The locally designed and manufactured Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) was inducted into active service by the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Rajnath Singh, India’s defense minister, yesterday presided over the formal induction ceremony of the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), at the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Jodhpur.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Rajnath Singh remarked that the introduction of the LCH, with its tremendous power and versatility, not only enhances the IAF’s combat capabilities, but is also a major step towards self-sufficiency in defense production, a policy promoted by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
HAL takes immense pride that indigenously designed and developed LCH (Prachand) is inducted into the IAF by the Defence Minister, Mr Rajnath Singh at a ceremony in Jodhpur. The Company thanks all its stakeholders, designers and valued customers in this successful journey. pic.twitter.com/GptCKrsAnf
— HAL (@HALHQBLR) October 4, 2022
The confidence reposed in and support given by the IAF to indigenous design and development is evident through examples such as the Marut, the first Indian production fighter aircraft, the Akash missile system, the LUH advanced light utility helicopter and the LCH light combat helicopter. “The induction of the LCH underlines the fact that just as the country has confidence in the Indian Air Force, the IAF has equal confidence in national equipment,” he added.
See also: India: first firm order for the indigenous Light Combat Helicopter (LCH)
Made in India
As reported by the Indian Ministry of Defense press release, the LCH is the first multi-role combat helicopter designed and manufactured by HAL.
Designed from the teachings left by the 1999 Kargil war and lessons learned from the ongoing war in Ukraine, the LHC possesses modern stealth features, robust armor protection and formidable night strike capability.
The advanced on-board navigation system, close combat adapted guns and powerful air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles make the LCH particularly suited for the modern battlefield. Capable of operating from high-altitude terrain and conducting precision strikes against high-altitude targets, the helicopter is a formidable addition to the IAF’s arsenal.
Introduced in the newly created Helicopter Unit No. 143 of the IAF, the LHC is a testament to India’s growing prowess in indigenous design, development and manufacture and an important milestone on the road to self-sufficiency in Defense.
