News Highlight
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to formally raise its first unit of indigenous Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) in Jodhpur in the first week of October.
Key Takeaways
- Ten LCHs will be inducted in the first batch completing one unit, a defence official said.
- The IAF operates the older Russian Mi-25 and Mi-35 attack helicopters, of which one squadron has been phased out following the induction of 22 Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.
- The Army had already raised its first LCH squadron in Bangalore on June 1, 2022.
- The Army plans to acquire 95 LCHs, of which seven units, each with ten helicopters, are designed to be deployed for combat in the mountains.
Light Combat Helicopters (LCHs)
- The HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) is a multi-role attack helicopter designed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
- The LCH incorporates advanced technologies and stealth features for influential combat roles and is designed to carry out functions such as destruction of enemy air defence, search and rescue, Counter Surface Force Operations etc.
- The LCH is the only attack helicopter in the world that can take off and land at an altitude of 5,000 meters with a significant amount of weapons and fuel.
- It is also effective in temperatures ranging from minus 50 degrees Celsius in the mountains to 50 degrees Celsius in the desert.
- The significant features of LCH are:
- 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 km.
- Armed with air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, LCH also has a 20 mm gun and 70 mm rockets.
Content Source: The Hindu