Army Aviation Is an Important and Vital Component of All
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AVAIL YOUR COPY NOW! October-November 2019 Volume 16 No. 5 `100.00 (India-Based Buyer Only) SP’s Military Yearbook 2019 SP’s AN SP GUIDE P UBLICATION For details, see page 9-10 WWW.SPSLANDFORCES.COM ROUNDUP THE ONLY MAGAZINE IN ASIA-PACIFIC DEDICATED to LAND FORCES IN THIS ISSUE >> EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW PAGE 4 Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) Needs a De Novo Look PhoToGraPh: Indian army Closing in on the Apaches: Lt General Kanwal Kumar, Director General army aviation, standing in front of an apache – “tank in the air” – as the army preps for the attack helicopter role FICV, a key spearhead of the restructured Integrated Battle Groups, cannot be put in a limbo and such a critical capability programme must be classified as project of ‘National Strategic Security Importance”. Lt General A.B. Shivane (Retd) PAGE 7 Equipment and Weapons for Urban Warfare Combat in urban areas can be the most destructive due to densely populated terrain, military weapons not suitable for urban warfare, close quarter battle (CQB), hand to hand combat and ruthless behaviour of non-state forces who do not believe in rules of engagement. SP’s Correspondent PAGE 8 Special Forces-Challenges and Solutions Majority of the Special Forces have to operate by stealth, in small groups and in enemy territory, involving covert operations. “Army Aviation is Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) PAGE 11 Counter-Terrorism an important and vital component of all The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), arms combat force” in their first ever open acknowledgement in 2011 in US Court, said that the Inter- Services Intelligence (ISI) sponsors Interaction of Jayant Baranwal, Editor-in-Chief of SP’s Land Forces with terrorism in Kashmir and it oversees terrorist separatist groups in Kashmir. Lieutenant General Kanwal Kumar, Director General and Colonel Commandant Lt General Naresh Chand (Retd) of army aviation 5/2019 SP’s LAND FORCES 1 >> INTERVIEW Recently, the President’s Colours combat and violent behaviour raid on Islamic State leader Abu so critical that it is being raised in were awarded to Army Aviation of non-state forces who do not Bakr al-Baghdadi. Indian Army every fora from UNO to all multi- Corps in recognition of their contri- believe in rules of engagement. may have carried out many co- lateral/bi-lateral talks. India is bution. Our lead story in this issue The current terrorism is mostly vert operations in the past but the thus no exception. The Federal is an interview with DG, Army Avi- fought in urban terrain. The ex- 2016 Surgical Strike has been well Bureau of Investigation (FBI), ation Lt. General Kanwal Kumar amples of Iraq, Syria and Jammu publicised. This article on ‘Special in their first ever open acknowl- on this achievement as well as the & Kashmir are very current. The Forces’ covers only army SFs like edgement in 2011 in US Court, role and future of the Corps. situation becomes more com- the US Army SFs (popularly called said that the Inter-Services Intel- The fate of the Future Infan- plex when own citizens are in- Green Beret) and India’s Para ligence (ISI) sponsors terrorism try Combat Vehicle (FICV) has volved and it is difficult to avoid Commandoes. In India the SFs of in Kashmir and it oversees terror- undergone many twists and turns collateral damage. A quote from the Armed Force are also grouped ist separatist groups in Kashmir. since 2004 without seeing the light Vietnam War indicates the na- under a single command. Their Thus an article is included in this at the end of a long tunnel. Thus ture of urban warfare, “it became broad role can include unconven- issue which gives an overview of the lead story gives an overview of necessary to destroy the town to tional warfare; counter-insurgency; counter terrorism operations. the project by commenting that the save it.” It has also given birth to special reconnaissance; counter- Read on dear readers and FICV is yet another case history of a new genre of tactics and weap- terrorism; information operations; wish you all a Merry Christmas! self-inflicted injury, creating a ca- ons which the article on Urban counterproliferation of weapon of EDITORIAL pability gap with no effort to seek Warfare amply explores. mass destruction; security force its accountability and responsibil- Special Forces (SF) have assistance; hostage/POW /civilian ity thus taking back the project to started playing a key role espe- rescue and many more. its date of birth in 2004. cially in counter insurgency and Acts of terrorism by non -state Combat in urban areas can counter terrorism operations thus actors against a legally appointed be the most destructive due their role is more topical. US’ oper- government has become a global to densely populated terrain, ations in Iraq and Afghanistan has issue and majority of the nations military weapons not suitable highlighted their role and impor- are carrying out counter terror- for urban warfare, close quar- tance. The recent example is the ism operations in some form or JAYANT BARANWAL ter battle (CQB), hand to hand Delta Force Commandoes of US’ the other. This issue has become Publisher & Editor-in-Chief PhoToGraPhS: Indian army SP’s Land Forces (SP’s): What is the signif- SP’s: Do you envisage expansion in the icance of the Colour Presentation to Army role of women in Army Aviation? Aviation? DGAA: Army Aviation already has women Director General of Army Aviation (DGAA): officers, who are being directly commis- The President’s Colours is a visible symbol sioned as Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) of excellence and are earned through dedi- officers. Besides this, women Engineering cation and worthy contribution both dur- Officers are also being posted in Army Avia- ing war and peace. Award of the Colours tions units for maintenance of the helicop- to Army Aviation Corps is an apt recogni- ter fleet. The proposal for inducting women tion of its ceaseless operational involve- officers as aviators is also under examina- ment across diverse terrain, in demanding tion and is being viewed positively. weather and climate conditions in a vari- ety of challenging situations from the icy SP’s: Capability development and mod- heights of Siachen Glacier to the Rann of ernisation constantly come up against Kutch in the past three decades of its rela- fiscal challenges, especially with a tively young existence. shrinking defence budget. What steps are being taken in this context by the Army SP’s: The vintage Chetak-Cheetah is Aviation? believed to have outlived its life. What are DGAA: Army Aviation remains committed the measures being undertaken to ensure to translate its modernisation plans into the flight worthiness and is there a plan to action in a time-bound and effective man- phase out these helicopters? ner. More emphasis is being laid on priori- DGAA: Maintenance and overhaul proce- tisation, rationalisation and economy of dures of the fleet are well established. Every expenditure. Greater value for money is aircraft that is flying is fully airworthy. being achieved by encouraging procure- Timely servicings and overhauls are being ments from indigenous sources in sup- carried out meticulously to ensure service- port of the ‘Make in India’ initiative of the ability and availability of the helicopter for Government. all operations. As it is an ageing fleet, man- agement of spares remains work at hand. SP’s: You have been part of Army Aviation The Cheetah/Chetak helicopter will be since it got the status of a independent phased out with the induction of Ka-226T arm and your military career is culminating and LUH manufactured by HAL which is with the Colour Presentation to Army Avia- likely over the next few years. tion by President of India. Your thoughts on this historic occasion and the changes SP’s: Could you elaborate more on acquisi- you have seen with respect to the capabil- tions and their progress for Army Aviation? ity of Army Aviation? DGAA: Army Aviation is an important and DGAA: This arm has grown from limited (Top) President Ram Nath Kovind presents colours to the Army Aviation Corps on October 10, 2019, in a vital component of all arms combat force. ceremonial parade, held at Army Aviation Base, Nashik; (above) DG in the cockpit of Apache. R&O assets to a potent arm with a variety It undertakes combat and combat support of equipment already inducted and in the tasks. The acquisitions and design and DGAA: The ‘Dhruv’ is steadily emerging systems can perform multiple tasks in offering. I am fortunate to have been a part development projects of Army Aviation Army Aviation’s workhorse and force multi- the entire spectrum of conflict in varied of the complete journey of the Corps since have been focused to enhance the combat plier for the Indian Army. The helicopter has and inhospitable terrain including high its raising and have witnessed its qualita- and combat support capability. Towards proved its mettle in all types of terrain of the altitude areas. Rudra is a potent combat tive and quantitative growth. Capability this, ALH ‘DHRUV’ has been in service country ranging from super high altitude helicopter with an array of armaments development of an arm entails acquisi- since 2001 and its armed variant ‘RUDRA’ areas to extremely hot and dusty environ- including multiple types of rockets, tur- tions, training, evolving employment phi- got inducted in year 2013. These assets are ments. It would suffice to say that ‘Dhruv’ ret gun and capability to mount anti-tank losophies and most importantly assimilate now available in sufficient number to the has been successfully inducted into the field guided missiles besides state of the art avi- the required capability into the combat field forces and are totally integrated with formations and is performing all the envis- onics.