Light Combat Helicopters (LCH)

In news- Recently, the Cabinet Committee of Security has approved procurement of 15 Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Limited Series Production.

About Light Combat Helicopters (LCH)-

Light Combat Helicopter Limited Series Production (LSP) is an indigenously designed, developed and manufactured state of the art modern combat helicopter containing approx. 45% indigenous content by value which will progressively increase to more than 55% for SP Version.
The genesis of the LCH lies in the Kargil conflict of 1999 when the absence of an attack helicopter which could operate in ultra-high altitude areas was felt acutely by the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force (IAF).
It was in 2006 that the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) announced its intention to develop a LCH which could operate in the harsh desert conditions as well as the high altitude areas of Ladakh including the Siachen Glacier.
The first ground run of the first prototype of the LCH took place in February 2010 and other proto type were conducted in 2011, 2014, and 2015.
It was in January 2019 that HAL gave the go ahead for the operational deployment of the helicopter after all systems had been fully integrated and checked for performance.
According to HAL, the LCH has the maximum possible commonality with Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH).
The attack helicopter has a pilot and co-pilot sitting in tandem position (one behind the other).
The helicopter has several stealth features and has armour protection, night attack capability and crash worthy landing gear to give it better survivability.
It is powered by two Shakti engines and has a maximum take off weight of 5,800 kg.
With a maximum speed of 268 km per hour it has a range of 550 km and an operational ceiling of 6.5 kms.
Armed with air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, LCH also has a 20 mm gun and 70 mm rockets.
With a full glass cockpit, the LCH has an Electronic Warfare suite and helmet mounted display for the flying crew.
This helicopter is equipped with requisite agility, maneuverability, extended range, high altitude performance and around-the-clock.
It is also is equipped with-
- All-weather combat capability to perform roles of Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR).
- Destruction of Enemy Air Defence (DEAD).
- Counter Insurgency (CI) operations, against slow moving aircraft and Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPAs).
- High altitude bunker busting operations.
- Counter Insurgency operations in jungle and urban environments and support to ground forces.
The LCH is well suited for anti-tank roles wherein it can fly low and fast to attack enemy armour columns and destroy them.
It is also suitable for scout roles wherein it can fly ahead of advancing columns of the Army and detect enemy presence.
It is also suitable for air defence roles and destruction of enemy air defence assets.
It can also be used in urban warfare missions and combat search and rescue operations.