HAL Prachand - Light Combat Helicopter (LCH)

[Indx TechStyle]

Courtesy: Thai Military and Asian Region

 

[Shaitan]

A lot of footage of TD4

 

[Indx TechStyle]

HAL’s Light Combat Helicopter catches eye of Africa’s countries: 5 special facts about the made-in-India LCH

HAL’s LCH is a 5.5-tonne class combat helicopter. The helicopter is designed to carry out dedicated combat roles such as air defence. (HAL Photo)

HAL’s Light Combat Helicopter, an indigenous chopper that is being developed to cater to combat needs of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Army, has now caught the eye of African countries. According to a PTI report, India is in talks with “certain” countries in Africa for possible export of the LCH.

The interest is a shot in the arm for Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to scale up India’s defence exports. LCH is a 5.5-tonne class combat helicopter designed and developed by HAL. While the Army has placed an order for 114 with state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the IAF has ordered 65. The helicopter is designed to carry out dedicated combat roles such as air defence, anti-tank, scout and support combat search /rescue missions.

We take a look at the salient features, combat power & trials’ status of the made-in-India combat chopper that has export potential:

Features: The LCH’s features include sleek and narrow fuselage, tri-cycle crash worthy landing gear, crash worthy and self-sealing fuel tanks, armour protection, nuclear and low visibility. These, claims HAL, make the LCH lethal, agile and survivable.

LCH during its cold weather trials. (HAL Photo)

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

Weapons trials: The weapons trial of the LCH is planned in July-August this year. Recently it achieved the milestone of firing of rockets (70 mm) from its prototype, TD-3 in weaponized configuration.

LCH fires rockets in weaponized configuration. (HAL Photo)

Scaling heights: Designed for anti-tank and anti-infantry roles with a maximum speed of 275 kilometers per hour, the LCH is also capable of high-altitude warfare since its operational ceiling will be 16,000 to 18,000 feet.

LCH during hot and high altitude trials. (HAL Photo)

The combat helicopter has already completed hot & cold weather along with altitude flight trials.

Shield & combat power: 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).

LCH during its cold weather trials. (HAL Photo)

The LCH is fitted with self protection suite consisting of radar/laser missile warning systems and Counter Measures Dispensing System (CMDS).

Development history: The first prototype helicopter had its inaugural flight on Mar 23, 2010. The second and third prototype had their first flight on June 28, 2011 and November 12, 2014. LCH TD4 completed its maiden flight on December 1, 2015. LCH has completed performance trials paving way for certification of basic configuration and a letter to this effect was handed over to HAL by CEMILAC in the presence of Defence Minister on October 16, 2015.

LCH during its hot weather trials. (HAL Photo)
TAGS: DefenceHindustan Aeronautics LimitedLight Combat Helicopter (LCH)

 

[psri]

go through the link to get the latest info about lch

 

[psri]

LCH (Light Combat Helicopter) is India’s first indigenous light combat helicopter developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). LCH is built at the HAL facility in Bangalore.

The LCH is derived from the ALH (also known as Dhruv) and will carry the same weapons package now being qualified on board the armed Dhruv.

LCH to be armed with different types of weapons (among other guns, different types of missiles and rockets 70mm) is in service with the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Army (IA) since the end of 2011.

The LCH program has been started in 2003 to meet the operational requirements of both the air force and the army for close air support and anti-infantry and anti-armour role.

LCH is also equipped with a laser designator which makes this platform suitable for firing FZ SAL-Laser guided Rocket FZ275 LGR.

LCH armaments is equipped with four stub-wing mounted Forges de Zeebrugge built rocket launcher FZ231 carrying 70mm (2.75“) rockets.

70 mm rocket system
Versatile 70 mm unguided rocket system (change of rocket type without change of any fixed part on helicopter).

• Rocket launcher :
  • max. 4 x 12-tube rocket launchers (FZ231)
• Firing control system : BHIR for :
  • rocket inner pods elevation,
  • programming of time setting fuze for firing of rocket with subprojectile warheads (FZ122 or FZ149)
  • rocket types (mixed loading with different warheads)
• Rockets :
  • FZ90 rocket motor with different warheads
  • Growth potential for laser guided rocket (FZ275 LGR)

 

[rotormagic]

Can you expand a bit on this? what are the kind of advantages in countermeasures that we have made and what are the counter-countermeasures that the enemy now has?

SAM or MANPAD threat are primarily based on thermal / IR sources. Helicopters use CMDS of Chaffs and Flares to confuse these missiles provided a threat is detected. MAWS and DIRCM are being fitted / planned to be fitted though they are not available fleet wide. CMDS proliferation is higher. Also, Engine Eflux reduction systems like those fitted on Mi 17 IVs and later etc have been procured to reduce chances of thermal lock of MANPADS. Finally, armour plates to further enhance survivability.

I am not aware (or completely informed) if our own development efforts on these fronts have borne fruit. A lot of new technology for giving our crew better battlefield Situational Awareness with network centric solutions are being tried. HMDS, FLIR and thermal imaging solutions along with new solutions like the Longbow radar in the Apache will both help in detecting threats earlier countering them thus increasing survivability.

The enemy on both sides are using Chinese systems including radars, SAMs and MANPADS. Pakistan also has other sources. The latest Pakistani induction which I have heard about is FM-90 air defence missile system.

http://defence-blog.com/news/pakistan-successfully-test-fm-90-air-defense-missile-system.html

All weather, surface to air missile FM-90, with a capability to engage aerial target, including cruise missiles, drones and air-to-surface guided missiles can operate under adverse electronic counter measures (ECM) environments.

The FM-90 missile system has the ability to engage multiple types of target at one time. The system enhances Pakistan’s air defence capability both in range and accuracy.

This is from 2015. If I am not wrong it is the HQ 7A Chinese system. Some wiki details on HQ7A

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HQ-7

HQ-7A (FM-90)
In 1998, the China National Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CNPMIEC) produced an improved HQ-7 with faster and longer-range missiles, with an IR-tracking camera. This version received the export designation FM-90.

Apart from that PAF has Spada 2000 system purchased in 2007 plus other stuff like radars and other missile systems.

 

[tejas warrior]

Sources: HAL's Light Utility Helicopter expected to make its first flight shortly. https://t.co/ERHaydYaX6

 

[Narasimh]

Sources: HAL's Light Utility Helicopter expected to make its first flight shortly. https://t.co/ERHaydYaX6

View attachment 8887

Is this a pic of the mock up?.. I thought the original thing will be less bulkier than what it seems in mock up.

 

[Shaitan]

Is this a pic of the mock up?.. I thought the original thing will be less bulkier than what it seems in mock up.

It is.:blah::blah:

 

[V_Force]

TD - 4 -
EAGERLY WAITING TO SEE LCH IN SERVICE OF ARMED FORCES AND IN FINAL COLOR CONFIGURATION.

 

[Bravado]

Anybody got any idea about the timing of Final Operational Clearance of LCH? hot and cold tests are done, i guess all weapon firing test are also done, so any guess how long we have to wait for start of production.

 

[tejas warrior]

Anybody got any idea about the timing of Final Operational Clearance of LCH? hot and cold tests are done, i guess all weapon firing test are also done, so any guess how long we have to wait for start of production.

Weapons Firing test are not done yet.

 

[tejas warrior]

Anybody got any idea about the timing of Final Operational Clearance of LCH? hot and cold tests are done, i guess all weapon firing test are also done, so any guess how long we have to wait for start of production.

India to Conduct LCH Weapons TrialsNEW DELHI — India will conduct weapons tests of its domestic-made Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) in July and August, the defense minister said."LCH certification firing trials with integration of mission sensors such as the electro-optical system, helmet pointing system and weapon systems — air-to-air missiles, turret gun and rockets — are planned during July and August 2016," Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar told parliament Tuesday.Built by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the LCH is a two-engine, 5.5-ton helicopter capable of carrying air-to-air missiles, 20mm guns, unguided rockets, cluster bombs, grenade launchers and anti-radiation missiles.HAL successfully tested the LCH's 70mm rocket in March, checking for system integration, structural integrity, noise and vibration, system functionality and the safe separation of rockets, Parrikar said.The Indian Air Force (IAF) is buying 65 LCH at a cost of $1.4 billion, one HAL source said. The three defense forces have requested a total of 180.Four technology demonstrators are undergoing flight testing, said Gopal Sutar, a HAL spokesman.Designed for anti-tank and anti-infantry roles with a maximum speed of 275 kilometers per hour, the LCH is also capable of high-altitude warfare since its operational ceiling will be 16,000 to 18,000 feet.It is equipped with missile warning systems, anti-missile countermeasures and cockpit displays that are capable of night attacks. It carries a domestically developed gyro-stabilized sighting system comprising a high-performance thermal imager and laser rangefinder, which can detect a tank target up to 4 kilometers.The LCH is also capable of destroying unmanned aerial vehicles, slow-moving aircraft, tanks and armored and infantry combat vehicles.

 

[hardip]

A lot of footage of TD4

indian media talking always like...this tone..


jaise china or pak mythological vale rah me bethe hongey...

 

[WolfPack86]

HAL Light Combat Helicopter

 

[Superdefender]

China does not have a LCH type gunship lolz....

 

[Indx TechStyle]

China does not have a LCH type gunship lolz....

No, they have Z 10.

Please enter a message with at least 30 characters.

 

[Navnit Kundu]

China does not have a LCH type gunship lolz....

They have this light recon helicopter https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbin_Z-19 which can easily be mounted with the kind of weapons our LCH has.

Plus they have a medium attack helicopter https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAIC_Z-10

 

[Superdefender]

So what, can those fly high like LCH?

 

[Superdefender]

So what, can those fly high like LCH?