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Aviation Research Centre
The Aviation Research Centre belongs to the Research and Analysis Wing or RAW under the cabinet secretary of India. R.N Rao was ARC’s first head, who was also the founding leading as well as chief of R&AW. In the years following its establishment, the ARC has become a large organization and has in its fleet, flying high end MIG-25 and with MACH 3 capabilities. These flights were sorted over china and Pakistan, with details on various intelligence reports.
Function
The work of the Aviation Research Centre was aerial surveillance, operations of SIGINT, flights done for photo reconnaissance or PHOTINT, keeping a sight on the borders, IMINT or imagery intelligence and some others are keen points on which the Aviation Research Centre does its work. The airplanes included in the research centre have state of art surveillance units of electronic nature and various other equipments, which also include long distance cameras. Such equipments are responsible for carrying out taking pictures of targets from long distances and high altitudes. It is also the responsibility of ARC, in concert with the IAF to help in the travel of Special Frontier Force Commandos from Sarsawa, which is located 250 kms towards north of Delhi, to the base of SFF located in Chakrata in Uttarakhand.
Inventory
The history and beginning of the ARC started with the Helio Twin Courier, which was loaned from the USAF. But gradually, the ARC started having more number of fixed wing transport carriers such as Russian IL-76s and AN-32s. It also brought the General dynamics Gulfstream III and the Gulfstream IV was upgraded. The resources in the field of helicopters included the Russian Mi-8s and a few Cheetahs, which were built in India, on the models of Allouette and the Chetaks were also indigenous. For the ARC, the weapon of choice was the MIG-25, which was named as Foxbat by the NATO. This flight was used for reconnaissance purposes for high altitude, although it became decommissioned in 2006. It is being said that the next powerful armoury in ARC, which is having second strike capability. ARC is also the first wing of the intelligence wing, which has indigenously brought out the Pilotless Target Aircraft named as Lakshaya. This aircraft has advanced support system, which helps in the tactful exploration in the air, responsible for target acquisition. It is 6 foot long, fitted with an engine which is digitally controlled and can be operated using a remote from the ground level. The Aeronautical Development Establishment in Bangalore had designed the Lakshya. This aircraft is possible to be launched from surface or ship with highly subsonic resusable aerial target mechanics. Missile crew and gun training is possible in this aircraft and also for the air defence pilots who are used to weapon engagement.
Bases
The operations of the Aviation Research Centre or ARC is highly secretive, but according to belief, there are about 5 R and AW aviation centres, which are operating in the bases such as in Sarsawa Air Base located in Saharanpur found at the border of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, Charbatia Air Base in Cuttack, which is the largest, Dum Dum Air Base located near Tinsukia found in Assam, Farkhor Air Base in Farkhor in Tajikistan, which is the only base outside the country and in Delhi in Palam Air Base.