A Mi-35 "Hind" Helicopter Gunship
India's Ministry of Defense officials will soon be visiting Russia to fast-track the delivery of rockets and ammunition for Mi-35 helicopter gunships and Su-30 fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The Indian Armed Forces (IAF) has considered buying 50,000 rounds of 30mm GsH ammunition for Su-30 fighter jets and more than 60,000 rounds of 12.7 mm ammo for Mi-35 gunships, Sputnik News reported today.
IAF are putting efforts to increase war stocks currently at half of the required 40 days of military materials for intense combat. The committee represented by IAF and Defense Ministry officials had already held discussions on emergency purchase late last year.
In past three months, India has bought arms and ammunition worth more than $1 billion from Russia and Israel for Indian Army and Navy under a fast track procedure instead of relying on slow bureaucratic channels.
Additional purchases will be made amid talks of reviving the Cold Start doctrine of war with Pakistan. It visualizes lightening quick armored strikes into Pakistan and capture of bargaining territory before its army has the time to find its feet or retaliate with a tactical nuclear weapon.
A fresh lease of life was given to this untested doctrine by the newly appointed Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat. "Future wars will be short and intense and you have to be prepared to move fast. Now this is something which you can term in whatever way you want", said General Bipin Rawat during his first press interaction in Delhi earlier this month
