17:51 22.12.2017(updated 17:54 22.12.2017)
5.5-ton light combat helicopters will provide
crucial air support to the armed forces deployed along the border with China as
they have the power to carry out operational roles under extreme weather
conditions at altitudes of up to 20000 meter in the difficult Himalayan
terrain.
New Delhi (Sputnik) — The Indian government has
ordered fifteen locally developed Light Combat Helicopters (LCH)
for fulfilling urgent requirements of the Indian Air Force and the
Indian Army. These will be manufactured at the Bengaluru facility
of Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL) which was inaugurated by the
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year.
The selling point of the twin-engine LCH is that
they are not only lighter compared to the American AH-64E Apache attack
helicopters but also come at half the price i.e. $35 million per
unit.
"HAL has received a Request for Proposal (RFP)
for 15 Limited Series LCH from the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the
Indian Army today. This comes close on the heels of HAL receiving RFP
for the supply of 83 LCAs (Light Combat Aircraft) just days
ago," HAL said in a statement.
The current version of the helicopters lack
sophisticated fire control radar like that of the Apache but HAL
has promised to locally develop such radars at a later stage.
The 5.5-ton class LCH is capable of carrying eight
French-made Mistral air-to-air missiles, 20mm guns, unguided rockets, cluster
bombs, grenade launchers and anti-radiation missiles.
"The helicopter can carry day/night
targeting systems for the crew including the helmet pointed sight and
electro-optical pod consisting of CCD camera, FLIR, laser rangefinder and
laser designator," Gopal Sutar, HAL spokesperson said.
Its high-performance night fighting ability makes it
capable of targeting enemy tanks from up to four kilometers
away. The LCH can also destroy unmanned aerial vehicles, slow-moving aircraft,
and armored and infantry combat vehicles. Furthermore, the LCH is fitted
with self-protection suite consisting of radar/laser missile warning
systems and countermeasures dispensing system.
Presently, four technology demonstrators are flight
testing the LCH following which the flight's air-to-air missile testing
capability would be ascertained.
The LCH has the distinction of being the first
attack helicopter to land in the forward bases at Siachen, 5400
meters above sea level.
Original post: sputniknews.com
HAL Light Combat Helicopter: Details
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