India’s indigenous LUH demonstrates high-altitude capability, lands at Siachen base after taking off from Leh

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India’s indigenously developed Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) successfully demonstrated its high-altitude capability in Hot and High weather conditions by taking off from Leh, performing at Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) and landing at two Siachen helipads.

Developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the LUH landed in Siachen’s Amar and Sonam helipads.

Built for the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force to replace Cheetah and Chetak helicopters, the Army version of the LUH is now ready for initial operational clearance.

HAL’s Indigenous LUH Completes Hot and High Altitude Trials in Himalayas @drajaykumar_ias @SpokespersonMoD @DefProdnIndia @PTI_News @gopalsutar @ians_india @ANI pic.twitter.com/s0p6hRhZd6

— HAL (@HALHQBLR) September 9, 2020

The LUH will replace HAL’s Cheetah and Chetak

The Army will be procuring 126 copters while the IAF will go for 61 LUH from HAL.

Weighing 3-tonne, the new generation light helicopter can cruise at the speed of 235 km/h with a maximum speed of 260 km/h.

With a range of 350 km, the maximum take-off weight of the chopper is 3.12 tonne. The helicopter can accommodate a maximum of two pilots and six passengers.

The LUH finished hot weather trials at Nagpur in 2018 followed by testing at sea-level altitudes at Chennai in 2018 and at Puducherry in 2019.

Being ‘Siachen worthy’ is one of the key requirements of the Indian Air Force and the Army.

India Army plans to procure 126 copters

India’s Chetak and Cheetah helicopters are based on Aérospatiale Alouette III and Aérospatiale SA 315B Lama helicopters and where built by the HAL under licence from French-state owned Sud Aviation.

The LUH will be deployed for reconnaissance and surveillance roles and also as a light transport helicopter.

HAL has received the Initial Operational Clearance for production of the Light Utility Helicopter this year in February.

The document was handed over in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesg Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and others.

India has also deployed HAL-made two light combat helicopters in the Ladakh sector to support the Indian Air Force. The LCH is the lightest attack helicopter in the world and the IAF and the Indian Army around 160 helicopters.