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

News Brief

Light Combat Helicopter Deployed Near China Border As Army Moves First Squadron To Northeast Base 250 Km From LAC

Swarajya StaffSaturday, November 19, 2022 12:07 pm IST
A Light Combat Helicopter of the Indian Army.
A Light Combat Helicopter of the Indian Army.
A Light Combat Helicopter of the Indian Army.

The Indian Army has moved its first squadron of Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) to the Northeast sector this month.

While the IAF inducted its first LCHs at Jodhpur on 3 October this year, the Indian Army had quietly raised its first unit of the made-in-India attack helicopter — 351 Army Aviation Squadron — at Bengaluru in June.

The squadron is now deployed at Missamari in Assam, not far from the Air Force Station in Tezpur, which hosts Su-30 MKI fighters of the IAF.

“Two helicopters have moved there on 1 November. The third helicopter will move by November-end and fourth by mid-December. Army will receive the 5 th LCH by January-end. The squadron will be fully operational by then,” The Hindu quoted an unnamed source as saying.

The Army had raised a new aviation brigade at Missamari in March 2021, in the middle of a tense military standoff with China in eastern Ladakh and heightened tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The new brigade has three squadrons equipped with Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH), Cheetah helos and Heron drones. It also has the weaponised version of the ALH, called Rudra.

Missamari is located at an aerial distance of 250 km from the LAC.

Over the next few years, the Army plans to induct 95 LCHs. Out of these, seven units of LCH, each with ten helicopters, will be deployed in the mountainous areas, including the LAC with China.

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.

Equipped with HAL's new-generation Shakti engine, co-developed with French engine-maker Safran, the 5.8-tonne helo has been designed to operate at an altitude of up to 20,000 feet.

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 (mm) bullets each minute. It also carries 70-mm rockets on pods on either side.

The helicopter can also be armed with air-to-air missiles to target slow-moving aircraft and anti-armour missiles to destroy tanks. However, it currently lacks these weapons. While the anti-tank guided missiles will be available by mid-2023, air-to-air missiles are yet to be ordered.

European missile-maker MBDA's Mistral air-to-air missile has been test-fired from the helicopter, 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.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the limited series production version of the LCH has around 45 per cent indigenous content by value.

In the series production version, indigenous content will be progressively increased to more than 55 per cent of the total value.

Tags
Indian Army
Northeast
Line Of Actual Control (LAC)
Light Combat Helicopter
LCH
Missamari

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

    Exit Poll: Close Contest In Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram; Axis-My India Prediction Outlier For Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh

    Exit Poll: Close Contest In Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram; Axis-My India Prediction Outlier For Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh

    Nishtha Anushree
    15h

    Madhya Pradesh: Axis-My India Predicts Huge Victory For BJP As Other Exit Polls Suggest Close Contest With Congress

    Swarajya Staff
    15h

    Rajasthan Exit Poll: Axis-My India Predicts More Seats For Congress, Contrary To Other Surveys Giving Majority To BJP

    Nishtha Anushree
    16h

    Economy

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

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

    Nayan Dwivedi
    17h

    India's Fiscal Deficit Stood At Rs 8.037 Lakh Crore In First Seven Months Of Fiscal Year

    Swarajya News Staff
    17h

    India's Oil Imports From Russia Surge In November, Rebounding From Maintenance Slump: Kpler And Vortex Data

    Bhuvan Krishna
    17h

    Defence

    J&K: Security Forces Gun Down Terrorist In Pulwama Encounter; Search Operation Continues

    J&K: Security Forces Gun Down Terrorist In Pulwama Encounter; Search Operation Continues

    Swarajya Staff
    2h

    In One Of The Largest-Ever Deals, Defence Ministry Clears Purchase Of 97 Tejas Fighters And 156 Prachand Combat Helicopters For IAF

    Ujjwal Shrotryia
    18h

    As India Mulls Renaming IAF To 'Air And Space Force,' Tata Forays Into Manufacturing High-Resolution Military Satellites

    Ujjwal Shrotryia
    21h

    World

    'Good And Appropriate, Look Forward To Seeing Results': Blinken On India's Probe Into Alleged Plot To Kill Khalistani Terrorist Pannun

    'Good And Appropriate, Look Forward To Seeing Results': Blinken On India's Probe Into Alleged Plot To Kill Khalistani Terrorist Pannun

    Swarajya Staff
    16m

    'Creating A Better Planet': PM Modi In Dubai To Attend World Climate Action Summit

    Swarajya Staff
    2h

    COP28: Wealthy Nations Launch 'Loss And Damage' Fund To Help Vulnerable Countries Cope With Natural Disasters

    Nishtha Anushree
    16h

    Culture

    Kashi Tamil Sangamam 2023 To Be Held From 17 December To 30 December, Registration Portal Launched By IIT Madras

    Kashi Tamil Sangamam 2023 To Be Held From 17 December To 30 December, Registration Portal Launched By IIT Madras

    S Rajesh
    2d

    M P N Ponnusamy: A Nagaswara Legend Passes Away Almost Unsung

    K Balakumar
    3d

    Streamlined Repatriation: India-US Deal To Fast-Track Return Of Stolen Antiquities

    Swarajya Staff
    4d
    States

    infrastructure


    V Bhagya Subhashini
    1

    Bengaluru's Future Mobility: Namma Metro Chief Proposes Singapore Model For Tackling Traffic Congestion

    3 Mins Read
    Swarajya Staff
    2

    Indian Railways Receives International Interests For Exports Of Vande Bharat Locomotives

    2 Mins Read
    Swarajya Staff
    3

    Maharashtra: Government Approves Rs 221 Crore Transformation Of Karad Airstrip Into A Full-Fledged Airport Facility

    2 Mins Read
    V Bhagya Subhashini
    4

    India's Ambitious Clean Energy Drive: 13 Hydroelectric Projects In Arunachal Pradesh Set To Add 13,000 MW To National Grid

    2 Mins Read