Swarajya Logo
Swarajya Logo
Politics States Economy Society Business Culture Infra Defence World Books Ideas Science Technology Heritage Archives Legal Movies Sports
  • Our Views
    Politics States Economy Society Business Culture Infra Defence World Books Ideas Science Technology Heritage Archives Legal Movies Sports
  • Magazine
  • Store

About Swarajya

Swarajya is a publication by Kovai Media Private Limited.

Swarajya - a big tent for liberal right of centre discourse that reaches out, engages and caters to the new India.

editor@swarajyamag.com

Useful Links

  • About Us
  • Subscriptions Support
  • Editorial Philosophy
  • Press Kit
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism Policy
  • Refund & Cancellation Policy

Useful Links

  • About Us
  • Subscriptions Support
  • Editorial Philosophy
  • Press Kit
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism Policy
  • Refund & Cancellation Policy

Participate

  • Contact Us
  • Write for us
  • Style Guide
  • Jobs

Stay Connected

  • Artboard 2 Copy 6Created with Sketch.
    Artboard 2 Copy 10Created with Sketch.
    Artboard 2 Copy 7Created with Sketch.
    Artboard 2 Copy 9Created with Sketch.
  • Andriod Logo
  • IOS Logo

Defence

IAF To Induct Light Combat Helicopter On 3 October After Army Quietly Raised First Unit In June

Swarajya StaffSaturday, September 17, 2022 3:49 pm IST
A light combat helicopter.
A light combat helicopter.
A light combat helicopter.
  • In March, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved the purchase of 15 LCHs for the IAF and Indian Army.
  • As per report, on 1 June, the Indian Army raised the first squadron of the LCH at Bengaluru.
  • The Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), India's first indigenous dedicated attack helicopter, will be inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) formally at the Jodhpur Air Force Station on 3 October.

    The Cabinet Committee on Security, the highest decision-making body on national security affairs, approved the purchase of 15 LCHs for the Indian Army and the IAF in March this year. Ten of these helos will be operated by the IAF and the remaining five by the Indian Army.

    At least nine of the 15 helicopters have been manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and are being handed over to the IAF and Indian Army, a report said in July this year.

    The LCH comes armed with a cannon, which is mounted below its nose. It is capable of piercing light armour with a thousand 20-millimetre bullets each minute. It also carries 70-millimetre rockets on pods on either side.

    It can also be armed with air-to-air missiles to target slow-moving aircraft and anti-armour missiles to destroy tanks and armoured personnel carriers.

    MBDA's Mistral air-to-air missile has been test-fired from the LCH, and the HAL has procured and integrated Mistral-specific launchers on the platform.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially handed over the helicopter to the IAF in Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi on 19 November last year.

    Indian Army Raised First LCH Squadron In June

    The Indian Army quietly raised the first squadron of the LCH at Bengaluru on 1 June this year. According to a news report, the squadron will be moved to the Eastern Command, which is responsible for India's borders in the east, including the frontier with Tibet in Sikkim and Arunachal.

    The report adds that the Indian Army plans to have seven units of LCH, each with ten helicopters. These units will be raised for deployment in the mountainous areas, including India's frontiers in the Himalayas.

    The helicopter has been built to meet the requirements of the Indian military in high-altitude areas in Kashmir, Ladakh and Arunachal.

    It has demonstrated its capability of operating in high-altitude conditions during trials not only in Ladakh but also on the Siachen Glacier, often referred to as the 'world's highest battlefield'.

    Two LCHs were deployed in Ladakh in August 2020 amid the standoff with China along the Line of Actual Control.

    Equipped with HAL's new-generation Shakti engine, co-developed with French engine-maker Safran, the 5.5-tonne helo has been designed to operate at an altitude of up to 20,000 feet.

    "During the Kargil War of 1999, there was a need felt for armed attack helicopters capable of operating at high altitude. That's where the LCH fits in," former Indian Air Force chief Fali Homi Major, the only helicopter pilot to become Chief of Air Staff, wrote recently.

    The Army is looking at acquiring 95 LCHs, the report adds.

    Also Read: Explained: Significance Of Indian Air Force’s New Uttam Radar

    Tags
    Indian Army
    Indian Air Force
    Jodhpur
    Air force station
    Light Combat Helicopter
    HAL LCH
    Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)

    Comments ↓

    An Appeal...


     

    Dear Reader,

     

    As you are no doubt aware, Swarajya is a media product that is directly dependent on support from its readers in the form of subscriptions. We do not have the muscle and backing of a large media conglomerate nor are we playing for the large advertisement sweep-stake.

     

    Our business model is you and your subscription.  And in challenging times like these, we need your support now more than ever.

     

    We deliver over 10 - 15 high quality articles with expert insights and views. From 7AM in the morning to 10PM late night we operate to ensure you, the reader, get to see what is just right.

     

    Becoming a Patron or a subscriber for as little as Rs 1200/year is the best way you can support our efforts.

    Get Swarajya in your inbox.


    Magazine


    Swarajya Magazine Cover Image
    Merchandise

    Merchandise


      Politics

      Counting Day: Four Reasons Why You Should Be Tracking Rajasthan

      Counting Day: Four Reasons Why You Should Be Tracking Rajasthan

      Swarajya Staff
      3m

      Assembly Elections Results: Counting Of Votes For MP, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh And Telangana Set To Begin

      Swarajya Staff
      21m

      Five Questions That Will Matter When It Comes To Telangana Poll Numbers 

      Swarajya Staff
      1h

      Economy

      Textile Industry In Tamil Nadu Affected By Increased Competitiveness Of Other States; High Cost Of Power And Labour Among Reasons: Report

      Textile Industry In Tamil Nadu Affected By Increased Competitiveness Of Other States; High Cost Of Power And Labour Among Reasons: Report

      Swarajya Staff
      16h

      Sorry, Cassandras. India's GDP Could Well Top 7 Per Cent In Fiscal 2023-24

      R Jagannathan
      2d

      India's GDP Grows 7.6 Per Cent In July-September Quarter

      Nayan Dwivedi
      3d

      Defence

      India To Secure Entire Pakistan And Bangladesh Borders In Next Two Years: Home Minister Amit Shah On BSF Day

      India To Secure Entire Pakistan And Bangladesh Borders In Next Two Years: Home Minister Amit Shah On BSF Day

      Nayan Dwivedi
      2d

      Indian Navy Makes History By Appointing First Female 'Commanding Officer' Of A Naval Ship

      Swarajya Staff
      2d

      Centre Putting All-Out Efforts To Bring Them Back: Indian Navy Chief On Veterans Sentenced To Death In Qatar

      Swarajya Staff
      2d

      World

      Hamas Leader, Who Virtually Addressed A Pro-Palestine Rally In Kerala In October, On Israeli Spy Agency's 'Kill List': Report

      Hamas Leader, Who Virtually Addressed A Pro-Palestine Rally In Kerala In October, On Israeli Spy Agency's 'Kill List': Report

      Swarajya Staff
      16h

      New Zealand: Three Khalistani Extremists Sentenced For Attempted Murder Of Radio Host Harnek Singh

      Swarajya Staff
      18h

      Brazilian City Council Unknowingly Enacts First AI-Written Ordinance

      Swarajya Staff
      20h

      Culture

      'Animal': Sandeep Reddy Vanga 2 – Liberals 0

      'Animal': Sandeep Reddy Vanga 2 – Liberals 0

      K Balakumar
      13h

      Why The Insidious Anti-Hindu Communalism Of Certain Directors Goes Scot-Free

      Anonymous Contributor
      19h

      Napoleon Film Review: Ridley Scott’s Waterloo

      Venu Gopal Narayanan
      20h
      States

      infrastructure


      Arun Kumar Das
      1

      Government Propels National Green Hydrogen Mission With Kochi Workshop

      2 Mins Read
      Arun Kumar Das
      2

      Railways Achieves 1015.6 Million Tonnes Freight Loading Between April-November 2023

      1 Mins Read
      V Bhagya Subhashini
      3

      Bengaluru Airport: BIAL Reveals Comprehensive Master Plan For T1 Upgrade And T3 Construction By 2030

      2 Mins Read
      Amit Mishra
      4

      Noida Proposes To Build 35 Km Elevated Road Along The Yamuna To Ease Travel To Greater Noida

      2 Mins Read