MOSCOW. Oct 1 (Interfax-AVN) - The Land Forces army aviation department is about to complete elaboration of a special program of upgrading the tactics of army aviation actions in the North Caucasus in a situation when guerillas may use portable SAM systems.
A competent source in the department told Interfax-Military News Agency that the development of measures aimed at modernizing the army aviation tactics as well as consideration of reinforcing armor protection of several types of helicopters is being done by experts who have gained combat experience in Afghanistan and other trouble spots.
The program's elaboration involves officials of the army aviation combat training center, Central Aero-Hydrodynamic Institute and other institutes of the aircraft industry.
"The main aim of the program is to reduce to minimum possible losses of army aviation from portable SAM systems on the entire territory of the North Caucasus," the source said.
He stressed that "elaborated recommendations will concern both flight personnel of the army aviation and joint-arms commanders."
"Major Vladimir Vlasov, commander of MI-24 Hind helicopter that was tracked down by a portable SAM system near the Galashki village on September 26 was ordered by the joint-arms command to hit the target while accomplishing a different mission and having the third crewmember, a technician, onboard. It is not ruled out that this circumstance had a direct influence on the fire support helicopter crash," the source added.