In a major boost for the Indian Defence Forces, the Army on Monday inked a first-of-its-kind contract with civil aviation service providers with the aim to bolster logistics support to remote forward posts along the Western and Northern borders. As per the contract, helicopter support to the Army's winter cut-off posts along these borders, reported ANI.
The one-year contract will ensure that 16 remote posts in the Jammu region are sustained throughout the year, while another 28 posts in Kashmir and Ladakh will benefit from this support for 150 days next year, reported the news agency.
"This initiative marks a decisive shift in how the Indian Army maintains its critical positions in high-altitude regions during the harsh winter months when these areas are otherwise inaccessible due to snow," the Indian Army said in a press release as reported by ANI.
One of the standout aspects of this contract is the use of civil aviation helicopters instead of the Indian Army's aviation or Indian Air Force assets. It is considered as a strategic move to preserve the service life of military helicopters for more critical roles.
The helicopters, provided under the contract, will operate from seven mounting bases in Ladakh, two in Kashmir, and one in the Jammu region, covering a total of 44 posts. This contract will support the PM Gati Shakti initiative and will bring operation efficiency.
The contract's terms specify that the civil aviation service provider will manage the entire load-carrying effort required to sustain these winter cut-off posts. The helicopters will ferry food, fuel, medical supplies, and other essential items, ensuring that these high-altitude positions remain fully operational and well-supplied during winter.
This initiative is also a testament to the successful integration of civil and military capabilities in developing India's border regions, which were once considered far too remote for commercial aviation operations. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Indian Army, ministries of the central government, and state/Union Territory administrations, the Border Area Development Plan has laid the foundation for this enhanced infrastructure.
(With inputs from ANI)