One more step towards the Aatmanirbhar Bharat or self reliance, India’s first indigenously manufactured Light Combat Helicopter ‘PRACHAND’ was inducted in the Indian Air force on October 3 at the Jodhpur Air Base. The Prachand, a domestically made multi-role Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), was delivered in its first batch to the 143 Helicopter Unit of the Indian Air Force at the Jodhpur Air Force Station. The helicopters are suitable for employment in high-altitude battle zones because they can perform counterinsurgency operations and destroy enemy air defence. India will soon develop its own attack helicopters, making it the ninth country to do so. According to its designers, the LCH is the only assault helicopter in the world that can land and take off at a height of 5,000 metres while transporting a significant amount of fuel and munitions, meeting the requirements set out by the Indian Armed Forces.
GENESIS
The 1999 Kargil conflict was the first time a domestically made light attack helicopter that could execute precise attacks in any Indian combat situation was required. This required a ship that could operate in a variety of combat scenarios, including large-scale conflicts and counterinsurgency operations in incredibly hot deserts and chilly high altitudes. India has been using Chetak and Cheetah helicopters, produced in India by HAL, in the sub-3 tonne category. The majority of these single-engine vehicles were utility helicopters. The Lancer, an armoured Cheetah, is also used by Indian troops. Additionally, the Mi-17, which has a maximum takeoff weight of 13 tonnes, and its derivatives Mi-17 IV and Mi-17 V5 are currently used by the Indian Air Force but will be phased out starting in 2028. But an attack aircraft with more manoeuvrability and versatility was required. After preliminary debate, the government authorised the LCH project in October 2006, and HAL was tasked with creating it. The Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruva and its armed counterpart, the ALH Rudra, were both designed at the Rotary Wing Research and Development Center of HAL before the project was launched.
DEVELOPMENT OF LCH
The 5.8 tonne (or “light” helicopter) LCH is a twin-engine, specially designed combat helicopter. The captain and co-pilot seat tandem, one in front of the other, in its compact fuselage. The copilot is also the weapon systems operator (WSO). While the LCH and ALH share many traits, its primary difference is a tandem cockpit layout that makes it more streamlined. It is a unique assault helicopter since it also has many more cutting-edge technology.
Four prototypes, also known as Technology Demonstrators, have undergone rigorous flight testing as part of the LCH’s road to approval and induction by the IAF and the Army (TDs). On March 29, 2010, the first Technology Demonstrator, which had been finished in February 2010, made its first flight. The TD-2 prototype, finished in around 2012, passed the cold weather tests at a great height. The TD-3 and TD-4 prototypes, which were finished in 2014 and 2015 respectively, tested various flying test criteria satisfactorily. According to HAL officials, the flight testing was done in arid areas, under extremely hot and cold weather conditions, and at varied altitudes, from sea level to the Siachen range.
These experiments included the integration of armament systems like turret guns, rocket launchers, and air-to-air missile systems with mission sensors such electro-optical systems, helmet-mounted display systems, solid state data recorders, and video recorders. Trials for shooting weapons were also finished. Together, the four prototypes have flown more than 2,000 times and logged about 1600 flying hours. For the IAF model and the Army variant, the initial operational approval occurred in 2017 and 2019, respectively. LCH was added to the MoD’s list of goods subject to an import ban in August 2020. The LCH was symbolically transferred to the Indian Air Force by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November 2021, opening the route for its ultimate introduction. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) authorised the purchase of 15 LCH Limited Series Production (LSP) aircraft in March of this year for a total cost of Rs 3,887 crore. This purchase also included infrastructure sanctions of Rs 377 crore.
FEATURES OF LCH
LCH has a maximum takeoff weight of 5.8 tonnes, a top speed of 268 kph, a maximum endurance of more than three hours, and a service ceiling of 6.5 kilometres, which is the greatest density height it can fly. The helicopter’s radar signal is reduced through the use of radar-absorbing material, and its construction and landing gear are substantially more crash-proof. Protection from nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) crises is provided via a pressurised compartment. The helicopter is protected from enemy radars and infrared missile seekers by a device for deploying countermeasures. Among the weapon systems included are a 20 mm turret cannon, 70 mm rockets, and air-to-air missile systems. LCH is propelled by two Shakti engines made by HAL and with French heritage. Due to these qualities, the LCH is capable of carrying out combat operations such as neutralising an adversary’s air defence, engaging in counterinsurgency warfare, combat search and rescue, and conducting anti-tank and anti-surface force operations.
THE ROAD AHEAD
According to HAL, 160 LCHs would be required, including 65 for the Indian Air Force and 95 for the Indian Army. Since the contract was signed in March, some of the LSP’s units have already been delivered, while the rest are in various stages of acceptance. According to HAL, it has developed a specific masterplan for achieving the peak rate production capacity of 30 helicopters per year in order to build the remaining 145 LCHs in eight years from the date of signing the Series Production order. The LCH was formally inducted into the Indian Air Force on September 30 in Jodhpur and the Indian Army on September 29 in Bangalore. A document declaring that the Ministry of Defense has no problems to the HAL’s export to countries including Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Angola, Egypt, Indonesia, Ecuador, and Nigeria already exists, according to sources.
