However, Eurocopter recently announced that it was now flying a remotely controlled EC145 helicopter, even demonstrating the machine's ability to carry and deliver an
underslung load at the French Air Force base of Istres.
The Air Accident Investigation Branch report said the cause was an "
underslung load" striking the helicopter's tail rotor.
Ultra light howitzers can easily be carried in helicopters as
underslung load and transported to high altitude areas along the India- China border where the Army is raising a new strike corps.
This could provide SOF (Special Operations Forces) units with an extended operating range in comparison to rotary-wing insertions which are limited in the amount of payloads that helicopters can carry, be they
underslung loads or internally-transported.
He added it was standard practice for a crewman to be on the ground to guide the pilot during operations with
underslung loads.
A board spokesman said it was standard practice for the crewman to be on the ground to act as a guide for the pilot during operations involving
underslung loads.