Digital Desk: The Indian Army has decided to station
indigenously manufactured Prachand helicopters at the Missamari base in the
state's Sonitpur District. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's Prachand is a newly
developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) (HAL). These new aircraft will vastly
improve the region's surveillance and defense capabilities. These LCHs are
capable of Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), Destruction of Enemy Air Defence
(DEAD), and Counter Insurgency (CI).
They can also take on slow-moving,
remote-controlled aircraft, and bunker-buster raids. These cutting-edge
machines are ideal for mountain terrain, landing, and taking off at an altitude
of 16000 feet even when loaded. The Indian Air Force will participate.
Missamari is home to one of the country's Army Aviation
Brigades. The remaining two are in Jodhpur and Leh, respectively. By the end of
this month, it will have received four Prachand helicopters. They will work in
the Arunachal Pradesh forward regions of the Line of Actual Control. The
Missamari Aviation Brigade was formed in March 2021 to boost air capabilities
to support regional ground forces.
The brigade now has access to long-distance surveillance drones, radars with night vision capabilities, and satellite imagery to get an accurate picture of Chinese activities along the LAC. Given the increased Chinese military infrastructure near the border, this is a matter of critical national security.
These Light Combat Helicopters can be used for peacetime support missions in addition to military applications. Due to the rugged terrain, these will be able to assist during landslides and other natural disasters in the region. They can effectively provide relief and supplies to those in need, as well as emergency evacuations of stranded flood victims.
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