Light Combat Helicopter unveiled for armed forces
May 23rd, 2010 - 5:37 pm ICT by IANSBangalore, May 23 (IANS) India Sunday unveiled the indigenously built Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) with a successful flight demo of its first prototype here for the armed forces.
Designed and developed by the state-run defence behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), the 5-tonne class LCH puts India in the select club of a few advanced countries that have a similar chopper in the world.
The 20-minute inaugural flight at the high security HAL airport was witnessed by Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal P.K. Barbora, Defence Production Secretary R.K. Singh, top officials of the three services and dignitaries from the defence establishment.
The black coloured sleek copter was initially escorted by two Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv in a clear sky on a bright sunny day under breezy conditions.
The twin-engine chopper was flown by chief test pilot retired Wing Commander Unni Pillai and test pilot retired group captain Hari Nair.
The dedicated attack helicopter, featuring a narrow fuselage and a tandem configuration for pilot and co-pilot/gunner, has been incorporated with stealth features such as reduced visual, aural radar and infra-red signatures and crashworthy landing gear for better survivability and state-of-the-art weapons.
As a derivative of HAL’s flagship product Dhruv, the agile LCH boasts of excellent manoeuverability, nap of the earth (NoE) flying capability, air-to-air armament for air defence role, anti-armour capability and operation during day/night under all weather conditions.
“The LCH is designed to meet the operational needs of the IAF and is equipped with mission sensors. Among its multiple roles are attacking slow moving aerial targets, destruction of enemy air defence operations, escort to special heliborne operations and offensive employment in urban warfare counter surface force operations,” HAL chairman and managing director Ashok Nayak said on the occasion.
Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Minister of State for Defence Pallam Raju and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik, who were to be present at the launch ceremony, stayed away as a mark of respect to the 158 passengers who perished in the ill-fated Air-India Express aircraft at Mangalore Saturday.
- India joins elite league of countries with LCH's successful inaugural test run - May 23, 2010
- LCH marks a new era in Indian combat avionics - May 23, 2010
- Technical snag cuts short indigenous chopper's flight - Feb 10, 2011
- India test flies light combat chopper successfully - Mar 30, 2010
- India rushes team to Ecuador to probe Dhruv chopper crash - Oct 30, 2009
- India flies second light combat helicopter prototype (With image) - Jul 25, 2011
- India delivers Cheetah helicopter to Namibia - Feb 09, 2011
- IAF to induct latest Russian military choppers Feb 17 - Feb 06, 2012
- Dhruv choppers grounded after crash - Oct 20, 2011
- Hindustan Aeronautics to help Ecuador probe Dhruv crash - Oct 30, 2009
- HAL chopper lands atop building; pilots safe (Lead) - Apr 13, 2012
- India gives Cheetah helicopter to Namibian Air Force, two Chetaks in pipeline - Feb 10, 2011
- IAF ramps up chopper fleet with new induction (Lead) - Feb 17, 2012
- Chopper business to fly high in India - Mar 09, 2011
- Antony not to attend LCH's maiden flight function in Bengaluru - May 22, 2010
Tags: aerial targets, air armament, air marshal, attack helicopter, breezy conditions, bright sunny day, chief test pilot, combat helicopter, defence establishment, defence operations, defence role, dhruv, flagship product, hari nair, inaugural flight, light combat, light helicopter, select club, stealth features, tandem configuration