The Indian Army tested the Air Cavalry concept with an aim to enhance its overall defence capabilities. The exercise, in which special forces of the army's Sapta Shakti Command performed various manoeuvres, saw weaponised helicopters carry out combined action against the enemy in coordination with tanks and mechanised ground forces.
Ex #VijayPrahar. Strike formations of the Sapta Shakti Command rehearsed offensive maneuvers involving attack helicopters operating in conjunction with Tanks to deliver & destroy the enemy armour. Christened as 'The Air Cavalry', the concept was tried in the exercise.#IndianArmypic.twitter.com/fIypBWijnv
- ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 5, 2018
The Air Cavalry is a new concept for the Indian Army, and it is aimed at reshaping land battle by defeating the enemy with an offensive punch from the air. The concept comprises of coordinated attacks by helicopters and tanks.
"In the recently held offensive exercise 'Vijay Prahar' in Mahajan firing ranges near Suratgarh, the concept of 'Air Cavalry' was tried by the South Western command," defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Ojha told news agency PTI.
In the ongoing Ex VIJAY PRAHAR in the deserts of Mahajan Firing Ranges close to Suratgarh, the mechanised forces display their capability by delivering a decisive blow on their adversary - one of the objectives of the strike formations of the Sapta Shakti Command. pic.twitter.com/ZWUVRKLYov
- Defence Spokesperson (@SpokespersonMoD) May 5, 2018
In a normal battle scenario, attack helicopters are called in on a requirement basis by forces moving on the ground to launch an attack when the ground forces are not able to neutralise the target due to some reason. These, at times, include combat on difficult terrain.
Under the 'Air Cavalry' concept, attack helicopters are fully integrated with tanks and mechanised ground forces. A fleet of armed helicopters simultaneously flies in air and performs a number of tasks, including troop insertion in forward areas, on the spot aerial recce, launching attacks and it proves more powerful and a good speed in the action is achieved.
"The forces achieve more flexibility and fluidity in an operation and multitasking can be performed more quickly, swiftly and effectively and the ground commanders can act decisively, boldly and offensively," the officer said.
Ex #VijayPrahar. Special Forces of the Sapta Shakti Command demonstrated a combat fee fall operation. A body of 100 highly trained troops were dropped from a height of 4 Km on a pitch dark night over unknown territory. #IndianArmy@SpokespersonMoD@PIB_India@HQ_IDS_Indiapic.twitter.com/JVqshaIZQK
- ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 5, 2018
Under this kind of arrangement, attack helicopters can engage targets in the shortest possible time and the mission can be accomplished in a very flexible and effective manner. This concept can be executed in different kind of terrain depending on the feasibility.
"The army is gradually inducting helicopters equipped with ultra-modern sensors and high-precision weapons and therefore a need was felt to use the Air Cavalry concept for increasing capabilities in monitoring and protecting both eastern and western borders of the country," an officer said.
"The Indian Army's combative air assets will be crucial in the land battles in desert along the western front as well as in the eastern front where the terrain is mountainous," sources said.
The Defence Ministry has approved the purchase of six of the most advanced Apache helicopters for the army
Apaches have played a vital role in international conflicts, including in the Gulf, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq.
(With inputs from PTI)
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