HAL Light Combat Helicopter
| Light Combat Helicopter | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| A HAL LCH | |
| Role | Attack helicopter |
| National origin | India |
| Manufacturer | Hindustan Aeronautics Limited |
| First flight | 29 March 2010 |
| Status | Trials, initial production |
| Primary users |
Indian Army Indian Air Force |
| Produced | 2010–present |
| Number built | 4 |
| Program cost | ₹376 crore (US$56 million) |
| Unit cost |
US$20.2 million
|
| Developed from | HAL Dhruv |
The HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) is a multirole combat helicopter being developed in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for use by the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army.
Combat in the Kargil War highlighted the requirement of an attack helicopter made for such high altitude operations. In 2006, HAL announced its plans to design and build the LCH; funds for designing and developing the LCH to meet the requirements of the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force were sanctioned later that year.
The LCH is a derivative of the HAL Dhruv, which was inducted into the Indian Armed Forces. Basing on an existing helicopter is expected to greatly reduce LCH project costs, which is estimated at ₹376 crore (US$55.9 million). The Indian Air Force is to acquire 65 LCHs and Indian Army is to acquire 114 LCHs.
The first LCH prototype completed its first ground run on 4 February 2010. HAL has a firm order to deliver 65 LCH to the IAF and 114 to the Army. HAL has performed the maiden flight of its LCH on 29 March 2010. The first LCH Technology Demonstrator (TD-1) flew a 20-minute flight from HAL's Helicopter Complex, Bengaluru. It carried out low speed, low altitude checks on the systems on board. The crew reported that the performance of the helicopter and systems were satisfactory.
The third test flight of the LCH was successfully made on 23 May 2010; it fulfilled the desired parameters and allowed for further armed tests to proceed. The second prototype, fitted with weaponry, was unveiled at Aero India 2011 in February 2011. The second LCH prototype (TD-2) featured substantial weight reductions over the earlier TD-1. Ashok Nayak, chairman of HAL, stated that the project has exceeded human and payload requirements mandated by IAF for the development. Light Combat Helicopter TD-2 achieved its first flight on 28 June 2011.
On 1 July 2012, the LCH began a series of trials near Chennai; among other elements, the LCH's air speed measurement system was trialed and various component stresses gauged measured. The third prototype of the LCH is about to be delivered and is expected to be different from the LCH-1 and LCH-2. The third prototype is said to be significantly lighter than its predecessors.
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