Article Posted on : - Dec 15, 2011

NEW DELHI (PTI): The combat helicopters of Indian Air Force (IAF) were withdrawn from UN peace missions keeping in mind the operational, security and strategic considerations, the Rajya Sabha was informed Wednesday.

In a written reply, Defence Minister A K Antony said, "IAF combat helicopters have been withdrawn from UN missions.

Decisions regarding deployment and withdrawal of defence assets are taken keeping in mind operational, security and strategic considerations."

Such deployments of defence assets are reviewed by government from time to time and necessary modifications are made as required, the Minister said, adding that it is a dynamic process.

Replying to a question on production of indigenous Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH), he said, "It is assessed that 69 per cent of material used in ALH is procured from foreign sources. However, in terms of number of components involved, around 90 per cent of these are indigenously manufactured."

HAL has been constantly trying to indigenize manufacture of components, electronics, avionics etc and as a result, critical items like rotor blades are now being manufactured indigenously, Antony said.