipment manufacturing of Ka226T helicopters.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for 200 Kamov 226T helicopters for which an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) has been signed with the Russian Government in December 2015. HAL has been identified in view of its capabilities in the field of design, development, manufacture and maintenance of Aircraft. A green field facility has been planned at Tumakuru near Bengaluru primarily to take up manufacture and MRO activities for indigenously designed and developed light utility helicopter and other helicopters. The plan for setting up of the facility existed even before the finalization of manufacture of Kamov 226 T helicopters. To implement Inter Government Agreement (IGA) for manufacture of Kamov Ka-226T helicopters in India, a Joint Venture Company (JVC) between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Russian Helicopters and Rosoboronexport has been incorporated in May 2017, as Indo Russian Helicopters Ltd (IRHL).

Dhruv / Rudra - Advanced Light Helicopter ALH

Army Aviation Corps was created with the main objective of contributing to battle field success by providing guidance to the field Commanders in applying decisive combat powers. The Corps was by 2015 plagued with 32 percent deficiency against its authorised fleet strength. The helicopters held were old and ageing, with 52 percent of the fleet more than 30 years old. Low level of serviceability further reduced the effective availability of helicopters for operations to 40 percent of the authorisation.

By 2015 the armed Dhruv helicopter christened Rudra (manufactured by HAL) had already commenced induction into the Army Aviation, with the first unit currently under raising. However there is a major drawback in these helicopters being inducted. They were without the crucial anti-tank missile which is the leading armament of an attack helicopter. Development of the indigenous project of Helina, the air version of the Nag anti-tank missile was still nowhere in sight and efforts to import a suitable missile for the first few units of Rudra had not made any headway.

On 22 February 2019 Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) handed over first three ALHs as part of the 22 ALH MK III contract to the Indian Army in the on-going Aero India 2019. HAL had entered into a contract with the Indian Army for 40 ALH (22 ALH Mk III and 18 Mk IV Rudra) in August 2017. Of the 22 helicopters, 19 helicopters have already been produced and will be progressively delivered. The documents were handed over to Director General Army Aviation Lt Gen Kanwal Kumar by Chief Executive Officer, Helicopter Division Shri GVS Bhaskar in the presence of Chairman and Managing Director, HAL Shri R Madhavan. Officials from the Army, HAL, DGAQA and RCMA were also present on the occasion.

The Advanced Light Helicopter (Dhruv) is a multi-role, new generation helicopter in the 5.5-ton weight class, indigenously designed and developed by HAL. Powered by two Shakti engines, it provides superlative performance throughout its flight envelope. It is suited for a high-speed cruise for rapid deployment and to maximize the area of operations. The basic helicopter is produced in skid version and wheeled version. In the wheeled version, options for fixed and retractable undercarriages are available.

AH-64D Block III Apache

An important development (with positive overtones) was the government’s approval for the Army to get its own fleet of 39 iconic Block III Apache attack helicopters for its Strike Corps. This decision will provide a major boost to the modernisation plans of the Army Aviation Corps and will go a long way in enhancing its combat potential. This is basically a follow up of the decision taken by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in November 2012 on the long pending issue of ownership of attack helicopter assets in favor of the Army. While the Air Force was to retain the 22 Apaches currently being acquired, the Army was asked by the MoD to put across its own requirement of Apache attack helicopters for government approval. The Army accordingly had worked out the requirement for three squadrons of Apache attack helicopters for its three Strike Corps.

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress on December 22 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of India of various engines, equipment, weapons, training, parts and logistical support for a possible Direct Commercial Sale of 22 AH-64D Block III Apache helicopters. The complete package is worth approximately $1.4 billion.

The Government of India has requested proposals from several foreign suppliers, including the United States, to provide the next generation attack helicopter for the Indian Air Force. In this competition, the Government of India has yet to select the Boeing-United States Army proposal. This notification is being made in advance so that, in the event that the Boeing- U.S. Army proposal is selected, the United States might move as quickly as possible to implement the sale.

If the Government of India selected the Boeing-U.S. Army proposal, the Government of India will request a possible sale of 50 T700-GE-701D engines, 12 AN/APG-78 Fire Control Radars, 12 AN/APR-48A Radar Frequency Interferometers, 812 AGM-114L-3 HELLFIRE LONGBOW missiles, 542 AGM-114R-3 HELLFIRE II missiles, 245 STINGER Block I-92H missiles, and 23 Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensors, rockets, training and dummy missiles, 30mm ammunition, transponders, simulators, global positioning system/inertial navigation systems, communication equipment, spare and repair parts; tools and test equipment, support equipment, repair and return support, personnel training and training equipment; publications and technical documentation, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics support to be provided in conjunction with a proposed direct commercial sale of 22 AH-64D Block III APACHE Helicopters.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to strengthen the U.S.-India strategic relationship and to improve the security of an important partner which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in South Asia. The proposed sale in support of AH-64D helicopters will improve India’s capability to strengthen its homeland defense and deter regional threats. This support for the AH-64D will provide an incremental increase in India’s defensive capability to counter ground-armored threats and modernize its armed forces. India will have no difficulty absorbing this helicopter support into its armed forces.