Aviation Research Centre

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The Aviation Research Centre (ARC) is a part of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) of the Cabinet Secretariat. The first head of the ARC was R. N. Kao, the legendary founding chief of RAW. Over the years the ARC has grown into a large operation and flies a large and varied fleet that till recently included the high flying Mach 3 capable MIG-25 that for long flew with impunity over Pakistan and China.

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[edit] Inventory

From its humble origin consisting of Helio Twin Courier Courier loaned from the USAF, ARC today boasts of having fixed-wing transport and light aircraft like Russian IL-76s and AN-32s. It also has General Dynamics Gulfstream III/SRA-1s and upgraded Gulfstream IV/SRA-45 jets. The helicopter inventory comprises Russian Mi-8s and a mix of locally built Cheetahs (modified French Alouette IIs) and Chetaks (Alouette IIIs). The weapon of choice for ARC was the MIG-25 (also christened as Foxbat by NATO) which was used for high altitude reconnaissance (the plane was decommissioned in 2006 & is no longer in service). Rumours abound that the second strike capability of India vests on the ARC. ARC is also believed to be the first wing of Indian intelligence agencies to induct the indigenously built 'Pilotless Target Aircraft' (PTA) Lakshya. Lakshya is equipped with advanced support system to help it perform tactful aerial exploration in the battlefield, including target acquisition. The six-foot long Lakshya is fitted with a digitally controlled engine that can be operated from the ground using a remote. Lakshya had been designed by Aeronautical Developmental Establishment, Bangalore. Lakshya is a surface/ship launched high subsonic reusable aerial target system, remotely piloted from ground. It provides training to the gun and missile crew and to air defence pilots for weapon engagement.

[edit] Bases

Although highly secretive in its operation it is believed that there are five RAW Aviation Research Centre operating bases:[1] at Charbatia in Cuttack being the largest; at Chakrata near Dehra Dun on the Uttar Pradesh-Himachal Pradesh border; Dum Duma near Tinsukia in Assam; at the Palam domestic airport in Delhi and at the Farkhor Air Base[2],the only Indian military base situated in a foreign country, at Farkhor/Ayni in Tajikistan.

[edit] Function

Cameras of MiG-25RB for aerial surveillance
Cameras of MiG-25RB for aerial surveillance

Aerial surveillance, SIGINT operations, photo reconnaissance flights (PHOTINT)[3], monitoring of borders, imagery intelligence (IMINT)[4] are the main functions of the Aviation Research Centre (ARC). The aircraft are fitted with state-of-the-art electronic surveillance equipment and long range cameras capable of taking pictures of targets from very high altitudes. ARC also takes the responsibility along with the IAF to transport Special Frontier Force (SFF) commandos from their trans-location at Sarsawa, 250 km north of New Delhi, though the SFF's own base is in Chakrata in Uttarkhand (UK) state.

[edit] Controversies

A tank being loaded on an IL-76 at Ladakh
A tank being loaded on an IL-76 at Ladakh

ARC is blamed by many for its failure to monitor and detect the intrusion by Pakistan in Kargil. There has been even rumours about possible split of ARC from RAW[5]. Moreover turf battles between the civilian and military intelligence agencies, which had intensified following feeble attempts to revamp the country's information gathering capabilities five years ago, led to difficulties in close cooperation or information sharing between RAW and the Intelligence Bureau[6].

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Dum Duma Air Station
  2. ^ Asia Times Online :: South Asia news - India's foray into Central Asia
  3. ^ NSNL 52 - Intelligence profile : India
  4. ^ http://www.ciaonet.org/olj/sa/sa_nov00anv01.html
  5. ^ India struggles to modernise air research centre - Jane's Defence Business News
  6. ^ http://www.ipcs.org/Mar_06_militaryAirforce.pdf#search=%22%22%20Aviation%20Research%20Centre%22%22

[edit] Further reading

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[edit] External links

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