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 The
AH on the other hand is specifically designed
and built to carry weapons for engaging targets
on ground and air with special emphasis on anti-tank
role.
Its weapons include machine guns, cannons, rockets
and guided missiles for air to ground and air
to air engagement. Modern day AH have two main
roles of providing direct and accurate close air
support for ground troops and anti-tank role to
destroy enemy armour. Specialized armed helicopters
flying from ships at sea are equipped with weapons
for anti submarine and/ or anti shipping operations.
A number of countries are today looking at acquiring
MRH for their armed forces due to the changing
nature of conflict, specially related to counter
insurgency and counter terrorist operations. A
befitting example is the successful employment
of modified Black Hawks by the Americans in Operation
Neptune Spear (Geronimo).
Combat Helicopter Concept
The concept of combat helicopters evolved with
the French during the Algerian and first Indo
China wars (1954-62) in the form of modified armed
helicopters. The first use of armed helicopters
by USA in large scale combat operations was in
Vietnam. Until Vietnam conflict, military helicopters
were mostly used for troop transport, observation
and casualty evacuation. These helicopters while
flying missions often came under heavy fire resulting
in the need for arming them. The Huey UH-IC troop
transporter was modified with stub wings attached
to its fuselage and kitted with machine guns and
rockets. The other helicopters modified as armed
helicopters were the Sikorsky and Chinook CH-47.
This was a quantum jump from the manned door fitted
machine guns of the earlier versions of armed
helicopter.
During the 1960s, the Soviet Union also felt
the need for armed helicopters and modified the
military MI-8 troop transporter helicopter with
weapon pods for rockets and machine guns. This
subsequently led to the development of a dedicated
armed helicopter/ gunship the MI-24 which saw
active action in Afghanistan during the 1980s.
In our context we had earlier MI-8 and Ranjeet
(modified Cheetah helicopter), fitted with machine
guns fired from the side doors. Presently the
MI-17 and Lancer (Cheetah helicopter) are modified
for armed role capable of mounting guns and rockets.
With the armed helicopter/ gunship concept battle
proven, began the development of dedicated AH
with the primary aim of engaging tanks. The late
1970s/ early 1980s saw the advent of AH like the
American Apache (AH 64A) and upgraded Huey Cobras
(AH 1), the Soviet MI-24 and the Italian Mangusta
(A-129). While some questioned the relevance of
these dedicated AH due to increased cost over
gun ships, the 1991 Gulf War put at rest these
doubts. Fleets of Apaches and Huey Cobras dominated
Iraqi armour in the open desert during the war.
In fact the Apaches fired the first shots of
war destroying early warning radars and SAM sites
with Hellfire missiles. The Soviet operations
in Afghanistan during 1979-1989 saw the emergence
of the MI-25/ MI-35 AH, a variant of the MI-24.
We have in our inventory the Russian MI-25/ MI-35
AH which are vintage, though certain amount of
upgrading has been carried out to make them night
capable.
Notably, the Apaches were the first helicopters
to use protective plates for the crew made of
Kevlar and composite materials, a fact disclosed
at the 1991 Dubai Air Show by pilots who flew
missions over Iraq.
 Combat
Helicopter Armament Systems
The most common weapons are machine guns and
rockets for use against soft targets on the ground
and for self defence while transporting troops
over conflict areas. While armed helicopters have
mostly used direct firing weapons with bombs considered
more appropriate for fixed wing aircraft, certain
armed helicopters have successfully lent themselves
to use with heavy bombs. The US army used the
Chinook helicopters for dropping bombs to clear
landing zones and saturate base camps and infiltration
routes during the Vietnam War.
Armed helicopters today can also be fitted with
mine dispenser/ mine clearance systems. The system
is composed of racks on both sides of the helicopter
for up to 40 canisters. Each canister contains
six anti-tank and one anti-personnel mine. The
rapid air borne mine clearance system is another
armament sub system where the intended targets
are naval mines. The system consists of a single
modified, 30mm cannon for targeting and neutralizing
the mines in shallow depth and is fitted on the
US naval Black Hawk helicopters.
The AH on the other hand carries guns, rockets
and guided missiles, both air to ground and air-to-air.
The gun is normally a 20mm/30mm weapon and is
located in the chin of the helicopter. The gun
provides suppressive ground fire while the AH
carries out its anti tank mission. The unguided
aerial rockets complement the short range gun
and the long range anti tank missiles. The rockets
are cheap and effective as an area weapon. The
rockets can also be used to attack and destroy
soft ground targets that are not vulnerable to
anti tank missiles like depots and anti aircraft
gun sites.
In emergent situations they could also be used
in the air-to-air role. Today there are rockets
with submunition war heads which can disperse
a number of grenades/ bomblets over specified
target areas. The air-to-air missile system is
basically to counter the threat from other AHs
and is more of a defensive armament system.
The anti tank guided missile is the main punch
of the AH. The advent of fire and forget missiles
is the greatest asset of the AH which increases
its lethality. The hellfire missile on the Apache
AH is in this class. The carriage of the armament
and type will depend on the mission and area of
operations.
The combat helicopter has also to be fitted
with a counter measures suite to include radar
and missile detectors, infrared jammers and chaff
and flare dispensers, depending on the degree
of threat perceived for their own defence and
survival.
 The
Modern state-of-theart AH
The modern day AH has been further refined and
the American Apache Longbow (AH 64D) with a mounted
combat radar demonstrates many of the advanced
technologies being considered for deployment on
the future AH.
The Longbow Apache is an upgraded version of
the AH 64A Apache and is the most sophisticated
AH in the world at present. It has a radar dome
atop the main rotors, which facilitates firing
of the Hellfire missiles in full fire and forget
mode, allowing the AH to stay masked behind terrain
as it acquires and engages targets. In contrast,
the earlier Apache had to pop up to scan the battlefield
leaving it exposed or rely on target data from
other sources such as scout helicopters. The Apache
Longbow armament consists of a 30mm cannon, 70mm
rockets, Hellfire missiles and stinger/ sidewinder
air to air missiles. It has the Honeywell integrated
helmet and display sighting system with state
of the art counter measure sensors.
The Apache Longbow can also operate in today’s
net centric and electronic warfare (EW) environment,
and the pilots can link to satellites, AWACS,
Ground radars and other aircraft to transmit or
receive Command and Control inputs.
The Russians have also developed the state of
the art AH in the Ka-50 and MI-28. This decision
was taken after their experience in Afghanistan
with the MI-24 AH, which was basically an armed
helicopter and hence not suited for a typical
AH role. The Ka 50 is the world’s first coaxial,
single seat AH. The MI- 28 on the other hand is
roughly equivalent of the Apache Longbow but without
the significant Command and Control linkup.
The MI-28 has a 30mm chain gun, Ataka anti tank
missile and rocket pods for S-8 and S-13 rockets.
The Ataka is an improved version of the Vikhr
anti tank guided missile fitted on the MI-25/
MI-35 AH. It also has in its armament the Igla/
Vympel air to air missiles.
The other dedicated AH operating are the Italian
Augusta Westland AW129 (Mangusta), Bell helicopters
Viper (the latest version of Huey Cobra), and
Eurocopter’s Tiger. Then there is the latest formidable
entry, the Chinese Z-10 (Zhising). As per reports,
China is also in the process of developing another
AH, the Z-19. Its first prototype is reported
to have flown in Dec 2010.
Multi Role Concept
The Multi Role Helicopter (MRH) concept evolved
during the Vietnam War but was subsequently taken
over by the requirement of dedicated AH as an
anti armour/anti tank weapon system due to the
threats from the ground. However the nature of
wars to be fought has undergone a major change
in the last few years with emphasis on non conventional
operations.
World over, the armed forces are looking at this
concept and requirement, particularly for counter
insurgency and counter terrorist operations. The
MRH is basically a utility/troop carrying helicopter
built with provisions for armament fitment or
duly modified for the same.
The MRH can be fielded for roles such as ground
attack, air assault, cargo, surveillance and troop
transport. The size of such helicopters is generally
between cargo and light observation helicopters.
The basic armament on these helicopters would
generally be restricted to guns and rockets; however
air to ground and air to air missiles are also
reported to be a part of armament of some MRH
primarily putting them in the class of armed helicopters.
All these helicopters are also fitted with self
protection suites to include features such as
missile approach warning system, threat warning
equipment and chaffs/ flare dispensers. Some of
the MRH in service in different countries are
US marine Bell UH-IN Twin Huey, Augusta Westland
AW-139, German Army’s NH-90, US Army’s UH-60 Black
Hawk and Russia’s MI-17 (all versions) etc.
The US, with its experience in Afghanistan, has
embarked on a programme for developing four variants
of different sizes of MRH. In India’s context,
we have the MI-17 IV/V, Navy’s Sea King and the
armed version of advanced light helicopter (ALH)
under final trials now.
Indian Scenario
The Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), also known
as the Dhruv, is already in service with the Armed
Forces. The weaponised version of the ALH called
the ALH weapons systems integrated (ALH WSI) is
currently undergoing weapons integration and likely
to enter service by end-2011.
 Designated
Rudra, this version is fitted with the more powerful
Shakti engines being manufactured by Hindustan
Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) in collaboration with French
Safran Turbomeca.
This engine has also been trial evaluated for
high altitude operations on the utility ALH. Basically
the ALH WSI is a new generation armed helicopter
duly modified for fitment of all types of weapon
sub systems which can be fitted on a modern day
AH. It needs to be noted that it also falls in
the class of MRH. The ALH WSI has a 20mm gun turret,
70mm rockets and the Mistral air to air missile.
The integration firing for these subsystems has
already been carried out successfully.
However the anti-tank missile Helina, the air
version of NAG being developed by the Defence
Research and Development organization (DRDO) is
still not ready. Once developed, Helina is stated
to be a fire and forget missile with 7 kilometers
range and would compare with the Hellfire missile.
To meet the interim requirement the Army is scouting
for a suitable anti tank missile in the world
market. In contention are the two fire-and-forget
French PARS-3 and Israeli SPIKE-ER.
Spike is stated to be a 4th generation fire
and forget anti tank missile developed by Israel’s
Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, which is also
cooperating with India on some other missiles.
HAL has also embarked on the development of the
light combat helicopter (LCH). The LCH is using
the technology of the ALH and its configurations,
except the fuselage which is streamlined and suitably
modified for tandem seating of pilot and weapons
system operator with adequate armour protection.
The weapons and systems will be the same/ similar
to the ALH WSI. The above approach has an inherent
advantage as most of the critical systems have
been proven either on the ALH or the ALH WSI.
An indigenous AH like the LCH is a step in the
right direction as it can be tailored to suit
the terrain and climatic conditions of our area
of operations. The first flight of LCH took place
on 29 March 2010, and the AH is likely to enter
service by 2014. The LCH once fielded should compare
well with Eurocopter’s Tiger, Italian Mangusta
and Bell’s Huey Cobra as it is in the same weight
class.
In the MRH class, the Navy is already looking
at replacing its vintage Sea King fleet. In fray
are the US Sikosrky S-70 Bravo and Eurocopters
NH-90. HAL’s Dhruv, or its variations, are not
in the running as it has not been found suitable
for naval operations.
HAL is also looking at the development of a 10-12
ton class of MRH for the requirement of armed
forces in a joint venture with a foreign based
company like Eurocopter or Sikorsky.
However no major headway has been made in this
project as yet. The Army is keen to acquire this
class of helicopters and has suitably called it
the Tactical Battlefield Support Helicopter (TBSH).
This will enhance its lift capability in the Tactical
Battle Area.
Incidentally, the Indian Air Force though has
also completed its trial report for 15 heavy Lift
Helicopters. In the running are Boeing Chinook,
which can even land on water and allow small boats
to enter it – as the US Navy Seals routine do
– and a newer, modified version of the Russian
Mi 26 which the IAF already uses.
Surprisingly, Chinook is the only helicopter
in the world which can submerge its floor in water
to allow small boats to zip in, and apparently
such a helicopter can play a significant role
in disaster relief operations also besides being
able to carry heavy loads under-slung or onboard.
Notably, the US Navy Seals used a combination
of Black Hawks and Chinooks for Operation Neptune
Spear.
 Conclusion
The combat helicopters whether armed, dedicated
AH or MRH will be extremely relevant in future
conflicts which will be short notice, short duration
and high intensity with emphasis on depth battle.
The battle proven Apaches from their anti tank
role in Iraq have got into infantry support role
against the Taliban in Afghanistan. The MRH is
playing and will continue to play a pivotal role
in future conflicts, more so in special operations.
With the ALH WSI and the LCH being indigenously
developed by HAL and likely to enter service in
the coming years, the Indian Armed Forces will
have formidable and state of the art combat helicopters
in their kitty – a useful force multiplier which
can turn the tide in battle.
Numbers have to be kept in mind however. Indian
Armed Forces have a relatively small number of
helicopters, and their requirement would have
to be tripled in the coming years.
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