Article Posted on : - Oct 04, 2019

The Mi-17 helicopter has carried out such "a complicated and challenging operation" for the first time. (File photo)

NEW DELHI (PTI): In a joint exercise by the Indian Army and Indian Air Force on Thursday, a light field gun was successfully airlifted by a Mi-17 helicopter at Tuting Advanced Landing Ground in Arunachal Pradesh, a statement said.

With this, the time needed for deployment of guns at forward post will drastically reduce in case of any operational contingency, it added.

"A light field gun of Indian Army was successfully airlifted by underslung operation by IAF’s Mi-17 1V, in a joint exercise with the Indian Army at Tuting ALG ," the statement said.

This is the first time a Mi-17 has carried out this "complicated and challenging operation", it added.

Last month, the IAF had reopened the crucial Vijaynagar ALG, located in the eastern most tip of Arunachal Pradesh.