In a first: Chinook deploys army's heavy duty assault bridge

An Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter has for the first time deployed a pontoon Assault bridge during a joint exercise in the Western Sector. The assault bridge is a very critical piece of equipment for offensive formations of the Indian Army. The bridge is used to help army formations cross water bodies such as rivers and canals. These water bodies regularly punctuate the terrain in which the Western Command of the Indian Army operates. The assault bridge is made up of different segments.


These segments are usually deployed by heavy duty Tatra trucks and joined together in the water to provide a continuous link of up to 300 meters. India's strike corps are equipped with the T-90 Bhishma Main battle Tank (MBT), which can easily drive over these bridges to cross a water obstacle.





The Chinook helicopter on the other hand is India's heaviest operational helicopter and has the ability to lift as much as 10 tons. The tandem rotor chopper has been deployed by India to lift heavy loads across India's mountainous frontiers. The helicopter has been deployed from Eastern Arunachal all the way to the high altitude areas of Eastern Ladakh. Before the Chinook, the air force used the heavy lift Mi-26 helicopter in this role.



Water based obstacles such as rivers, canals and moats have historically been the most difficult challenges for armies. Many historic battles such as the disastrous allied Operation Market Garden during the Second World War and the successful Meghna heli-bridge, during the 1971 war, were both centred around crossing waterbodies and were significant events in both these conflicts.


The ability to deploy these bridges by air using a helicopter has the potential to improve the offensive capability of the Indian Army especially in riverine areas common in Punjab and Jammu. This capability can also come handy during natural calamities and can give the army and other agencies the ability to deploy temporary pontoon bridges to provide better access to the affected area.


The exercise is also an example of how the armed forces are working more cohesively, hence improving on the joint war-fighting capabilities. The forces are working on the Jointness, Atmanirbharta and Innovation or JAI strategy to execute operations seamlessly with an emphasis on self reliance. The services are working towards greater integration and have been holding joint exercises. The largest of these exercises in recent time was Exercise Trishul that was held in November last year.