On October 9, 2012, former Defence Minister AK Antony termed the fight between the Indian Army and Indian Air Force over attack helicopters a 'family problem.' With both the Air Force and the Army's aviation corps requesting attack helicopters for themselves, the two children of the family just weren't getting along. Now, it seems as if the family feud has been resolved in a classic tilted compromise: Both the Army and the Air Force will get a little bit each.
For years, the Air Force claimed that giving the Army helicopters would lead to a duplication of assets. The Army however, says it does not want to be dependent on the IAF for ground power and support in crisis situations. Even during the Kargil operations in 1999, IAF had several disagreements with Indian Army over the usage of attack helicopters. The then-Air Chief Marshal Tipnis didn't give permission for air support as requested by the Army. He mentioned the usage of attack helicopters (even within India's territory) could result in a bigger war between India and Pakistan. The family fighting hasn't stopped since.
Currently, the Indian Army possesses single engine light helicopters such as Chetak, Cheetah and upgraded versions Cheetal and Dhruv but these aircraft can only be used for logistic supplies and air-lifting. Though the Indian Army has operational control over Indian Air Force-manned attack helicopters, Mi-25 and Mi-35, the Army has been urging the government to provide them directly with medium-lift attack helicopters like the Apache and Chinook. The IAF, on the other hand, has continuously pointed out that the usage of attack helicopters without the support of larger aircraft would make single-engine and slow moving helicopters vulnerable and that's why IAF should have controls over the attack helicopters as well.
India's $2 billion deal with the US in purchasing Hellfire missiles equipped Apache and Chinook has been hanging since 2009 with the US Defence major giving multiple extensions on the prices of the helicopters. Now after six years and 13 price extensions, the finance ministry has finally approved the acquisition of 22 Apache attack and 15 Chinook heavy deployment helicopters. The first set of Apaches is set to go to the Air Force, followed up by an order of 39 Apaches likely to follow, which will go to the Armed Aviation Corps, keeping the siblings content for the moment.
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