Two Light Combat Helicpoters (LCH) have been operating with the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Ladakh for a week, reports Livefist.
Flown in to Ladakh last weekend from Bengaluru, the indigenous combat choppers developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have been doing armed patrol sorties between Leh and other airbases, including forward area in Ladakh.
According to the report, the deployment of the LCH came at the request of the IAF and is a huge show of faith in the indigenous combat chopper that will be inducted in both the IAF and Indian Army, with total orders likely to exceed 150.
On Friday (7 August), IAF's Vice Chief Air Marshal Harjit Singh Arora flew in one of the two LCHs. The helicopter was flown by the Vice Air Chief from Thoise to Leh. He was accompanied by a HAL test pilot and took off from Thoise in full mission configuration.
A full in-flight demonstration of the helicopter’s handling in extreme conditions was also given to the Air Marshal.
The LCH crossed several passes during the flight including Khardung La and Chang La near Leh. The attack helicopter also carried out a simulated attack on a high altitude target.
It should be noted that the IAF had already deployed the Apache AH-64E attack helicopter in Ladakh amid the ongoing stand-off with Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) at LAC.
Besides, the Indian Army's Rudra armed helicopters have also been deployed in the region and have been operating from the forward bases.
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.
