Genesis of the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH)

• The need for a homegrown Light Combat Helicopter assault helicopter was realized during the 1999 Kargil war. Need was for precision strikes in all Indian battlefield scenarios.
  • This meant a craft that could operate in very hot deserts and also in very cold high altitudes, in counter-insurgency scenarios to full-scale battle conditions.
• Accordingly, after initial deliberations, the government sanctioned the Light Combat Helicopter project in October 2006, and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) was tasked to develop it.

Features of the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) ‘Prachanda’

• Endurance: Light Combat Helicopter has an endurance of over three hours and a service ceiling at the maximum density altitude. Light Combat Helicopter can fly for 6.5 kilometers.
  • Endurance is the time that a helicopter can remain airborne with the fuel available.
• Light Combat Helicopter Range: 550 kilometers with weapons.
• Altitude: Light Combat Helicopter is the only attack helicopter in the world which can land and take off at an altitude of 5,000 meters with a considerable load of weapons and fuel.
• Light Combat Helicopter Weaponry: A 20 mm turret gun, 70 mm rockets and air-to-air missile systems are onboard.
• Capabilities: Destruction of enemy air defence, counter insurgency warfare, combat search and rescue, anti-tank, and counter surface force operations.
• Combat features:
  • • The helicopter uses radar-absorbing material to lower radar signature and has a significantly crash-proof structure and landing gear.
    • A pressurized cabin offers protection from nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) contingencies.
    • The helicopter is equipped with a countermeasure dispensing system that protects it from enemy radars or infrared seekers of the enemy missiles.
• Significance:
  • Its multi-role features and all weather potentials is a formidable addition to IAF’s capabilities.
  • A major boost towards self-reliance in defense production and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

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