HAL Prachand - Light Combat Helicopter (LCH)

Bleh

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Obviously, this won't be a fully-autonomous drone; more like a rotary version of the Predator drone. The drone pilot will still fly the unmanned gunship remotely.
Easily jammed & cut-off, can even be hijacked & taken over if Chinese tech is capable enough.
Swarm drone & loitering-munitions protect against these by being in high numbers. Large attack drones in low numbers aren't used in conventional wars for that reason.

Even decades later we're likely to have only unmanned-wingman type AI run helper drones.
 

Tshering22

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Easily jammed & cut-off, can even be hijacked & taken over if Chinese tech is capable enough.
Swarm drone & loitering-munitions protect against these by being in high numbers. Large attack drones in low numbers aren't used in conventional wars for that reason.

Even decades later we're likely to have only unmanned-wingman type AI run helper drones.
Then the only option for India at this point is to expedite priority delivery of LCHs fast. 22 Apaches were delivered in a matter of 4-5 years. That was made possible because US has an assembly line & BD managers getting more and more sales from overseas.

LCH is one of the very few gunships that can operate in something as hostile as the Himalayas. This itself can be a good marketing tool. If China can sell untested weapons platforms in thousands, I don't see how we can't find customers.
 

shade

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Then the only option for India at this point is to expedite priority delivery of LCHs fast. 22 Apaches were delivered in a matter of 4-5 years. That was made possible because US has an assembly line & BD managers getting more and more sales from overseas.

LCH is one of the very few gunships that can operate in something as hostile as the Himalayas. This itself can be a good marketing tool. If China can sell untested weapons platforms in thousands, I don't see how we can't find customers.
You need to do chai-paani for the decision makers in the customer country to make a sale/deal.
Here they aren't serious so they go to do sales/deals the "straight way", without gifts of phoren trips, cash and nice randiyas.

A half-assed "chalta hai" attitude results in none of our domestic platforms being "ready" and none of these platforms being exported.
 

Dessert Storm

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You need to do chai-paani for the decision makers in the customer country to make a sale/deal.
Here they aren't serious so they go to do sales/deals the "straight way", without gifts of phoren trips, cash and nice randiyas.

A half-assed "chalta hai" attitude results in none of our domestic platforms being "ready" and none of these platforms being exported.
G2G is the way to go for selling weapons/platforms. Otherwise there is a high risk of corruption allegations sinking the endeavour.
 

Dessert Storm

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Actually No. It was DRDO who pioneered the rotary drones in India with Chetan.

After a decade delay, now a prototype is out for that.
Chetan is a RUAV derivative of Chetak by IAI-HAL. Prototype was ready in end 2019.
 

FalconSlayers

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Is the KAMOV-226T helicopter on order?
 

shade

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Is the KAMOV-226T helicopter on order?


The last TOI article is from Sep 29 2020.
Contract not signed yet.
Fiddling over ToT and price continues
 

FalconSlayers

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The last TOI article is from Sep 29 2020.
Contract not signed yet.
Fiddling over ToT and price continues
Wikipedia says order given for KA226T and LCH both. Lmao.
 

Defcon 1

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Then the only option for India at this point is to expedite priority delivery of LCHs fast. 22 Apaches were delivered in a matter of 4-5 years. That was made possible because US has an assembly line & BD managers getting more and more sales from overseas.

LCH is one of the very few gunships that can operate in something as hostile as the Himalayas. This itself can be a good marketing tool. If China can sell untested weapons platforms in thousands, I don't see how we can't find customers.
Maybe because Equador returned the helis that they bought from us?
LCH maybe a great heli, but there is no point of ordering it till it gets an ATGM, considering the fact that there are already 70 Rudras inducted which are flying without weapons.
 

AZTEC

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What will be the name of LCH after नामकरण (naming ceremony)?
Any guesses?

My guess: LCH will be named "Manyu".
Logic: "Manyu" and "Rudra" are related; both of them are Rig-vedic gods.

Nevertheless, take this with a pinch of salt.
 

FalconSlayers

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What will be the name of LCH after नामकरण (naming ceremony)?
Any guesses?

My guess: LCH will be named "Manyu".
Logic: "Manyu" and "Rudra" are related; both of them are Rig-vedic gods.

Nevertheless, take this with a pinch of salt.
Maybe 🤔
 

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