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I s s u e 6 • 2 0 0 8 V o l 5 N o 6 See us at Aero India 2009, Bangalore, Hall C, Booth 14 SP’s AN SP GUIDE PUBLICATION To order your 2007 Special Issue: AERO INDIA ’09 copy mail us at: ������������������� [email protected] 2008 OR call (+91 11) 24644763 24644693 24620130 ��������������� ��������������� LandWWW.SPSLANDFORCES.NET ForcesROUNDUP In This Issue T h e ONLY journal in Asia dedicated to Land Forces Special Forces need Guns, missiles and radars Time India maintains to be structured are the crucial elements of small forces with rapid comprehensively for a Army Air Defence, critical response military full spectrum capability, to the army’s overall intervention capabilities trained and ready for capability. The idea of air to participate in victory, or in other defence emerged during international coalitions words—a total force WWI when small arms sanctioned by the UN. of quality officers and and canons were used to The aim would be to soldiers. engage enemy aircraft. further national security interests. LT GENERAL (RETD) LT GENERAL (RETD) 6 VIJAY OBEROI? 10 NARESH CHAND? 9 GURMEET? KANWAL EditorialEditorial Exclusive Interview The preceding two months have witnessed momen- tous changes both within the country, and outside. Terrorist attacks in Mumbai on November 26 and India’s poor and uncoordinated response put paid to all claims of being a regional power readying itself to occupy the high table in the UN Security Council. A country which boasts of one of the highest rates of sustained eco- nomic growth and possesses one of the larg- est military establishments in the world was caught unawares, as usual, and took more than 60 hours to eliminate a few terrorists holed up at three locations in the city, that too, after they had massacred all hostages in sight. The botch up was evident to any layman observing the sloppy operation live on televi- sion. Now, ineffectiveness has been rewarded with bravery and distinguished service awards conferred on Mumbai Police and the NSG in an exercise aimed at vindicating the guilt on part of our political leaders who are to blame for not training or arming the country’s secu- equipped rity forces adequately. Similarly, a few weeks ‘AAC later, the army too did not cover itself with glory when after a nine-day gun battle in the Bhatidar forest of Jammu and Kashmir, having sacrificed two soldiers and a policeman, the units of the 16 Corps returned empty-handed. for tactical & It is hoped that all concerned will seriously introspect their shortcomings and take appro- priate measures, including induction of new weapons and technologies to enable greater operational efficiency. In the global arena, Barack Hussein Obama took the oath as the 44th President of the US on January 20, shattering American operational racial barriers as the first African-American leader of the nation. He has onerous responsi- bilities resting on his shoulders. India among a host of other nations has many expectations from the new President and is looking forward to a growing engagement with Washington. roles’ We at SP’s Land Forces wish President Obama Photographs: SP Guide Pubns a triumphant innings at the helm of the world’s oldest democracy. Additional Director General Army Aviation Corps Major General Ajit Hari The Aero India 2009 Special Issue incor- Gadre was commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery on December porates articles on India’s Rapid Response Capability; Interview of Additional Director 24, 1972. A keen flier and a qualified Flying Instructor, he has clocked General Army Aviation; Modernisation of over 5,000 hours of flying. Talking to SP’s Land Forces, the Major Indian Army; Precision Guided Munitions; Need for Restructuring Special Forces; Latest General outlines the various functions of the AAC which, he insists, is an Developments in UAVs; and Electronic Warfare. With the onset of 2009, we wish our read- extension of the land forces rather than an independent aviation arm. ers a Happy New Year. SP’s Land Forces (SP’s): What is the role of AAC is to provide reconnaissance, surveil- SP’s: Is the AAC completely independent the Army Aviation Corps (AAC)? lance, utility and combat aviation support of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in terms of Additional Director General Army for full spectrum operations of the Indian infrastructure, like helicopter bases, over- LT GENERAL (RETD) PRAN PAHWA Aviation Corps (ADGAAC): The role of Army (IA). haul and maintenance? EDITOR Lt General (Retd) V.K. Kapoor 6/2008 SP’S LAND FORCES 1 entire range of servicing except base over- “AAC is to expand haul. Hence, maintenance of the Cheetah/ exponentially with an Chetak fleet over the long term is not envis- increase in pilot and aged to pose any problems. ground staff training SP’s: Is your training infrastructure ade- requirements... Number quate, including simulators? ADGAAC: AAC is to expand exponentially of pilots being trained with an increase in pilot and ground staff has almost doubled.” training requirements. We have addressed these areas well in time. Number of pilots being trained has almost doubled. We ADGAAC: Over the past two decades, ever are also conducting ab initio training of since its inception on November 1, 1986, pilots at HAL, Bangalore and in combat the AAC has grown exponentially to cater squadrons. A helicopter simulator has for divergent requirements of the IA in the been installed at Combat Army Aviation Tactical Battle Area. Along this path of Training School at Nasik. A separate growth, we have established our own bases, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering has our own infrastructure and training facili- been established at the Military College ties for both aircrew and ground crew, with of Electronic and Mechanical Engineers, a sound techno logistic support system. Secunderabad, to train technical officers With these developments and support sys- and technicians thereby supplementing tems, our operational capabilities have been various technical training activities. With greatly enhanced. AAC has also established all training activities having been timely its own aviation school to train pilots as well planned, we envisage smooth induction of as provide specialised training for instruc- pilots and desired standard of training of tors. Thus, AAC has emerged as an inde- ground staff. pendent entity fully integrated with the IA’s philosophies and doctrine. SP’s: What has been AAC’s role in the recent With SP’s Land Forces Editor-in-Chief Jayant Baranwal floods in Bihar and Orissa? SP’s: Does the AAC’s operational philoso- ADGAAC: AAC had deployed the integral phy include integration with other ser- dedicated and integral resources available resources of the Central Command. In addi- vices? “To fully exploit the to them to influence battles favourably. The tion, a detachment of two ALHs and four ADGAAC: AAC is a specialised arm suitably non-linear battlefield, it following acquisitions are in the pipeline Cheetah/Chetaks were deployed in support of equipped with capability to operate across regarding various assets for the IA: flood relief. Additional helicopters were kept the entire conflict spectrum. It has the capa- is essential that attack • Reconnaissance and Surveillance on standby. The detachments undertook mis- bility to operate at the tactical level and also helicopter resources be Helicopters: These helicopters will sions like casualty evacuation, search and in conjunction with other services at the replace the existing fleet of Cheetah/ rescue, aerial survey, supply dropping and operational level. Integration of AAC into all an integral component Chetak helicopters. While some helicop- transportation of relief material and relief facets of operational and tactical scenarios with the field force ters will be procured as ‘Buy’ category, workers. We also undertook communication is a major factor in achieving overall success others will be ‘Designed and Developed’ by duties for civilian and military officials con- in modern combat. The operational philoso- commander.” the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) nected with relief operations. phy hinges around this fact during joint and as ‘Make’ category. RFP for the former has combined operations as well as sub-conven- been issued and the procurement is likely SP’s: Are you facing any shortage of pilots tional operations. which will form an important part of the to commence soon. due to greener pastures in civil aviation? rapid reaction capability. Dhruv helicopters • Utility Helicopters: Three squadrons of ADGAAC: Civil aviation prospects for pilots SP’s: What role is the AAC performing in the will form an integral part of such an effort, indigenously developed state-of-the-art from the helicopter stream have grown expo- ongoing low intensity conflict in Jammu as and when required. Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs) are nentially in the past few years. Majority of and Kashmir and the Northeast? Will this already in service (one under raising). officers who leave service are in the service role expand in the future? SP’s: Have you acquired attack helicopters? Additional squadrons are planned and bracket of 20 years and above. At this level ADGAAC: Low intensity conflict has been If so, are your pilots fully capable of oper- will form an important an integral part of seniority, the officer is past the stage for going on in Jammu and Kashmir and ating them? of Field Formation Commander’s Order of utilisation in active flying units and, there- Northeast for some time now. AAC is an ADGAAC: AAC has not acquired attack heli- Battle. fore, an exit at this stage does not make any extension of the land forces rather than an copters. As of now, IAF provides the attack • Armed Helicopters: ALHs (weapon difference. Hence, the strength of pilots in independent aviation arm. We regularly helicopters support as per our requirement.

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