High-Altitude Surveillance Helicopter: The Indian government has taken a big step to strengthen its defense by planning to buy around 1,000 surveillance helicopters. These helicopters will be able to fly up to 5,500 meters above sea level and will operate both during the day and at night. The move is part of India’s push to become more self-reliant in defense and improve its military capabilities in high-altitude areas.
On Wednesday, the defense ministry released a Request for Information (RFI) to gather details from companies about these helicopters and their accessories. According to The Hindu, the RFI states, “The surveillance copters with accessories should be operational by day and night and in commonly encountered weather conditions in all kinds of terrains in the country.” This means the helicopters must work well in tough weather and difficult landscapes, especially in mountainous regions.
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The helicopters will be used in areas like Northern, Eastern, and Central Commands, where the Indian Army is stationed. These regions have some of the most challenging terrains in the country. The RFI also mentions that the helicopters should be modular in design, which means they can be easily upgraded in the future without major changes. “Surveillance Copter (High Altitude Area) should be modular in design, thereby lending itself to future upgrades through simple modifications,” the document adds.
the Indian Army is also planning to buy 50 heavy crawler rock drills. These machines will help build roads and infrastructure in rocky and mountainous areas. The army needs these drills to quickly create roads and communication lines in places where construction is extremely difficult.
The RFI for the rock drills states, “A self-propelled heavy-duty crawler-based rock drill shall be used extensively for moving and positioning the drill machine to the initial formation site for drilling and road cutting in hard rock strata.” These drills will be used for tasks like drilling holes in rocks and cutting roads in mountains.
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The government’s plan to buy these helicopters and rock drills is part of its larger goal to make India’s defense stronger and more self-reliant. By having advanced equipment like this, the Indian Army will be better prepared to handle challenges in difficult terrains and protect the country’s borders. The RFI is the first step in this process, and the government will soon move forward with the next steps to finalize the deals.
