Bipin Rawat flies HAL's Light Combat Helicopter, affirms its ideal for army


From Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Feb 21: Indian army chief general Bipin Rawat flew the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) during the ongoing Aero India at Air Force Station, Yelahanka, in Bengaluru on Thursday, February 21. The helicopter was piloted by WgCdr S John, HAL’s test pilot.

Terming the sortie in LCH as an experience of life time, Gen Rawat said it is suitable for the Army to take on adversaries in any terrain and different altitudes.

R Madhavan, CMD, HAL, G V S Bhaskar, CEO (Helicopter Complex), WgCdr, Unni Pillai, HAL’s chief test pilot (Rotary Wing) and other senior officials from Army had a briefing session before the sortie.

LCH is a 5.5-ton class, combat helicopter designed and developed by HAL.

The LCH is powered by two Shakti engines and inherits many technical features of the Advanced Light Helicopter.

The features that are unique to LCH are sleek and narrow fuselage, tri-cycle crashworthy landing gear, crashworthy and self-sealing fuel tanks, armor protection and low visibility features which makes it agile and survivable.

The helicopter would have day/night targeting systems for the crew including the Helmet pointed sight and Electro-optical pod consisting of CCD camera/FLIR/Laser Range Finder(LRF)/Laser Designator(LD).

The LCH is fitted with Self Protection Suite consisting of Radar/Laser Missile warning systems and Countermeasures dispensing system.

LCH received Initial Operation Clearance (IOC) on August 26, 2017, in the presence of the Defence Minister.

LCH has the distinction of being the first attack helicopter to land in Forward Bases at Siachen, 4700 mts above sea level. RFQ for 15 Limited Series Production (LSP) was received on December 22, 2017, and quotation has been submitted on March 15, 2018.

  

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Comment on this article

  • SmR, Karkala

    Thu, Feb 21 2019

    Minister of State for External Affairs General VK Singh last week commented that HAL is running late by three-and-a-half years... parts of aircraft are falling off on the runway. Is this capability?

    While HAL was to produce 108 fighter jets locally in a joint venture with French firm Dassault Aviation in the deal for 126 Rafale jets that the previous UPA regime had negotiated.

    Prime Minister Modi government said Supre Court that Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) lost on the deal because it quoted 2.57 times more man-hours to build fighter jets. HAL is established during the time Mysore Wadyer and served the nation for 80 years is ignored in favor of newly formed defense venture formed 15 days with 'Zero experience'. Moreover, the company has no infrastructure, no manpower and no official web portal filed insolvency in court for non-payment of due with one lakh crores debt to settle.
    While Pakistan is building third generation fighters better than American F-16 and Combat drones, corruption in Rafale Jet has delayed India's preparedness.
    I appreciate Indian army chief general Bipin Rawat for proving the capability of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and saving the pride of the nation.

    Jai Hind

    DisAgree [1] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Charles D'Mello, Pangala

    Thu, Feb 21 2019

    Army chief says LCH is good for army. But HAL will never get a contract to supply them to the Army, because of our crooked politicians....!!!!!???? If the contract is given to HAL, they can not get any kickbacks. If the public money goes into drain it does not matter them.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Thu, Feb 21 2019

    India should have manufactured Rafael in HAL.
    Now we are simply paying Rs. 30,000 Crores as Commission to some Middleman ...

    DisAgree [9] Agree [30] Reply Report Abuse


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