HAL Prachand - Light Combat Helicopter (LCH)

[ObiWanKenobi]

Can anybody confirm if a mast mounted radar solution for LCH is planned or in the works?

 

[Bleh]

Can anybody confirm if a mast mounted radar solution for LCH is planned or in the works?

Very limited information is available regarding LCH status... But given how much fewer number we bought Apaches (like an experience building pilot project), it is likely LCH will get it eventually.

 

[Holy Triad]

LCH cockpit.

 

[HariPrasad-1]

LCH cockpit.

Looks highly functional and well ergonomically designed.

 

[Bleh]

I still don't get at all how these thing plans to operate with unguided rockets instead of ATGMs. What good are those?
In videos it looks very much like direct line of sight, spray & pray volley on single static target. How do they even am if those launcher ports are fixed?.. Wouldn't the HMD aimed auto-canon be much more accurate?

Seems a bit outdated for today's conventional battlefield with MANPADS & 20mm on every APC.

 

[patriots]

Very limited information is available regarding LCH status... But given how much fewer number we bought Apaches (like an experience building pilot project), it is likely LCH will get it eventually.

Last time it was reported that iaf wants to have mast mo

I still don't get at all how these thing plans to operate with unguided rockets instead of ATGMs. What good are those?
In videos it looks very much like direct line of sight, spray & pray volley on single static target. How do they even am if those launcher ports are fixed?.. Wouldn't the HMD aimed auto-canon be much more accurate?

Seems a bit outdated for today's conventional battlefield with MANPADS & 20mm on every APC.

If report to be believed
Helina , sant and dhruvstra user trials will happen this year
Last report from a forum member was helina lobl was tested ,not local
And we know nag has only lobl mode

 

[Bleh]

Helina , sant and dhruvstra user trials will happen this year

That's ok. But can you (or anyone you know) have answers for the questions I asked about the unguided rockets?.. I read one attempt by US to make the laser guided by attaching guidance modules, to increase accuracy manyfold.

 

[patriots]

That's ok. But can you (or anyone you know) have answers for the questions I asked about the unguided rockets?.. I read one attempt by US to make the laser guided by attaching guidance modules, to increase accuracy manyfold.

You are referring to this

Hydra-70 system development

The original Mk 4/Mk 40 FFAR was developed by the Naval Ordnance Test Station as an air-to-air weapon. It was later modified for air-to-ground use.

The Hydra-70 lacks precision when compared to other guided missile systems, such as the Hellfire II. The Hydra-70, however, is less expensive. The US Army initially planned to reduce the production of the systems, but revised its decision considering their cost-efficiency.

Efforts are ongoing to improve the overall accuracy of the Hydra-70 rocket system. The system is being tested to include a laser guided system, such as the Hellfire II, to improve its performance.

 

[patriots]

You are referring to this

Hydra-70 system development

The original Mk 4/Mk 40 FFAR was developed by the Naval Ordnance Test Station as an air-to-air weapon. It was later modified for air-to-ground use.

The Hydra-70 lacks precision when compared to other guided missile systems, such as the Hellfire II. The Hydra-70, however, is less expensive. The US Army initially planned to reduce the production of the systems, but revised its decision considering their cost-efficiency.

Efforts are ongoing to improve the overall accuracy of the Hydra-70 rocket system. The system is being tested to include a laser guided system, such as the Hellfire II, to improve its performance.

And here is your answer

From today report

US DoD buys USD3.4 billion worth of Hydra 70 rockets

The US Department of Defense (DoD) has contracted General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (OTS) to manufacture USD3.42 billion worth of Hydra 70 rockets.

www.janes.com

US DoD buys USD3.4 billion worth of Hydra 70 rockets
by Import Feeder Jun 3, 2020, 11:19 AM

The US Department of Defense (DoD) has contracted General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (OTS) to manufacture USD3.42 billion worth of Hydra 70 rockets.

The US Department of Defense (DoD) has contracted General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (OTS) to manufacture USD3.42 billion worth of Hydra 70 rockets.

An Apache helicopter launching a Hydra 70 rocket. This weapon can be used as either an unguided air-to-surface munition or with the APKWS kit as a laser-guided munition.
An Apache helicopter launching a Hydra 70 rocket. This weapon can be used as either an unguided air-to-surface munition or with the APKWS kit as a laser-guided munition.

The US Army Contracting Command award, announced by the DoD on 29 May, covers production and engineering services of the 70 mm rockets, and will run through to 30 September 2026. The DoD did not disclose the numbers of rockets being acquired.

The Hydra 70 is an unguided air-to-surface rocket that has been in service with the United States and international operators since the mid-1960s. The rockets fire from seven and 19-tube launchers and can be mounted on most rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft including the Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopter and Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon multirole combat aircraft.

While the baseline Hydra 70 is an unguided rocket, it can be converted into a laser-guided munition with the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) conversion kit developed by BAE Systems.

As the APKWS system is a development of existing hardware it does not require any platform integration and little in the way of additional air- and ground-crew training. The mid-body design of its guidance section enables the use of existing warheads, fuzes, and rocket motors, dramatically enhancing the capability of the hundreds of thousands of Hydra 70 rockets in the DoD inventory.

The APKWS has demonstrated an average hit accuracy of within 0.75 m of a designating laser spot (against a government specification of 2 m).

 

[Coalmine]

Orders in July a per Defence decode YT channel

 

[Bleh]

Orders in July a per Defence decode YT channel

Full video posted by @porky_kicker.

 

[patriots]

Defence decode is a knowledgeable guy...
But he hasn't. Any source....
So get info from osint

 

[patriots]

Bdw a quad luncher for atgm is in development for lch..
And lch can carry upto@16 atgms.....
And with current dual helina luncher upto 8

 

[Bleh]

Bdw a quad luncher for atgm is in development for lch..
And lch can carry upto@16 atgms.....
And with current dual helina luncher upto 8

Great news!.. Now all they need to do is free up those hardpoints by moving the Mistrals to wingtip like Bel SuperCobra.

...And a 30mm cannon (only 45kg to 120kg gun weight increase) ...And laser-guided rockets.

 

[Emperor Kalki]

Bdw a quad luncher for atgm is in development for lch..
And lch can carry upto@16 atgms.....
And with current dual helina luncher upto 8

Any source..?

 

[Rohan Naik]

Great news!.. Now all they need to do is free up those hardpoints by moving the Mistrals to wingtip like Bel SuperCobra. View attachment 49534
...And a 30mm cannon (only 45kg to 120kg gun weight increase) ...And laser-guided rockets.

Why do foreign stuff look futuristic compared to ours.?

 

[Emperor Kalki]

Why do foreign stuff look futuristic compared to ours.?

Well it must be something with your eyes.....

 

[Suryavanshi]

Why do foreign stuff look futuristic compared to ours.?

What's not so futuristic about this.

- Infrared Heat Distribution
-Particle separator
- Light Composite Chasis
-Fire control Radar
-MAWS
-Flare Dispenser

 

[Bleh]

Why do foreign stuff look futuristic compared to ours.?

Well it must be something with your eyes.....

What's not so futuristic about this?

Indeed... Or is it the lighting?

...or the angle?

Or *sniff* their abandonment of that camo scheme?


Seriously though. From LUH thread.
Don't yall think the Nexter 20mm (45kg) should be replaced in favour of 30mm (100-125kg). Ideally exchangeable?

 

[Suryavanshi]

At the end of the day it is only likely that US developed system will be miles ahead of Indian. The Bell Cobra fighter helicopter series has over 13 variants and has served for over 5 decades.
U can say that the helicopter has maxxed out on it's capability.