The induction of first made-in-India light combat helicopter in the Indian Air Force on 03rd October, 2022 at the Airforce Station Jodhpur was indeed a proud moment for Indians. The ceremony was presided over by the Hon’ble Defence Minister of India Mr Rajnath Singh.
Light Combat Helicopter (LCH ) is a completely indigenous multi-role, light attack helicopter designed, developed and manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). It has been nick-named Prachand the “Fierce one”. Genesis of LCH lies in the Kargil conflict of 1999, when India’s lack of arial attack capability at high-altitude emerged as a major handicap of Indian armed forces. Need for a suitable armed rotorcraft capable of operating at the height of 15-16000 ft was recognized. This set the Indian armed forces and HAL on the course of exploring the possibility of developing an indigenous combat helicopter to perform combat roles at the above heights. Achieving full flying efficiency and weapon delivery capabilities at sub-zero temperatures of northern sectors as well as 40-50 degrees centigrade temperatures of the deserts of Rajasthan was another daunting target set by the armed force. Credit must be given to our scientists and engineers at Hal to have risen to the occasion and accept this challenge. By 2006, HAL made up its mind and announced the launch of a program to produce such a rotorcraft. The LCH was expected to achieve initial operating capabilities (IOC) by December 2010.
The Prachand or LCH design leans largely on HAL’s first indigenous Advance Light Helicopter, (ALH Dhruv). In this way Prachand is a derivative of Dhruv, which was developed by HAL during the 1990s and inducted into the Indian Armed Forces during the 2000s. Using Dhru rotorcraft as base reduced the cost and time taken by its LCH version. The first maiden flight of “PRACHAND” prototype took place on 29 March 2010. Its further development journey included passing through a rigorous testing program on its total of four prototypes. During these trials Prachand achieved the distinction of becoming the first attack helicopter to land repeatedly at high altitude helipads at heights of 13,600 feet (4145 meters) to 15,800 feet (4815 meters) at Leh, Ladakh and Siachen. By mid-2016, LCH passed all design parameter tests and received the certification of its basic configuration successfully. In 2017, limited series production started. On 19 November 2021, Prime Minister Narender Modi Jee handed over the LCH to IAF formally, paving the way for full scale induction. In January 2021, the Cabinet accorded financial approval for procurement of an initial batch of 15 fully configured and operational LCHs. Out of above ten LCH are for the IAF and five for the Army Aviation Corps. By June 2022 Army aviation Corps in Bangalore formed the first of its total of seven LCH Prachand squadrons. Each squadron will have ten helicopters. IAF too raised its first LCH squadron at Air Force Station Jodhpur. Order of GoI for a total of 162 LCHs is already placed with the HAL.
Prachand has a Maximum speed of 268 km/h (167 mph, 145 kn), a range of 550 km (340 mi -300 nmi with weapons) and an endurance of 3 hours 10 minutes. Its service Ceiling has been fixed at 6,500 m (21,300 ft) and rate of climb is 12 m/s (2,400 ft/min). Its avionics have the state of art Elbit CoMPASS opto-electronic suite, Missile approach warning system, Saab radar and laser warning system and it carries Chaff and flare dispensers. Weapon carried by Prachand are Gun – 1 x 20 mm M621, cannon on Nexter THL-20 turret, Hardpoints 4 with provisions to carry combinations of Rockets, 4 × 12 FZ275 LGR, Air-to-Air missiles – 4 × 2 Mistral, Anti-tank guided missile -4 × 4 Dhruvastra (planned), Cluster munition, Unguided bomb and Grenade launcher as well. Prachanda is the first ALH capable of carrying the Air-to-Air Mistral missiles.
The above configuration puts Indian LCH in the league of world’s best combat helicopters like – Agusta A129 Mangusta , Bell AH-1Z Viper , Boeing AH-64 Apache, Eurocopter Tiger, Russian Kamov Ka-50 etc . The cost advantage gives India LCH a great export potential.
With LCH Prachand now inducted in the Indian armed forces, enemy at India’s northern and western borders have much to worry. Induction of Prachand also marks a significant mile stone in India’s journey of “Atmanirbharta” in defence production and development of indigenous defence technology.
