NEW DELHI – The Indian Army has tested in the desert terrain of Rajasthanthe military concept of ‘Air Cavalry’ that was used by the US Army tolocate and assault enemy ground forces during the Vietnam War.

To enhance its defence capabilities, the Army tested the concept underwhich weaponised helicopters carry out combined action against the enemy incoordination with tanks and mechanised ground forces.

This being done by the Indian Army, with an eye on the future, which isfocusing on strengthening its combative air assets by procuring attackhelicopters.

This is a new concept for the Indian Army and it is aimed at reshaping landbattle by defeating the enemy by offensive punch from the air incoordination with tanks on the ground.

“In the recently held offensive exercise ‘Vijay Prahar’ in Mahajan firingranges near Suratgarh, the concept of ‘Air Cavalry’ was tried by the SouthWestern command,” defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Ojha told PTI.

The concept was implemented after a detailed deliberation, sand-modeldiscussions and war gaming.

In normal battle scenario, attack helicopters are called in on requirementbasis by forces moving on the ground to launch an attack where the groundforces are not able to neutralise the target due to any reason, includingdifficult terrain.

Under the ‘Air Cavalry’ concept, attack helicopters are fully integratedwith tanks and mechanised ground forces.

A fleet of armed helicopters simultaneously flies in air and performs anumber of tasks, including troop insertion in forward areas, on the spotaerial recce, launching attacks and it proves more powerful and a goodspeed in the action is achieved.

“This requires a very high degree of precision, coordination and continuousupgradation. It saves time and energy,” another senior officer of the SWcommand said.

“The forces achieve more flexibility and fluidity in an operation andmultitasking can be performed more quickly, swiftly and effectively and theground commanders can act decisively, boldly and offensively,” the officersaid.

Under this kind of arrangement, attack helicopters can engage targets inthe shortest possible time and the mission can be accomplished in a veryflexible and effective manner.

This concept can be executed in different kind of terrains depending uponthe feasibility.

While the US used this concept in the jungles of Vietnam during the warfrom 1954-75, India tested it in scorching heat in desert terrain tosharpen its teeth.

The Army is gradually inducting helicopters equipped with ultra-modernsensors and high-precision weapons and therefore a need was felt to use the‘Air Cavalry’ concept for increasing capabilities in monitoring andprotecting both eastern and western borders of the country.

“The Indian Army is focusing on its own combative air assets so there was arequirement that a concept should be in place for the best utilisation ofattack helicopters. The helicopters will be used as force multiplier andwill increase the potency of ground forces to engage the targets,” defencesources said.

The Army’s combative air assets will be crucial in the land battles indesert along the western front as well as in the eastern front where theterrain is mountainous, the sources said.

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd is developing Light Combat Helicopter for theArmy to meet its requirement for an attack helicopter which can operate athigh altitude. The Army will also procure multi-role AH-64 ‘E’ Apacheattack helicopter manufactured by American aviation giant Boeing.

The Defence Ministry in August last year had approved the procurement ofsix most advanced Apache helicopters along with weapons systems at a costof Rs 4,168 crore which will be the Army’s first fleet of attack choppers.

Apaches have played a vital role in international conflicts, including inthe Gulf, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq.