Army secures 1-year helicopter deal with civil aviation agencies for northern and western border logistics
- In Reports
- 02:12 PM, Oct 15, 2024
- Myind Staff
Defence sources on Monday said that the Army has entered into a first-of-its-kind agreement with civil aviation firms to obtain helicopter support for its logistical requirements at winter cut-off posts along the northern and western borders. This one-year agreement will guarantee year-round supplies for 16 remote posts in the Jammu region and 150 days of support for 28 posts in Kashmir and Ladakh the next year.
Sources claimed that the initiative represents a significant change in the way the Indian Army endures the harsh winter months while holding its vital positions in high-altitude areas. The Army is seeking to hire helicopters from civil agencies to perform a variety of tasks, including transporting troops to forward locations, evacuating casualties along the northern borders, and arranging for the logistics of supplies, according to a report published last week by The Indian Express.
These single-engine helicopters will fly over certain areas of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, including Gurez, Kargil, Batalik, Doda, Kishtwar, and Drass. During the winter months of November to April, the helicopters will be utilised primarily. “The helicopters will ferry food, fuel, medical supplies and other essential items, ensuring that these high-altitude positions remain fully operational during winter.”
According to sources, the Northern Command is currently covered by the contract, but plans are underway to extend the model to other key areas like the Northeast, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. The use of civil aviation helicopters rather than the Indian Army's own aviation or Air Force assets is a noteworthy feature of the contract, as per the reports.
“…it is a strategic move to preserve the service life of military helicopters for more critical roles in combat or emergency scenarios,” said a source. The Army makes sure that its combat aviation fleet is prepared for more mission-critical operations by using civil aviation for regular logistics duties.
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