Army Aviation Corps (India)

In 1984, the Indian Army's Northern Command inducted the HAL Cheetah during the Siachen Glacier conflict. Two years later, the Indian Air Force's Air Observation Post units were transferred to the Indian Army to form its Army Aviation Corps. With nine helicopter squadrons, the corps supported ground units by carrying men and material to the 70-kilometre (43 mi) Siachen Glacier until the 2003 ceasefire.

During the late-1980s Indian intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War, the corps experienced jungle warfare. A unit of the Army Aviation Corps operated in Somalia as part of United Nations Operation in Somalia II from October 1993 to November 1994. During the operation, the corps flew over 2,000 hours accident-free with 100-percent serviceability in desert-like conditions. It also participated in the 1999 Kargil War.

In 2019, the Indian Army operated 245 aircraft.[1]

In 2012, the army was evaluating helicopters from Kamov, Eurocopter and AgustaWestland for its light-helicopter contract for supplying troops stationed at high altitudes. The $750 million contract for the 197 helicopters intended to replace its 1970s Chetak and Cheetah helicopters for high-altitude surveillance and logistics. The successful bidder would provide 60 helicopters in operating condition; the remaining 137 aircraft would be produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The successful bidder was required to invest at least 30 percent of the contract in India.[9]

In December 2014, the Kamov Ka-226T was selected as a light utility helicopter to replace the Chetak and Cheetah while the HAL Light Utility Helicopter was developed. Kamov would build a production plant in India, and 197 helicopters would be purchased under the Make in India program.[10][11]

The army is planning to acquire the HAL Light Combat Helicopter, which is under development by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, to meet its requirements for a high-altitude—16,300 feet (5,000 m)—anti-armour and anti-infantry helicopter. It is also planning to acquire a 3-tonne, single-engine HAL Light Utility Helicopter for reconnaissance.

Other planned acquisitions are:

• Boeing AH-64 Apache - The government of India approved the purchase of six helicopters in August 2017.[12][13]
• Reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters – The HAL Light Utility Helicopter will replace the fleet of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters.[14] The Indian Army requires 394 light helicopters, which the Defence Ministry decided to meet in two purchases. To meet immediate requirements, 197 light helicopters would be procured on the international market; Hindustan Aeronautics Limited would develop and manufacture 187 HAL Light Utility Helicopter, of which 126 would be for the Indian Army.[15]
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation Imperial Eagle[16]

• Indian Naval Air Arm

• Army Aviation Corps(India)
• Army Aviation-A Force Multiplier