HAL MAKES INDIA SELF-RELIANT IN HELICOPTERS

SUCCESSFULLY GETTING THE INDIGENOUS LCH DEPLOYED ALONG THE LINE OF ACTUAL CONTROL, THE STATE-OWNED AIRCRAFT MAKER HAS MADE THE INDIAN DEFENCE SECTOR SELF-RELIANT IN HELICOPTERS

The indigenous Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) can carry out operations even at the 19,600-feet high Siachen Glacier and has been designed and built by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

In light of the prevailing situation on the border, HAL produced two LCH that have been deployed for operations at high altitude (Leh sector) at short notice to support the Indian Air Force (IAF) missions. These helicopters are already flying along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh.

According to the company’s CMD R Madhavan, “This is the world’s lightest attack helicopter and has been designed and developed by the HAL in an effort to meet the specific and unique requirements of Indian armed forces. It reflects the critical role of the HAL in Atmanirbhar Bharat.”

This LCH is the only helicopter in the world that is capable of operating at such high altitudes, and is armed with a nose gun, rockets, and air-toair and air-to-ground missiles. It comes with a state-of-the-art cockpit with day-and-night targeting systems for the crew, and is a 5.8-tonne class machine, is heavily armoured and is engineered for combat. It is fitted with a self-protection suite consisting of radar and laser missile warning systems and countermeasures dispensing system (CMDS), and can carry weapons up to 1,000 kg. It comes with the helmet pointed sight, which can help the pilot in just aiming by simply looking at the target.

Along with the IAF and the Indian Army, there is a requirement for 160 LCHS. The approval for 15 has already been given by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC). The IAF has issued Request for Proposal (RFP) for 15 Limited Series Production (LSP) helicopters (10 for the IAF and 5 for the Army), and the HAL has submitted its responses to RFP. According to officials, the order for these helicopters is expected soon as both the technical as well as price negotiations have been completed. However, as a proactive measure and in anticipation of orders, the HAL has started production of LSPS at its Bengaluru facility.

The IAF is expected to get the limited series of 10 helicopters soon. Compared to the Apache helicopters of Boeing, these made-in-india choppers are half the cost. However, the Apache has the sophisticated Longbow fire control radar and is more heavily armed and armoured. In the case of the LCH, according to officials, the HAL is working on the radar. The areas on the northern borders of India can be as high as 6,000 metres (almost 20,000 feet).

The LCH has the capability to provide fire support to the army at mountainous deployment and has a nose gun that can carry up to 300 rounds of ammunition of different types, penetrating or high explosives.

While there is a 20-mm turret gun and 70-millimetre rockets, plans are to incorporate guided missiles in the helicopter which is going to be powered by Twin Shakti engine. This engine has been specifically designed by the French helicopter engine maker Turbomeca (now Safran Helicopter Engines), manufactured in Bengaluru.

It has a narrow fuselage, in which two pilots sit one behind the other in an armoured cockpit. This can protect them from small arms fire and it also has proved its ability for quick deployment prowess to forward locations in extreme temperatures.

The LCH is considered to be a potent weapons platform because of its state-of-the-art systems and highly accurate weapons, which can hit any type of target by day or night. Other features of the LCH include its ability to operate in the complete ‘Area of Responsibility’ (AOR) and altitudes. It has the capability to carry adequate weapons load at high altitudes under varied conditions. All these characteristics make

This LCH is the only helicopter in the world capable of operating at such high altitudes, and is armed with an array of weapons

it suitable for hot and high-altitude operations. The LCH is ready for operational induction and the Helicopter Complex is fully geared up for its production. The recently inaugurated production hangar will augment the LCH production capacity to reach peak production of 30 helicopters per year.

Once orders for Indian armed forces are met, these helicopters are open to be exported to friendly nations.