US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter may visit India in May to sign $2.5 bn deal

[uparyupari]

Tanks are no longer the best weapons to take out other tanks any more.

A UAV with missiles cost $5 mil and can provide better cover with no risk of life. A tank division with 10-15 armed UAVs would cost the same as 1 helicopter.

Combat Helicopters are only useful nowadays for insurgencies and where one controls ground and air. a.k.a. Pak in Waziristan scenario, but not an invasion scenario.

I think these copters India is buying are mainly China specific (i.e. Mountain warfare specific) rather than planned to be used in any tank invasion of Pak.

It is still the most cost effective way of taking out other tanks and provide protection of ground forces. That is why they still exist in ALL global armies.

UAV's can be jammed, shot down from the sky by SAM's and tanks and hand held missiles. But yes, Helicopters are most useful in Urban warfare, Jungle warfare and Mountain warfare.

 

[browser]

It is still the most cost effective way of taking out other tanks and provide protection of ground forces. That is why they still exist in ALL global armies.

UAV's can be jammed, shot down from the sky by SAM's and tanks and hand held missiles. But yes, Helicopters are most useful in Urban warfare, Jungle warfare and Mountain warfare.

Ok, so we've established that these Copters will not be used for armored forces cover.

Future wars will be fought by drones.

Before even 1 soldier sets foot in Pak we need to send a 1000 drones with ata and atg capabilities to soften up their defenses. And then have a further 1000 as back up.

Cost of 2000 drones would be 10-15bn. Close to the cost of supporting 25 apaches over their life.

 

[Techy]

Current Armament of AH-64 in different mission profiles: