SP’s Land Forces team comprising Jayant Baranwal, Editor-in-Chief, and Lt General (Retd.) V.K. Kapoor, Editor, interviewed Major General P.K. Bharali, Additional Director General, Army Aviation. The General’s dynamism and passion for his Corps was perceptible in his demeanour and in the free and frank discussion that ensued.

SP’s Land Forces (SP’s): What is the role of the Army Aviation?

ADG Army Aviation (ADG): Army Aviation operates in the ground regime, therefore it is virtually a component of the land power. This cardinal tenet defines Army Aviation’s role as an element of the ground forces. In the future battle field, Army Aviation will be at the forefront, shaping the battle space by projecting the force, sustaining the force and delivering decisive combat power at critical times anywhere in the battle field by direct fire, by launching air assaults or by directing artillery fires. Its focus is to enhance ground mobility and exploit manoeuvre. It accelerates the tempo of operations while remaining an integral part of the combined arms team. Aviation assets are “force multipliers” that provide the formation commanders with the capability to conduct missions across the entire range of military conflict.

SP’s: Is the Army Aviation Corps (AAC) self-sufficient in terms of infrastructure like helicopter bases, overhaul, maintenance, spares, etc?

ADG: Army Aviation has come a long way since its raising in 1986. The exponential growth in terms of equipment has also lead to simultaneous development of infrastructure to house, operate and maintain the assets. Well-trained manpower from the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) is providing dedicated technical support for maintenance of all types of helicopters in our inventory. The chain of logistics support established by the Aviation branch of the Corps of Ordnance is functioning efficiently. Army Aviation today is selfsufficient and capable of techno-logistically supporting its operations. In keeping with the envisaged capability development plan, the plans for upgrading and modernising existing infrastructure are also in place.

Lethal Combination

SP’s: Could you elaborate on the operational philosophy? Does it include integration with other services?

ADG: Precise and incisive firepower, speed and manoeuvrability in the third dimension and close integration with the other arms of the army make the Corps the ultimate force multiplier in the hands of the field commander. Army Aviation operates in the TBA as a combined arms team, expanding the ground commander’s battle- field, principally in space and time. The employment philosophy is thus focused on integration and synchronisation of aviation manoeuvre with the ground manoeuvre to shape the TBA as per the plans of the field force commander thus fulfilling the tenets of manoeuvre warfare. In consonance with joint operations doctrine, Army Aviation is also integrated with other services and can be task organised to support the sister services, should the situation so demand.

SP’s: What role is the Army Aviation Corps performing in the ongoing low intensity conflict in J&K and the North East region? Is this role intended to be expanded in the future?

ADG: Helicopters by virtue of their inherent speed, mobility, firepower and versatility, make an ideal platform to be employed in low intensity conflict. Army Aviation assets have been gainfully employed for quick insertion of troops with enormous success in the ongoing counter-terrorist operations. Surveillance, both visual and electronic, delivery of essential combat loads, establishing aerial command post for better command and control, swift and life-saving casualty evacuation are other operational tasks carried out routinely by Army Aviation. In addition we have the ability to augment fire support, which significantly influences the close fight. The growth of Army Aviation will result in its role being more and more multi-faceted.

SP’s: Is there any role for Army Aviation Corps in asymmetrical warfare and homeland security?

ADG: The basic characteristic of the helicopter allows it to operate from point-to-point without the requirements of any intricate infrastructure. It also has excellent slow speed handling characteristic and can maintain time on station, on required basis. These can be exploited by the field force commander in all types of warfare. The Indian Army trains and prepares to meet any eventuality be it for conventional warfare or a national emergency. We too are prepared to play our part, be it for asymmetrical warfare or homeland security.

SP’s: If India were to acquire a rapid reaction capability for the plains and the mountains, what would be the role of AAC and how does the Dhruv fit in due to its capability to carry up to 14 personnel?

ADG: The ability of the helicopters to overcome terrain friction provides mobility to the force for rapid application at a given point, making it an inseparable component of the force. Any force of this nature would require synergised employment of all available resources. To that extent the helicopters of Army Aviation Corps, to include armed helicopters will invariably form part of such operations. Enhancement of tactical/operational lift capability is being factored into the long term capability development plans in view of the envisaged nature of operations in the future battlefield both in the plains as well as the mountains.

Combat Helicopter

SP’s: Have you acquired attack helicopters and if so, are your pilots fully capable of operating them?

ADG: Army Aviators have gained rich experience by operating the weaponised version of Cheetah helicopter called ‘Lancer’. This experience will enable smooth transition and adaption to any other combat helicopter platform that is inducted into the Army Aviation inventory. Besides flying skills, intimate understanding of ground operations and situational awareness of the TBA would be of prime importance. Army Aviators, by virtue of inherent training regarding operations of the Army, are ideally suited to operate attack helicopters.

SP’s: What are your modernisation plans and how are they progressing?

ADG: The modernisation plan of all the three services is underway and the army’s own plan meshes well with the overall plan. Army Aviation, per se, has been under modernisation, since its raising and the pace has been in sync with the overall growth of the army. Besides, the ‘Lancer’ helicopter, ALH (Dhruv) has been in service with the Army Aviation for over 10 years. There are a few more modernisation projects in the pipeline.

SP’s: The Chetak and Cheetah fleet is obsolete and considering the long gestation period of new acquisitions. How do you plan to maintain them in the interim period?

ADG: Chetak and Cheetah helicopters have been in service of the nation for a long time and have proved themselves in all forms and shown excellent performance, under varied terrain and weather conditions. Cheetah helicopters have been the ‘Saviours of Siachin Glacier’. Technology in respect of these helicopters is no doubt old and we are aware of the increasing challenges of maintenance of these machines. Between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and us, adequate measures have been put in place to ensure that these helicopters remain maintainable. However, it remains a challenge.

SP’s: Is your training infrastructure adequate including simulators?

ADG: Army Aviation has a full-fledged training infrastructure in the form of the ‘Combat Army Aviation Training School’ at Nasik, Maharashtra. This institute has been the alma mater for all army aviators and has been churning out highly professional and confident ‘soldiers in the sky’ for many years now. It has been a successful model, and plans are on to make it even more self-reliant by allocating dedicated helicopters and technical crew for the same. We are also utilising the services of the Indian Air Force for training of our aircrew as part of the larger concept of integration and jointmanship among all the three services. Simulators are an economical and highly effective method of imparting training. Army Aviation has also made a modest beginning in this regard. However, there is handsome scope for enhancing the same.

SP’s: Are you facing any shortage of pilots due to greener pastures in civil aviation?

ADG: The manning pattern and age profile required for Army Aviation is such that lateral absorption into the civil aviation sector, if any, does not affect its growth and operations. There is no doubt that a number of pilots, who are the mainstay of the rotary wing sector of civil aviation in India, are stalwarts from Army Aviation. The Corps draws its pilots from all arms of the Army, at a much younger age profile.

Arm of the Future

SP’s: What are the career prospects for officers and men of the AAC? Does this cause any concern among the ranks?

ADG: Army Aviation is an elite corps. It has carved a ‘niche’ for itself in the Army and has been identified as the ‘Arm of the Future’ by our brass tacks. The promising young officers of all arms are highly motivated to be a part of this reckonable force. The career prospects in Army Aviation are equally bright. The pro-rata vacancies allotted to Army Aviation are at par, with the rest of the Army. The lateral absorption into civil aviation sector further ensures faster cadre mobility resulting in greater satisfaction level in the select ranks.

SP’s: What do you think is the future of civilian helicopter industry in India and any suggestions to improve it?

ADG: Considering the rate at which the Indian economy is growing, the civil helicopter industry in India is poised for a massive growth. The civil helicopter industry in India needs to exploit potential in the uncharted domain of police force, aeromedical evacuation, disaster management and logistics supply chain in remote/inaccessible areas. It also needs to strengthen its current operations in tourism, pilgrimage, offshore/onshore exploration, coal mining, election campaigning, corporate flying and communications etc. India needs to further establish itself as a frontline production/maintenance hub of spares for helicopters, to cater to regional needs of South and South East Asia and even for the West and Middle East Asia, in collaboration with world leaders from European, American and Russian helicopter Industry.