New Delhi: Alarm bells have been rung in the most important corridors of power by the aviation wing of country's external intelligence agency. At stake are the lives of its key operatives, involved in the gathering of intelligence.
It has been reliably learnt that the Aviation Research Centre (ARC) which functions as a feeder to Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) has raised the red flag on the usage of Russian Mi-8 helicopters. The ARC, which functions under the Cabinet Secretary's office, has in an urgent missive informed its superior authority the need to â??phase out and replace four Mi-8s by early next yearâ??. In return as replacement, the agency has sought the Mi17V5s, which the Indian Air Force (IAF) is procuring for itself. A source informed that the government is fully aware of this demand of the ARC and has indicated that the IAF will be asked to procure more for the ARC. "Rather than piecemeal procurement that the ARC does, it is better than an expert organization like IAF will look at it. Anyways they are buying the same helicopter in bulk," said a source.
30/10/13 Jugal R Purohit/India Today
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It has been reliably learnt that the Aviation Research Centre (ARC) which functions as a feeder to Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) has raised the red flag on the usage of Russian Mi-8 helicopters. The ARC, which functions under the Cabinet Secretary's office, has in an urgent missive informed its superior authority the need to â??phase out and replace four Mi-8s by early next yearâ??. In return as replacement, the agency has sought the Mi17V5s, which the Indian Air Force (IAF) is procuring for itself. A source informed that the government is fully aware of this demand of the ARC and has indicated that the IAF will be asked to procure more for the ARC. "Rather than piecemeal procurement that the ARC does, it is better than an expert organization like IAF will look at it. Anyways they are buying the same helicopter in bulk," said a source.
30/10/13 Jugal R Purohit/India Today
