https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Aviation_Research_CentreAviation Research Centre - Revision history2026-07-31T09:05:04ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Aviation_Research_Centre&diff=461296&oldid=prevShaneraDeF at 20:58, 8 February 20262026-02-08T20:58:58Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Imagery intelligence organisation of India}}<br />
{{Infobox government agency<br />
| name = Aviation Research Centre<br />
| logo = <br />
| formed = {{start date|1963|09|7}}<br />
| parent_agency = [[Research and Analysis Wing]]<br />
| parent_department = <br />
| chief1_position = Special Secretary<br />
| employees = [[Classified information|Classified]]<br />
| budget = [[Classified information|Classified]]<br />
}}<br />
<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}<br />
The '''Aviation Research Centre''' ('''ARC''') is India's [[imagery intelligence]] organisation, under the [[Research and Analysis Wing]] (R&AW).<ref name="IE1">{{cite news |title=RAW to shut down its covert air wing, assets will go to NTRO and IAF |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/raw-to-fold-its-covert-air-wing/ |work=[[Indian Express]] |date= 18 September 2015}}</ref> It started functioning in November 1962, in the wake of the [[Sino-Indian War]], as an extension of the [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|Intelligence Bureau]], but placed under the Ministry of External Affairs.<br />
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It was formally created on 7 September 1963, with [[R. N. Kao]] as Director and Acting Group Captain,<ref>[http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/2337 Service Record for Air Marshal Lal Singh Grewal], ''Bharat Rakshak''</ref> Lal Singh Grewal (later, [[Vice Chief of the Air Staff (India)|Vice Chief]] of the [[Indian Air Force]]) as Operations Manager at the [[Charbatia Air Base]] (code named Oak Tree 1).<ref>''The CIA's Secret War in Tibet'', Chapter 14 (Oak Tree), by Kenneth Conboy and James Morrison, University Press of Kansas, excerpted in [http://www.combatreform.org/USARMYAVIATIONDIGEST/grasshoppersmustreturn.htm The Grasshoppers Must Return], U.S. Army Aviation Digest, 31 January 2009</ref> It was later moved to the Prime Minister's Secretariat, and in February 1965, along with [[Special Frontier Force]] and Special Service Bureau (now [[Sashastra Seema Bal]]), was brought under the Directorate General of Security in the Cabinet Secretariat (this organisation was created in late 1964 with [[Bhola Nath Mullik|B. N. Mullick]] as DG, Security;<ref>[https://harperbroadcast.com/2015/10/19/the-legacy-of-dibs/ ''The Legacy of DIBs''], extract from ''India: The Crucial Years'', T. V. Rajeswar</ref> the post was later shifted to the chief of R&AW upon its constitution in 1968).<br />
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One of its most influential Directors was Prof H.B. Mohanti. ARC was initially a temporary and ''ad hoc'' organisation, but was made permanent in 1971.<ref>[https://indiankanoon.org/doc/705959/ Court case involving ARC in Supreme Court of India, 1981]</ref> Over the years, ARC had grown into a large operation and flies a large and varied fleet that until recently included the high-flying Mach 3 capable [[MIG-25|Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25]].<br />
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==Inventory==<br />
The ARC began operations in 1962 with a [[Helio Twin Courier]] loaned from the [[USAF]].<ref name="IE1"/> ARC operated fixed-wing transport aircraft like Russian [[IL-76]]s and [[Antonov An-32|AN-32]]s. It also had General Dynamics [[Gulfstream III]] and [[Global 5000]] jets. The [[helicopter]] inventory comprises Russian [[Mil Mi-17]]s and a mix of locally built Cheetahs (modified French [[Alouette II]]s) and Chetaks ([[Alouette III]]s). The [[MIG-25]] (also christened as ''[[Foxbat]]'' by [[NATO]]) was used for high altitude reconnaissance until being decommissioned in 2006. ARC was also believed to be the first department to induct the indigenously built [[Lakshya PTA|'Pilotless Target Aircraft' (PTA) Lakshya]].<br />
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Lakshya is equipped with advanced support system to help it perform tactful aerial exploration in the battlefield, including target acquisition. The {{convert|6|ft|m|adj=mid|-long}} Lakshya is fitted with a digitally controlled engine that can be operated from the ground using a remote. Lakshya had been designed by [[Aeronautical Development Establishment]], [[Bangalore]]. Lakshya is a surface/ship launched high subsonic reusable aerial target system, remotely piloted from ground. It provides training to the gun and missile crew and to air defence pilots for weapon engagement.<br />
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As of 2024, ARC operates the Special Mission Aircraft fleet of the Indian Air Force like [[Boeing 707]]-337C Phalcon, [[Bombardier Global Express|Global 5000]] and [[Gulfstream III]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Special Mission Aircraft are cheaper to operate than older intelligence gathering assets |url=https://forceindia.net/civilaviation/businessjets/more-than-special/ |access-date=2024-08-31 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Philip |first=Snehesh Alex |date=2020-05-14 |title=India's oldest flying aircraft in spotlight after radar website shows it going to Pakistan |url=https://theprint.in/defence/indias-oldest-flying-aircraft-in-spotlight-after-radar-website-shows-it-going-to-pakistan/421757/ |access-date=2024-08-31 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref><br />
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==Bases==<br />
According to a report from Globalsecurity.org, the [[Research and Analysis Wing]] (R&AW) Aviation Research Centre operated bases at [[Charbatia Air Base]] in Choudwar, [[Cuttack]] district (largest base); [[Sarsawa Air Base]]<ref name="IE1"/> near [[Saharanpur]] on the [[Uttar Pradesh]]-[[Haryana]] border; [[Dum Duma Air Base]] near [[Tinsukia]] in [[Assam]]; [[Palam Air Base]] in [[Delhi]]; and the [[Farkhor Air Base]], the only Indian military airbase situated in a foreign country, at [[Farkhor]]/[[Ayni, Ayni District|Ayni]] in [[Tajikistan]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060819190609/http://atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HH12Df01.html Asia Times Online :: South Asia news - India's foray into Central Asia]</ref><ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/dum-duma.htm Dum Duma Air Station]</ref><br />
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In 2018 the Duma Duma Air Base was identified as one of 15 disused airfields that could be transferred to other public agencies. At the time it was being looked after by the Defense Estate Organization.<ref name="notused">{{cite news |last1=Ray |first1=Kalyan |title=IAF to surrender 15 disused airfields |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/668150/iaf-surrender-15-disused-airfields.html |work=Deccan Herald |date=April 3, 2018}}</ref><br />
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==Function==<br />
[[File:Il76md10.jpg|thumb|An armoured personnel carrier (BMP) being loaded on an [[IL-76]] at [[Ladakh]]]]<br />
[[File:MiG-25RB cams.jpg|thumb|Cameras of [[MiG-25RB]] for aerial surveillance]] [[Aerial surveillance]], [[SIGINT]] operations, [[photo reconnaissance]] flights (PHOTINT),<ref>[http://www.cvni.net/radio/nsnl/nsnl052/nsnl52in.html NSNL 52 - Intelligence profile : India]</ref> monitoring of borders, [[imagery intelligence]] (IMINT)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ciaonet.org/olj/sa/sa_nov00anv01.html|title=CIAO}}</ref> were the main functions of the Aviation Research Centre (ARC).<br />
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The aircraft were fitted with state-of-the-art electronic surveillance equipment and long range cameras capable of taking pictures of targets from very high altitudes. ARC also took the responsibility along with the [[Indian Air Force|IAF]] to transport [[Special Frontier Force]] (SFF) [[commandos]] from their trans-location at Sarsawa, 250&nbsp;km north of [[New Delhi]], though the SFF's own base is in [[Chakrata]] in Uttarakhand.<br />
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== Project 596 ==<br />
{{Main|Project 596}}<br />
The United States supplied surveillance equipment to Aviation Research Centre to spy on China's nuclear programme and naval assets from 1962.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Swami|first=Praveen|date=6 November 2021|title=Will India Be Joining The World's Most Exclusive Intelligence Club?|url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/current-affairs-trends/will-india-be-joining-the-worlds-most-exclusive-intelligence-club-7684711.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-07|website=Moneycontrol|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106060552/https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/current-affairs-trends/will-india-be-joining-the-worlds-most-exclusive-intelligence-club-7684711.html |archive-date=6 November 2021 }}</ref><br />
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==Kargil War==<br />
In 1999 during the [[Kargil War]], after the [[Pakistan]]i intrusion was detected, ARC was tasked to check if the Pakistanis had indeed crossed the Line of Control to the Indian side and violated the border agreement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://airmarshalashokgoel.blogspot.com/2010/05/secrets-of-raw.html|title=Air Marshal Ashok K Goel (Retd.) PVSM, AVSM, VM: Secrets of RAW|date=24 May 2010}}</ref> A number of missions were flown by the ARC on request from the [[Indian Army]] and the PMO.<br />
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Senior officials of the [[Indian armed forces]] including the Chief of Air Staff and Chief of Army staff highly commended the work done by ARC, quoting "The electronic and optical information provided by the ARC before and during the actual operations was of immense value to the conduct of air strikes."<ref name="airmarshalashokgoel.blogspot.com">[https://airmarshalashokgoel.blogspot.com/2010/05/secrets-of-raw.html Air Marshal Ashok Goel's blog post-Secrets of RAW]</ref> Also the [[K. Subrahmanyam]] committee report into the Kargil war observed that "No intelligence failures had been attributed on account of functioning of RAW and ARC. However, certain equipment inadequacies were highlighted such as satellite imagery and UAVs".<ref name="airmarshalashokgoel.blogspot.com"/><br />
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== Proposal of dissolution ==<br />
In 2012, the [[Naresh Chandra]] Committee on national security recommended merger of ARC with R&AW, in view of ARC's turf wars with NTRO and [[Defence Intelligence Agency (India)|DIA]].<ref>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/panel-suggests-merging-aviation-research-centre-with-raw/articleshow/14813688.cms Panel suggests merging Aviation Research Centre with RAW], ''The Times of India'', 11 July 2012</ref> As a part of larger reforms, backed by [[National Security Advisor (India)|NSA]] [[Ajit Doval]], Aviation Research Centre (ARC) was proposed to be shut down in 2015<ref>{{cite news|date=18 September 2015|title=RAW to shut down its covert air wing, assets will go to NTRO and IAF|work=[[Indian Express]]|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/raw-to-fold-its-covert-air-wing/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=20 September 2015|title=R&AW to close Aviation Research Centre|publisher=Odisha TV|url=https://odishatv.in/odisha-news/otherstories/raw-to-shutdown-arc-101098}}</ref> and ARC's assets were to be divided between the [[National Technical Research Organisation]] and the [[Indian Air Force]].<br />
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However, it was not carried out and the agency continues to exist.<ref>[https://crpf.gov.in/writereaddata/images/pdf/501052018.pdf Recruitment notice of ARC in 2018]</ref><ref>[https://indiankanoon.org/doc/43910335/ Court case involving ARC in CAT, Cuttack, 2019]</ref><ref>[https://indiankanoon.org/doc/18714447/ Court case involving ARC in Central Information Commission, 2020]</ref><ref>[https://indiankanoon.org/doc/82562327/ Court case involving ARC in Central Information Commission, 2020]</ref><ref>[https://indiankanoon.org/doc/155599416/ Court case involving ARC in CAT, Cuttack, 2021]</ref><ref>[https://www.iafpc.co.in/img/pdf/1280aa95_Deputy%20Fire%20Officer-ARC.pdf ARC recruitment notice, July 2021]</ref><br />
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==Current status==<br />
Previously, ARC was part of the Directorate General of Security, along with three other organisations, ''viz.'', Special Service Bureau, [[Special Frontier Force]] and Chief Inspectorate of Armaments.<ref>[https://indiankanoon.org/doc/18250953/ Court case in Supreme Court of India, 2010]</ref> Whereas R&AW is a wing of the Cabinet Secretariat, with secretariat-style rank structure at Headquarters (Secretary, Special Secretary, Additional Secretary etc.), DGS was an ''attached office''.<ref>see definition on page 4, [https://darpg.gov.in/sites/default/files/CSMOP_0_0.pdf Central Secretariat Manual of Office Procedure], 14th Ed., 2015</ref> Secretary, R&AW, held, ''ex-officio'', the post of Director General of Security.{{refn|group=note|It is not always so. When S. E. Joshi became Secretary, R&AW in 1986, he superseded R. T. Nagrani, Principal Director, DGS, who was close to retirement. So Nagrani was made DG (Security). After Nagrani's retirement, the post came back to the R&AW chief.<ref>C. K. Kutty, [https://www.rediff.com/news/2005/feb/02spec3.htm A RAW Hand]</ref> Again, when [[Rajinder Khanna]] became Secretary, R&AW in December 2014, his batchmate, [[Arvind Saxena]] was laterally shifted as Special Secretary, ARC.<br />
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The post of DG (Security) was kept vacant and Saxena was put under the NSA.<ref>[https://www.indianmandarins.com/news/saxena-appointed-director-arc/450 Arvind Saxena appointed Director, ARC], ''Indian Mandarins'', 21 December 2014</ref> Khanna was made DG (Security) in May 2015<ref>[https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/raw-chief-rajinder-khanna-to-hold-charge-of-dg-security/articleshow/46640678.cms RAW chief Rajinder Khanna to hold charge of DG Security], ''The Economic Times'', 21 May 2015</ref> and Saxena became Member, UPSC.}} Below him was the Principal Director, of Special DG or Special Secretary rank. SSB and ARC had their respective Directors (Additional DG or Additional Secretary rank), SFF had an Inspector General (Major General rank) and CIOA had a Chief Inspector (Lieutenant Colonel rank). In January 2001, DGS was split and SSB and CIOA were shifted to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The post of Principal Director, DGS, was also moved alongside as Director General, SSB. Thereafter, the post of Director, ARC was upgraded as Special Secretary, ARC{{refn|group=note|Ravinder Singh "Billy" Bedi, a former Army officer and Vir Chakra awardee in 1965<ref>[http://twdi.in/node/3569 Vir Chakra citation, 1965]</ref> and later a RAS officer of 1966 batch, headed ARC from 1997 to 2003,<ref>[http://www.indiandefencereview.com/spotlights/ntro-indias-technical-intelligence-agency/ NTRO: India’s Technical Intelligence Agency], R. S. Bedi VrC, ''Indian Defence Review'', January–March 2008</ref> first as Director and then as Special Secretary. He got superseded as Secretary, R&AW by Chandra Dev Sahay, an IPS (later RAS) officer of 1967 batch<ref>[https://www.svpnpa.gov.in/memories/alumni-gallery/363-1967-batch Alumni list of 1967 batch IPS], SVP National Police Academy</ref> and moved out, to become the founder chairman of NTRO.<ref>[https://www.rediff.com/news/2003/apr/02raw.htm New R&AW chief is first to be trained in Israel], Sheela Bhatt, ''Rediff News'', 2 April 2003</ref>}} and Head of department, SFF,<ref>[https://indiankanoon.org/doc/193280458/ Court case in CAT Delhi, 2010]</ref> but he continued to report to DG (Security) (except in case of [[Arvind Saxena]], who reported to the [[National Security Advisor (India)|NSA]]).<br />
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Subsequently, in 2021, ARC was removed as a separate organisation from the second schedule of the Right to Information Act and included with R&AW as its technical wing.<ref>[https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2021/226836.pdf Gazette of India notification]</ref><br />
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==See also==<br />
{{Portal|India}}<br />
*[[Research and Analysis Wing]]<br />
*[[Farkhor Air Base]]<br />
*[[Indian Air Force]]<br />
*[[National Technical Research Organisation]]<br />
*[[List of Indian Intelligence agencies]]<br />
*[[Intelligence Bureau (India)]]<br />
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==Notes==<br />
{{reflist|group=note}}<br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
{{Sister project links}}<br />
* [http://indianairforce.nic.in/ Official website of The Indian Air Force]<br />
* [http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/ Indian Air Force on bharat-rakshak.com]<br />
* [http://vayu-sena.tripod.com/other-spies-in-the-himalayas.html ARC's early days]<br />
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{{Indian intelligence agencies}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Indian intelligence agencies]]<br />
[[Category:Information sensitivity]]<br />
[[Category:Research & Analysis Wing]]<br />
[[Category:1962 establishments in India]]<br />
[[Category:2015 disestablishments in India]]<br />
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1962]]<br />
[[Category:Government agencies disestablished in 2015]]</div>ShaneraDeF