Indian Army strengthens Close Air Support with Prachand sortie, Apache firing
New Delhi, April 9
The Indian Army has reinforced its focus on strengthening close air support for ground operations, a critical element in modern warfare.
The Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, flew a sortie on the indigenous Light Combat Helicopter Prachand at HAL, Bengaluru, yesterday, an official statement read.
This was followed by a key operational demonstration today at Pokhran Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan, where the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter carried out its first field firing, successfully engaging targets with Hellfire missiles and other onboard weapons.
The activities showcased how attack helicopters can operate in close coordination with ground troops, even in high-threat environments involving small arms fire, shoulder-fired missiles and drones.
These platforms demonstrated rapid target acquisition and precision strike capability, directly supporting manoeuvre on the battlefield.
Further, as per the statement, advanced sensors, fire control systems and real-time data links enabled faster decision-making and immediate action, ensuring that battlefield intelligence was quickly converted into effective strikes.
The Apache highlighted its role as a force multiplier by enhancing the reach, lethality and responsiveness of ground forces, while Prachand reflected India's growing indigenous strength in combat aviation.
The demonstrations underline the Indian Army's focus on integrating air and land capabilities to enhance battlefield effectiveness and maintain operational momentum.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Very proud moment. The Prachand is a symbol of our engineering prowess. However, I hope the focus on indigenous development continues beyond demonstrations and translates into large-scale production and deployment. We need these in numbers.
Close air support is crucial, especially in mountainous terrain. The Apache-Prachand combo can be a game-changer. Hope our soldiers on the ground get this protective umbrella whenever they need it. Jai Hind!
Impressive demonstration of capability. The integration of real-time data for faster strikes is what modern warfare is about. A strong defence is the best deterrent.
Good step. But these systems are incredibly expensive to acquire and maintain. While security is paramount, I hope there is equal transparency in the procurement process and cost-benefit analysis is done thoroughly. Our defence budget is finite.
Pokhran is the perfect place for this test. Shows readiness for desert conditions too. The indigenous factor with Prachand is the real win here. More power to HAL and our scientists!
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