December 19, 2005 (PTI)

The Indian Army will be replacing its fleet of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters with new upgraded choppers in a phased manner, Army Vice Chief Lieutenant General S Pattabhiraman said on Monday.

''Sixty such upgraded helicopters from Italy and the United States, already on trial, will replace the Cheetah and Chetak by the end of 2006,'' he told UNI.

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will manufacture these new helicopters after procuring a license, he said, adding that nearly 200 choppers would be replaced in a phased manner.

Lt Gen Pattabhiraman said that upgrading and increasing the strength of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) was also on the priority list of the army. The army in this financial year will spend its entire budget of Rs 1,900 crore for the first time, unlike previous years.

''It is for the first time that we (army) will be spending 100 per cent budget this year, unlike the previous years when every time we surrendered amounts varying from 20 to 50 per cent,'' the Vice Chief said.

Responding to a question regarding the fate of the proposed appointment of a Chief of Defence Staff, he said no major development was taking place in this regard at present. ''But ultimately we will have CDS one day,'' he added. A 'Group of Ministers on National Security' constituted during the NDA regime had strongly recommended the creation of the CDS's post.

According to Lt Gen Pattabhiraman, all the field commands of the three forces -- army, air force and navy -- have to be integrated first to make the atmosphere congenial to the appointment of the CDS.

He pointed out that the Andaman Command was presently the only integrated command for the three services. ''We (the three different forces) have some cultural differences as well,'' he added, while explaining the necessary requirements integration of the three armed forces.