Indian Army : Updates & Discussions

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Army plans to buy 350 helicopters over 10 years to modernise its Aviation Corps

The Aviation Corps currently operates Chetak and Cheetah choppers, the ALH Dhruv since 2001, and its armed variant Rudra since 2013.

By Amrita Nayak Dutta
Updated: 8 October, 2019 2:37 pm IST
Army-ALH-Dhruv-696x392.jpg

The Advanced Light Helicopter 'Dhruv' was inducted into the Indian Army in 2001, but there are plans to buy more | Commons

New Delhi : The Army is working on a 10-year modernisation plan for its Aviation Corps and aims to induct at least 350 helicopters, including the indigenous Light Combat Helicopter and the battle-proven Apache.

The long-pending plan includes increasing the surveillance features of the choppers already in the Aviation Corps’ inventory, with the induction of the Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS).

What does Army plan to buy ?

The Army plans to induct two kinds of utility choppers and three combat helicopters. This will include squadrons of Rudra (the armed version of the Advanced Light Helicopter ‘Dhruv’), which will have 20mm guns and 70mm cannons and are to be inducted within one year.

The LCH squadrons are to be inducted within seven to 10 years, while 200 Kamov Ka-226s, which are for reconnaissance and observation, are expected to be procured within 10 years through an inter-government agreement.

By 2021, the Army also expects to procure six Apache choppers and an additional squadron of ALH Dhruv, to add to what is already functional. Dhruv can fly over all terrains in India, including high altitudes.

What will the new choppers replace ?

The Aviation Corps currently operates Chetak and Cheetah choppers, the ALH Dhruv since 2001, and its armed variant Rudra since 2013.

Each squadron of the Aviation Corps is supposed to have three ‘flights’ and each ‘flight’ is supposed to feature five aircraft each. However, in the current scenario, all squadrons have only two ‘flights’ of five aircraft each.

The inductions will replace the Army’s ageing Chetak and Cheetah helicopter fleet at a time when a Cheetah crash recently killed the Indian Army’s Lt Col. Rajneesh Parmar and Captain Kalzang Wangdi of the Royal Bhutan Army, raising questions about the choppers’ flight-worthiness and bringing the focus back on their long-pending replacement with the Light Utility Helicopter.

Probable advantages

Army sources said the plans would be a game-changer in future conflicts, and expressed confidence that they would be put into action in a time-bound manner.

“More emphasis is being put on prioritisation, rationalisation and economy of expenditure. Greater value for money is being achieved by encouraging procurements from indigenous sources in support of the government’s Make in India initiative,” an Army source said.

Army officers further said that the transfer of the RPAS to the Aviation Corps would ensure a comprehensive surveillance picture, utilising both manned and unmanned platforms, while sharing support infrastructure.

“The operation of these assets under the common umbrella of Army Aviation Corps and a common aviation adviser to the ground forces commander will help achieve battlefield transparency,” the source added.

Army plans to buy 350 helicopters over 10 years to modernise its Aviation Corps
 
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Gautam said:
@Falcon @vstol Jockey @Ashwin @Sathya @_Anonymous_ et al.

Army plans to buy 350 helicopters over 10 years to modernise its Aviation Corps

The Aviation Corps currently operates Chetak and Cheetah choppers, the ALH Dhruv since 2001, and its armed variant Rudra since 2013.

By Amrita Nayak Dutta
Updated: 8 October, 2019 2:37 pm IST
Army-ALH-Dhruv-696x392.jpg

The Advanced Light Helicopter 'Dhruv' was inducted into the Indian Army in 2001, but there are plans to buy more | Commons

New Delhi : The Army is working on a 10-year modernisation plan for its Aviation Corps and aims to induct at least 350 helicopters, including the indigenous Light Combat Helicopter and the battle-proven Apache.

The long-pending plan includes increasing the surveillance features of the choppers already in the Aviation Corps’ inventory, with the induction of the Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS).

What does Army plan to buy ?

The Army plans to induct two kinds of utility choppers and three combat helicopters. This will include squadrons of Rudra (the armed version of the Advanced Light Helicopter ‘Dhruv’), which will have 20mm guns and 70mm cannons and are to be inducted within one year.

The LCH squadrons are to be inducted within seven to 10 years, while 200 Kamov Ka-226s, which are for reconnaissance and observation, are expected to be procured within 10 years through an inter-government agreement.

By 2021, the Army also expects to procure six Apache choppers and an additional squadron of ALH Dhruv, to add to what is already functional. Dhruv can fly over all terrains in India, including high altitudes.

What will the new choppers replace ?

The Aviation Corps currently operates Chetak and Cheetah choppers, the ALH Dhruv since 2001, and its armed variant Rudra since 2013.

Each squadron of the Aviation Corps is supposed to have three ‘flights’ and each ‘flight’ is supposed to feature five aircraft each. However, in the current scenario, all squadrons have only two ‘flights’ of five aircraft each.

The inductions will replace the Army’s ageing Chetak and Cheetah helicopter fleet at a time when a Cheetah crash recently killed the Indian Army’s Lt Col. Rajneesh Parmar and Captain Kalzang Wangdi of the Royal Bhutan Army, raising questions about the choppers’ flight-worthiness and bringing the focus back on their long-pending replacement with the Light Utility Helicopter.

Probable advantages

Army sources said the plans would be a game-changer in future conflicts, and expressed confidence that they would be put into action in a time-bound manner.

“More emphasis is being put on prioritisation, rationalisation and economy of expenditure. Greater value for money is being achieved by encouraging procurements from indigenous sources in support of the government’s Make in India initiative,” an Army source said.

Army officers further said that the transfer of the RPAS to the Aviation Corps would ensure a comprehensive surveillance picture, utilising both manned and unmanned platforms, while sharing support infrastructure.

“The operation of these assets under the common umbrella of Army Aviation Corps and a common aviation adviser to the ground forces commander will help achieve battlefield transparency,” the source added.

Army plans to buy 350 helicopters over 10 years to modernise its Aviation Corps
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Thought 350 is good, if we deduct 200 Kamov it's a very low 150 ie between Dhurv, LCH & LUH .. For 10 years.
 
Sathya said:
Thought 350 is good, if we deduct 200 Kamov it's a very low 150 ie between Dhurv, LCH & LUH .. For 10 years.
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When thinking of major projects to upgrade, replace and streamline of inventory of the Army is thought of, the reference to the FARP for the Artillery is necessary. This plans seems along similar lines for me. I like the over all idea and the fact that we have a long therm plan at all is wonderful. However having two helos in the LUH category makes no sense to me. What does the Kamov bring that LUH doesn't ?

I do expect the LUH numbers to increase, just like the number of ALH has increased over the years.
 
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Army EME Corps gears up for automation

By Dinakar Peri.
NEW DELHI 13 October 2019 22:55 IST
1571131160748.png

The colours of the Indian Army’s Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers. Photo: indianarmy.nic.in

Project Beehive for 2,000 workshops

The Army’s Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) has launched a major initiative under Project Beehive for automation of the entire Corps to enable real-time monitoring and response of its 2,000 workshops across the country.

“It will take about a year. We have the proof of concept which we are going to first alpha and beta test. Then we will give it to the Army cyber group for cyber proofing, after which it will be implemented across,” said Lt. Gen. Anil Kapoor, Director-General, EME.

The Corps observes October 15 as its Raising Day.

Eight modules

The Corps is segregated into eight modules at different levels, of which one module is done and the second is under way. Operation Beehive was launched on September 1 this year and “will be completed by October 2020,” Lt. Gen. Kapoor said.

The 2,000 workshops across India will be connected into the beehive and each of them will be able to track their equipment and readiness in realtime, Lt. Gen. Kapoor said. “For instance, on a click, all critical readiness states is displayed. The equipment, how much mileage was done, when is the next service due and so on. It also allows easy forecast of requirements,” he added.

The Army is collaborating with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on this and EME officers were part of the product development. Lt. Gen. Kapoor said officers were part of the development process so that “at no step we are found wanting.”

“We want to get out of the vendor lock-in,” he observed.

Systems upgrade

The Army had earlier automated its workshops under WASP (Workshop Honey bees) which is now being upgraded to be on same level with Beehive. “WASP has been in existence for two years now. We are now upgrading it now to make it contemporary,” Lt. Gen. Kapoor said.

Giving a glimpse of the magnitude of the task and the workforce that needs to be integrated, Lt. Gen. Kapoor said there are over 2000 equipment types in the Army of different magnitudes and vehicles alone constitute about 80 types. The entire depth of equipment is 30 lakh.

The Corps has a wide ranging mandate from refit, inspections, trials, recovery and refurbishing of the Army’s weapons, equipment and systems in addition to design and development of weapon systems in collaboration with development agencies. With the level of automation progressively going up, the Corps of EME is “preparing for a leaner workforce.”

Army EME Corps gears up for automation
 
RISING SUN said:
I don't how to react to this? Is this true or just a point scoring over something which already exists? Does this imply that no female candidates were admitted to military schools or is it saying there are different types of military schools and some type is just opened now for female candidates?
Click to expand...
Some comments say there were girls in their schools , donno what is this.
 
Deathstar said:
Some comments say there were girls in their schools , donno what is this.
Click to expand...
So may girls from my relation have completed studies from military school including my younger cousin. That is why I don't understand what this hupla is all about.
 
:cautious:

Army restructuring put ‘on hold’

Would have meant merger of important directorates, slashing officer strength in Delhi

By Ajay Banerjee; Oct 18, 2019, 7:00 AM; New Delhi


The Army’s much-awaited restructuring of headquarters has been ‘put on hold’ following ‘incomplete’ sanction to carry out the process that would entail creation of separate wings to deal with internal vigilance and human rights policies, merger of important directorates and slashing officer strength in Delhi.

Called the Government Sanction Letter (GSL), the first two parts were issued on August 21. The remaining parts, that were to actually carry out the process and lay down terms for merger and creation of posts, have been held back, say sources.

It has been decided that restructuring in totality will commence only after government sanction for full proposals, which entail restructuring at the top and re-distribution of work. This could require sanction from the Cabinet Committee on Security, indicate the sources. The officers, who are to be weaned off the headquarters, were to be sent to field formations. At present, there are an estimated 950 to 1,000 officers posted at the headquarters in Delhi. Among the pending parts of the GSL are instructions on merger of directorates.

This was to include merger of two weapons and systems procurement agencies and creation of post of Deputy Chief for coordination with the military Intelligence, operations and logistics wings.

At present, the DG (Military Operations) and the DG (Military Intelligence) report to the Army Chief or Vice-Chief. Also, the restructuring was to merge the Master General Ordnance (MGO), currently under the Vice-Chief, and the DG (Weapons and Equipment) under a single vertical with the Deputy Chief, Planning and Strategy, that was to be renamed Capability Development.

Also expected is the creation of a consolidated information warfare wing that will subsume two existing wings under the DGMI and the DGMO. The DG (Military Training) are to be merged with the Shimla-based Army Training Command. The restructuring was ordered in June 2018 year following a “convening order” for cadre restructuring by the Army Vice-Chief.

Army restructuring put ‘on hold’
 
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Army plans to raise age of retirement of skilled staff

Proposal aims to retain experts and reduce pension costs

By Dinakar Peri
NEW DELHI,August 13, 2019 02:00 IST

The Army has conducted a new study on “age enhancement for retirement” of personnel in specialised areas to retain skilled manpower, Army sources said.

“We don’t want to lose skilled manpower. We have identified specialists in various disciplines and looking if we can raise their retirement age to between 55 and 58,” a senior Army source told The Hindu.

These include areas such as medical assistants, radiologists and electronics and mechanical engineers posted at Corps Headquarters and base workshops.

In the armed forces, personnel of Other Ranks (ORs) start retiring in the 35-37 age group and officers at 54 unless they get promoted to higher ranks.

Though these limits have been set due to the rigours of military service, there has been huge technological advancement over the decades and also not all personnel go through the same stress or serve in extreme situations, the source said.

“So why can’t they serve till 55-58,” he asked.

Extension of retirement age would offer a dual benefit of retaining expertise which saves the cost of replacing them and also reduces the mounting pension burden on the Army.

The personnel continue in active service for longer duration and do not have to search for alternative employment.

The “age enhancement for retirement” study has been completed and the draft report has to be approved by the Defence Ministry, sources said.

This study is in addition to the four major thrust areas of force restructuring and transformation ordered by the Chief of the Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, and is in various stages of completion and implementation.

Currently, restructuring for Army headquarters, force restructuring, cadre review of officers and review of terms and conditions of Junior Commissioned Officers (JCO) and ORs are taking place.

For lower ranks also

As part of reviewing the terms and conditions of the ORs, the Army is considering increasing the pensionable service of jawans and lance naiks by two years from the current 15 years and further up to 20 years in a phased manner.

The officer cadre management study was ordered last year to enhance functional efficiency, correct structural ratio and meet legitimate career expectations of officer cadre, the source said. “The review will be completed by the year-end and then implemented.”

Under this, a proposal is under consideration is to ensure that 50% of all officers become Major Generals. At present, officers are commissioned as Lieutenants and proceed to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in a time-bound manner.

Army plans to raise age of retirement of skilled staff
 
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