With the ALH WSI and the LCH being indigenously developed by HAL and likely to enter service in the coming years, the Indian armed forces will have formidable and state-of-the-art armed helicopters in their kitty—a useful force-multiplier which can turn the tide in battle

Armed helicopters or combat helicopters can be classified into two categories i.e. the armed helicopters/gunships and the modernday dedicated attack helicopters (AH). Both are military helicopters, wherein the armed helicopters are normal utility, cargo or reconnaissance modified with weapon mounts for defence against enemy fire from the ground as well as air and for attacking targets on the ground. The purpose of modification could be field expediency and the need to maintain helicopters for missions that do not require weapons.

On the other hand, the AH is specifically designed and built to carry weapons for engaging targets on ground and air with special emphasis on anti-tank role. The weapons include machine guns, cannons, rockets and guided missiles for air-to-ground and air-toair engagement. Modern-day AH have two main roles of providing direct and accurate close air support for ground troops and antitank role to destroy enemy armour. Specialised armed helicopters flying from ships at sea are equipped with weapons for anti-submarine and/or anti-shipping operations.

The Concept of Arming Helicopters

The concept of arming helicopters evolved with the French during Algerian and first Indo-China wars (1954-62) in the form of modified armed helicopters. The first use of armed helicopters by USA in large-scale combat operations was in Vietnam. Until Vietnam conflict, military helicopters were mostly used for troop transport, observation and casualty evacuation. These helicopters while flying missions often came under heavy fire resulting in the need for arming them. The Huey UH-IC troop transporter was modified with stub wings attached to its fuselage and kitted with machine guns and rockets. The other helicopters modified as armed helicopters were the Sikorsky and Chinook CH-47. This was a quantum jump from the manned door fitted machine guns of the earlier versions of armed helicopter.

During the 1960s, the Soviet Union also felt the need for armed helicopters and modified the military Mi-8 troop transport helicopter with weapon pods for rockets and machine guns. This subsequently led to the development of a dedicated armed helicopter/gunship, the Mi-24, which saw active action in Afghanistan during the 1980s. India had earlier Mi-8 and Ranjeet (modified Cheetah helicopter), fitted with machine guns fired from the side doors. At present, the Mi-17 and Lancer (Cheetah helicopter) are modified for armed role capable of mounting guns and rockets.

With the armed helicopter/gunship concept battle proven, began the development of dedicated AH with the primary aim of engaging tanks. The late 1970s/early 1980s saw the advent of AH like the American Apache (AH 64A) and upgraded Huey Cobras (AH 1), the Soviet MI-24 and the Italian Mangusta (A-129). While some questioned the relevance of these dedicated AH due to increased cost over gunships, the 1991 Gulf War put at rest these doubts. Fleets of Apaches and Huey Cobras dominated Iraqi armour in the open desert during the war. In fact the Apaches fired the first shots of war destroying early warning radars and SAM sites with Hellfire missiles. The Soviet operations in Afghanistan during 1979-89 saw the emergence of the Mi-25/ Mi-35 AH, a variant of the Mi-24. We have in our inventory the Russian Mi-25/ Mi-35 AH which are vintage, though certain amount of upgradation has been carried out to make them night capable.