HAL’s 15 modern Light Combat Helicopter to bolster IAF’s air supremacy

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Making giant strides towards becoming self-reliant in the Defence sector, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) led under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the procurement of 15 indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) at the cost of Rs. 3,887 crore along with Infrastructure sanctions worth Rs. 377 crore.

The state-of-the-art Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) has been designed and developed with approximately 45% indigenous content by value which will progressively increase to more than 55% for (series production) SP Version.

How combative is Light Combat Helicopter?
The modern combat helicopter is equipped with futuristic technologies and systems compatible with stealth features such as Aural, Radar, reduced Visual, IR signatures, and crashworthiness features for better survivability.

These features will enable the LCH for deployment in combat roles, which will cater to the emerging needs of IAF in the next 3 to 4 decades. Major aviation technologies like Glass Cockpit and composite airframe structures have been indigenously developed for the combat helicopter.

The ‘future Series Production version’ also consists of requisite agility, maneuverability, extended range, high altitude performance, and round-the-clock, all-weather combat capability to perform roles of Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), Destruction of Enemy Air Defence (DEAD), Counter Insurgency (CI) operations in semi-urban and jungles to support the ground forces.

It is important to note that, LCH has one of the highest operating altitudes among the combat helicopters in the world, which would be a potent platform to meet the operational requirements of the Indian Air Force & Indian Army.

The combat helicopters will be test-flown by IAF and Indian army pilots to gauge their performance and capability. These pilots will provide operational performance feedback and recommend incremental improvements that HAL would introduce into the LCHs that will be mass manufactured on a final production line.

India has been making giant strides in defence sector by continuously growing in its capability to indigenously design, develop and manufacture advanced cutting edge technologies and systems.

The manufacturing of LCH by HAL will give a further push to the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative’ and boost indigenisation of defence production in the country.

Advanced ‘Made-in-India’ chopper to IAF
In November 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over the indigenous Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) to the Indian Air Force (IAF). In addition to that, electronic warfare suites to the Indian Navy and drones built by Indian start-ups was also given to the Indian Army.

Designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) is a new addition to HAL’s Helicopter Division. The twin-engine helicopter is a 5-8 tonne dedicated combat helicopter.

Interestingly, it is the only attack helicopter in the world that can land and take off at an altitude of 5,000 m (16,400 ft). With the considerable load of weapons and fuel, LCH can significantly augment the firepower of the IAF and the Army in high-altitude regions.

Notably, it will eventually be deployed along the Line of Actual Control in addition to the AH-64E Apache helicopters present in service.