To fight China, Howitzer in Arunachal Border, Chinook in Dinjan

Indian army is bringing in M777 ultra-light howitzers inArunachal border to fight China and to airlift them a Chinook helicopter baseis being planned at Dinjan, near Tinsukia in Assam.

Besides that, an attack helicopter squadron of, Apache is also coming to Jorhat airbase as Indian Army is giving the Eastern sector a major fillip, a senior defence source said.

This has been decided at the highest level of the Militaryto strengthen the Indo-China border, a highly placed defence source of theEastern Command said.

This is expected to be a game changer as Indian army is always on defensive position in the Indo-China border as the Chinese side is a plateau, giving them a logistical advantage.

The 155 mm/39-caliber howitzers, which can be sling-loadedto helicopters and swiftly deployed to high-altitude areas, are likely to beinducted by the year-en.. India ordered 145 howitzers from the United Statesfor $750 million in November 2016.

"The M777s will be a game-changer in the eastern sector. Thehighly portable guns can be swiftly deployed and redeployed for missions usingthe Boeing CH-47F (I) Chinook helicopters. The howitzers will be part of lightartillery regiments," the source said.

In the mean time Dinjan army camp is getting ready for the Chinook helicopter base. This double turbo helicopter has been the mainstay of the US Marines since the Vietnam War.

The CH-47F (I) Chinook and the M777 howitzer are a deadlycombination as the load-carrying capacity of the Chinook and the capabilitiesthat the M777 brings will certainly be a game-changer for the forces deployedalong the eastern borders.

The Chinook helicopter can deploy the Howitzer in anydesignated place in a very quick time in case of emergency. India ordered 15Chinook helicopters from the US for $1.18 billion in September 2015. Six ofthem have already been delivered.

The tactical mobility will enable quick insertion of thehowitzers in areas close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, whichcan move weapons, equipment and troops at a swifter pace because of betterinfrastructure, he said.

"It's certainly a much-needed capability upgrade. Movingheavier guns around is not easy. Even soldiers take two days to reach theforward posts from Tezu (headquarters of the 82Mountain Brigade). Tezu islocated 250km south of Kibithu, which is along the LAC and accounts for thearmy's eastern-most deployments.

The howitzers have a range of 24-30km.

The army's artillery arsenal in eastern Arunachal Pradeshincludes the Bofors guns and the 105mm field gun. Transporting these guns isquite tricky due to terrain and the infrastructure that is still a work inprogress. It requires a lot of horse power and willpower,"

The IAF plans to deploy US-made Apache AH-64E attackhelicopters in the eastern sector in two years after a base there is fullyready to support the choppers, two senior IAF officers said on the condition ofanonymity.

The helicopters are part of a $1.1-billion deal India inkedwith the US in September 2015 for 22 Apaches to modernize its assaultcapabilities to counter ground-based armoured targets and aerial threats.

The 22 Apaches will be split between Pathankot and Jorhat,where support infrastructure is being created. The IAF has already inductedeight Apaches into its fleet at the Pathankot airbase.