LCH Helicopter (File)
New Delhi. Dozens of new and light combat helicopters will now be included in the Indian Army fleet. Their roar will rip the eardrums of the enemies. Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pandey on Tuesday said the Army is planning to procure around 95 Prachanda Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) and 110 Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) for its fighter air wing. Gen Pandey told on the sidelines of ‘Aero India’ that the Army is looking at inducting the indigenously built LCH for deployment in high altitude areas, as the helicopter has better maneuverability in mountainous areas.
Cheetah and Chetak will retire from the army
General Manoj Pandey told that the army is looking to buy LUH and LCH to replace its aging fleet of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters. He said that one of the weapon systems to be integrated in LCH Prachanda would be Helina missiles and their testing has been successful. During a press conference at the Yelahanka Air Force Complex on the outskirts of Bengaluru, he said, “We are exploring the integration of Helina missile on the aircraft. Developed by state-run aerospace company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the 5.8-tonne twin-engine helicopter is capable of destroying enemy tanks, bunkers, drones and other assets in high altitude areas.
Will dodge enemy’s radar
These new helicopters have the characteristics of evading enemy radar systems, strong armor protection and night attack capability, and are fully capable of operating even in the world’s highest battlefield, Siachen. The Army Chief said that the LCH is very advanced in terms of its mobility. The Defense Acquisition Council (DAC) has already approved the procurement of 40 Helina launchers and missiles. “Its integration on the aircraft is something that we think is important for us to maximize the potential of the anti-tank guided missile,” Gen Pandey said. The Army Chief said that out of the initial five LCHs, the force has already received three. On the LUH, Gen Pandey said, the Army is initially getting six limited series versions of the helicopter. “After this, we are looking at 110 LUH.
Army is also getting equipped with drone jammers and anti-drone techniques
The army chief said the army will go ahead with the procurement plan based on the performance of the initial six helicopters. Our total requirement in this category is around 250 helicopters. Gen Pandey said the Army is expected to receive the first batch of six Apache helicopters from the US early next year, while the rest are likely to be supplied by the end of 2023. Gen Pandey said the focus has also been on anti-drone technologies including drone jammers. “We are looking at a variety of equipment to counter drones.
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