India’s Light Combat Helicopter Set to Achieve Final IOC

The indigenously designed and built Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) is all set to achieve final clearance anytime this month. Following that, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will start serial production of the attack choppers. The 5.8 tonne multirole attack chopper is intended to play a major role in providing close air support to ground forces and is the only attack helicopter in the world that can operate at heights of 12,000 feet.

“Having completed all performance trails, final clearance is expected anytime soon from the Center for Military Airworthiness & Certification (CEMILAC) in Bangalore. After that we will integrate weapons and finalize configuration as per the requirements of the end users — the Army and Air Force,” a senior HAL official told The Hindu.

HAL already has a firm order for 65 from the Air Force and 114 from the Army. This number is expected to go up given the army’s plan to have attack helicopters embedded in all formations for close air support.

HAL officials explained that unlike fixed wing aircraft which need Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) and Final Operational Clearance (FOC), helicopters usually get a final clearance. The government had earlier informed Parliament that production plans for LCH have been made from 2017-18.

Light Utility Helicopter

HAL is scheduled to conduct the maiden flight of the under development Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) in December coinciding with the 75 year celebrations of the company.

“Efforts are on to have the first flight in December,” one defence official said. The 3.1 tonne single engine helicopter is powered by the Shakti engine which powers the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) as well as the LCH and is intended to replace the aging Cheetahs and Chetaks with the three services.

As per plan, HAL intends to build four prototypes by 2017 and start production by 2018. The Army and Air Force together have committed to purchase 187 LUHs.

Afghanistan Acquiring Indian Light Choppers

A news report confirms that afgan authority going to acquire four light attack helicopters from India. These helicopters are developed in India by DRDO for Indian army but several failure along with the destruction of four of seven examples build for test purposes creates blur future for the project. While, after these crashes a Latin customer canceled their order for this helicopters from india. To save the project DRDO and Indian government find out a new customer afghanistan as this country is now a friend of India in the region. The part of the Ghani Administration in afghanistan led by CEO Abdulla Abdulla is the main strong body for India, sources said.

While LCA Tejas failing did LCH would be an indigenous success story from HAL?

Hindustan Aeronautics has carried out hot-and-high flight testing with its Light Combat Helicopter (LCH).

The work took place recently from the northern Indian city of Leh, and saw the helicopter conducting flights at elevations ranging from 3200-4800m, says Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL).

Tests saw the aircraft operating “under extreme weather conditions at different altitudes.”

The aircraft involved was the third LCH prototype, designated TD-3, and temperatures experienced during the tests ranged from 13-27C. During the trials the helicopter was configured with a electro optical pod, rocket launchers, its 20mm cannon turret, and air-to-air missile launchers.

HAL adds that the LCH was able to take off and land at high altitudes carrying “reasonable amounts of weapons and fuel.”

Given India’s diverse geography, the LCH has been tested in a number of environments, including high-altitude cold weather conditions, sea level tropical conditions, and hot and dry conditions.

HAL expects to produce 179 examples for the Indian military, but the programme has suffered from delays.

With a maximum take-off weight of 5.8t, the LCH is a development of HAL's Dhruv advanced light helicopter. France's Turbomeca helped develop the helicopter's twin Shakti engines.
Key features include low observable characteristics, a glass cockpit, armour protection, crashworthiness and the ability to operate at night. Mission systems include a helmet-mounted sight, electronic warfare system, directional infrared countermeasure/laser transmitter, a datalink and an infrared suppressor.

According to HAL, the helicopter will be able to carry missiles for a variety of missions, including air-to-air, air-to-surface, and anti-radiation.