Airpower in Nepalese context

Need for (a)symmetric response to rebels' threats
-Published in Space Time Today, Tuesday, May 21, 2002

By Pritam S Rana

The idea of employing aircraft for military purposes is still relatively new in Nepal even though this phenomenon has been in existence since around the beginning of the 20th century. The main reason attributed for this lack of development in military avaiation in Nepal is the underdeveloped situation and minimal industrialization of our country. Unfloding events in the present time have shown that a certain minimum military aviation is required to carry out military strikes to support ground troops.

The employment of aviation by the military predates use of aircraft. Balloons were used as far as back in the American Civil War (1861-65) for observation purposes. In World War I (1914-1918), aircraft had already made their debut and were initially used for observation. Later artillery obsservers who controlled fires of ground-based cannons also flew and found they could observe targets better from the air. Soon airplanes began fighting each other in the sky with machine guns. In World War II, great changes came in technology as planes became more and more powerful. Bombers, fighters and reconnaissance aircraft dominated the skies in every battlefront and the idea of air power became significant in the minds of military commanders and civilains alike.

In the Korean War (1950-1953) US airpower significantly nullified Chinese-North Korean superiority in numbers on the ground. In the next important conflict in the world, air power was used ever increasingly. In 1967, Israel used its air force to destroy Arab air force and armies. When the US was involved in Vietnam it used a variety of aircraft: jet fighters to bomb infrastructure and light counter insurgency (COIN) aircraft types to counter Viet Cong infiltration. The war between India and Pakistan in 1965 and 1971 also saw use of air force of both nations. In countless civil wars, which followed World War II, military aviation has been in use in one form or another. 1n 1991 Persian Gulf War, US used its air power at its best reducing Iraqi defenses and thus minimizing resistance to friendly ground forces.

In our country, combat aircraft have not been in use. The possibility existed in World War II when the then Nepalese government could have asked for British military aircraft for Nepalese service. If such a transfer had occured, Nepal would have had an air force. But there were hardly any airfields in Nepal at that time. Also, educated, trained manpower for flying and maintaining such aircraft did not exist. After World War II, the sophistication of military aircraft rose to such an extent that their costs skyrocketed due to such complexities like jet engines, advanced avionics, weapons like missiles and other equipment. The high cost of maintaining a jet air force certainly precluded any thought in Nepal of keeping such a force. Therefore, the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) maintains only transport planes and helicopters.

But now times have changed. Nepal used to be until a few years ago, a very peaceful country. Now, there is an armed rebellion, which aims to overthrow not only the government but also our culture and our values. This armed opposition is growing stronger by the day even though it takes heavy losses. Therefore it is imperative to consider improving the army's land power and to develop and utilize air power to assist land operations.

Currently the helicopters in use mainly for transportation are equipped with door-mounted machine guns. The RNA is using them for offensive purposes. But it is to be understood that door-mounted machine guns have limited effectiveness because aiming is difficult as the helicopters move. Weapons that fire with the axis of the helicopter are are more accurate. The night vision systems fitted in the helicopters should be forward looking infrared (FLIR) and not just night vision goggles (NVGs). FLIR system works on the principle of detecting heat signature and cannot only see in the dark but also through smoke, vegetation and other forms of camouflage. On the other hand NVGs magnify starlight so as to create image and is less effective in detecting movement at night. Helicopters should be used for assault transport and not as gunships.

The government should either procure or lease dedicated counter insurgency (COIN) aircraft. These aircraft and not helicopters should be the gunships. When procuring such aircraft, the government should select the very best, which is highly effective even when used in small numbers. An example of such an aircraft is in service with the US Marines. The aircraft is called OV-10D Bronco and is made by Rockwell Company in the US. It is a twin turboprop engine about 14m long and 13m wide with a maximum speed of 463km/h and a combat radius of 367km. It is armed with three barrel 20mm cannon (1500 rounds carried) and can aslo carry unguided rockets and light bombs. The heart of this aircraft system is the under nose AAS-37 pod equipped with FLIR, laser designator, and automatic video tracker. this pod can slave the 20mm cannon which can fire independently of the axis of the aircraft allowing the pilot to freely move his aircraft while the gunner slaves and fires the weapon. This aircraft is capable of night operations and appears to be highly suitable for Nepalese conditions. The aircraft is least expensive when compared to the cost of modern jet fighters. It is superior to jet airplanes in terms of its endurance and also is faster than helicopters with its larger range. Only trained pilots are required with a team of technicians able to maintain the aircraft avionics and subsystems.

The civil war situation in Nepal loos bleak. Despite imposition of emergency there is no slackening in rebel activity. They appear to be successful in forming large bands and attacking police and army positions. The government should think of assyemtric response to the rebel threat rather than just meeting the rebels on the ground on terms dictated by them. Massed rebel fighters can become easy targets of air assets like the OV-10D Bronco. There are so many new expensive cars being procured for government ministers and officials. So there is no need to assume that such an aircraft would be too expensive for Nepal. Nepal needs a small air force just for the sake of increasing and offlocating firepower so as to employ it effectively against ground-based threat. Employing air power for air defense is a requirement, which cannot be met in Nepal due to high cost of jet interceptors and missiles. The government needs to allocate money to finance a tiny fleet of COIN aircraft if it wants to counter the present rebellion and any other future uprisings in the country. Airpower is important in all forms of military operations. It plays an important role in supporting ground based units and sometimes it can play a decisive role.

* This article is dedicted to my granddad Flying Officer BK Singh, service number 2904, RAF who flew for the Royal Flight in 1950s. He flew DC-3/C-47 Dakotas and other airplanes. After the British left, he also was recalled to drop relief to the beleagured Indian troops in 1962 war with People's Republic of China.