Antony says Army-IAF chopper tussle overhyped

Seeking to downplay the tussle between the Army and the Air Force over control of attack helicopters, Defence Minister A K Antony on Tuesday said it was a 'family problem' and the govt is in final stages of resolving it. The Army has been demanding control over attack and medium-lift helicopters, saying they are mainly used for its operations and that is why they should be under it. The IAF has strongly opposed the demand. 'There is no tussle and there is no war. These are all family problems and we will find a solution. We are in the final stages of finding the solution amicably. Don't go beyond that,' he told reporters.

The IAF recently said it has rejected the Army's demand to have their own attack and medium-lift helicopters contending that the country can't afford to have these 'little air forces' growing up to do their 'own things'.