New Delhi, April 9 -- The Indian Army has reinforced its focus on strengthening close air support for ground operations, a critical element in modern warfare.

The Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, flew a sortie on the indigenous Light Combat Helicopter Prachand at HAL, Bengaluru, yesterday, an official statement read.

This was followed by a key operational demonstration today at Pokhran Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan, where the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter carried out its first field firing, successfully engaging targets with Hellfire missiles and other onboard weapons.

The activities showcased how attack helicopters can operate in close coordination with ground troops, even in high-threat environments involving sma...