HAL Prachand - Light Combat Helicopter (LCH)

[cobra commando]

Turbomeca will be powering Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)'s Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) with Ardiden 1H1 and Ardiden 1U engine respectively. The new HAL designed Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), a three- ton single-engine aircraft, is still under development. Featuring state-of-the-art technologies, the Ardiden 1 family develops 1,400 shp. The Ardiden 1H1 variant was EASA-certified in 2009 and more than 250 units have already been co-produced, under the 'Shakti' designation, with Hindustan Aeronautics. First bench testing of the Ardiden 1U, the single-engine variant, took place in early December 2014 and first models were delivered to HAL by the end of 2014. EASA type-certification is scheduled for 2017. "Our participation in the LCH and LUH programme builds on our track-record, established since 2003, of cooperating on the Shakti project. We are extremely proud of the continued confidence placed in us by HAL," said Olivier Andriès, Chairman and CEO of Turbomeca.
Turbomeca To Power HAL's LCH, LUH With Ardiden Engines

 

[rahulrds1]

India' LCH(light combat helicopter) under the sun. at aero india 2015

 

[rahulrds1]

Inidia's indigenous Light combat helicopter , LCH cockpit & Display

 

[Defencearts]

I really dig the new skin. Far superior to other skins I have seen. Looks very good!!

 

[cobra commando]

Cold weather trials of India's Light Combat Helicopter were carried out at Air Force Station, Leh early last month. "The trials covered engine starts with internal batteries after overnight cold soak at 3 km altitude and 4.1 km altitude", HAL chairman T. Suvarna Raju has said in a statement. The engine starts were satisfactory in the temperature of minus 18 degree C at 4.1 km, the flights were also carried out to assess high altitude performance and low speed handling, the statement said.

The LCH prototype, TD2 was ferried from Bangalore to Leh and the flight trials were carried out involving customer pilots from Air Force and Army and with the participation of representatives from RCMA (H/c) and DGAQA (H/ c). "Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Technology Demonstrator TD-3 made its maiden flight in November last year and the TD-4 is likely to fly soon. The IOC is expected in the later part of this year and to achieve this we are concentrating on building more prototypes and increase the number of flights to reduce the lead-time for IOC", Raju said.

LIVEFIST: Indian Light Combat Copter Goes Through Cold Tests

 

[Lions Of Punjab]

Plans to build LCH indigenously from 2017-2018 onwards

The production plan for indigenously-built Light Combat Helicopters have been made from 2017-18 onwards, the government said today, adding that they are not a replacement for the ageing fleets of Chetak and Cheetah helicopters.

Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply that the light combat helicopters are being developed by HAL to fulfill the requirement of the army and the air force for a combat helicopter.

"The production plan for LCH has been made from 2017-18 onwards subject to firm order from IAF for limited series production," Singh said.

He said the LCH is not a replacement for ageing fleets of Cheetah and Chetak utility helicopters as the combat helicopter is a 5.5 tonne class twin engine armed aircraft. On the other hand, the Cheetah and Chetak come in the sub-three tonne single engine utility helicopter category.

Singh said a LCH prototype has successfully cleared cold weather trials in high altitudes.

Plans to build LCH indigenously from 2017-2018 onwards | idrw.org

 

[Lions Of Punjab]

Light Combat Helicopter TD-1 and TD-3 at Aero India 2015

 

[ezsasa]

Was going thru MoD annual report 2014-15, it seems they are not expecting LCH induction before 2020.

Excerpt from Annual report:
5.15 Indigenous Procurement: Of late, a conscious decision has been taken to promote indigenous development and procurement of military hardware. The Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) are both at a fairly advanced stage of Design and Development. Induction of these helicopters is projected by 2020.

link : http://mod.nic.in/writereaddata/AR1415.pdf

I was hoping for LCH induction by 2018 atleast, it does not look like that is the case.

 

[SajeevJino]

Was going thru MoD annual report 2014-15, it seems they are not expecting LCH induction before 2020.

Excerpt from Annual report:
5.15 Indigenous Procurement: Of late, a conscious decision has been taken to promote indigenous development and procurement of military hardware. The Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) are both at a fairly advanced stage of Design and Development. Induction of these helicopters is projected by 2020.

link : http://mod.nic.in/writereaddata/AR1415.pdf

I was hoping for LCH induction by 2018 atleast, it does not look like that is the case.

Interesting, First Flight in 2010, two more prototypes within 5 years. Fourth Prototype may be this year or early next year.

Formal induction by 2020 , and we can expect first 10+ LCH in action before 2022.

 

[Pulkit]

Interesting, First Flight in 2010, two more prototypes within 5 years. Fourth Prototype may be this year or early next year.

Formal induction by 2020 , and we can expect first 10+ LCH in action before 2022.

I believe 2020 is the time line for LUH and not for LCH .
2018 appears to be the time line for LCH.

I might be wrong but this is what I have understood based on whatever has been posted on DFI or web

 

[Shaitan]

30!!!!@LurkerBaba

 

[SajeevJino]

Oh yeah New Report .. Limited serial production starts by 2017

The Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) is in an advanced stage of development and undergoing testing at HAL; there are three prototypes that are flying. Approximately 500 flights, of more than 350 flight hours, have been completed on these prototypes towards certification of the platform. The basic platform is proven. The Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) is being targeted by the end of this year, with limited series production being planned in 2016-17 after this.

From
Gopal Sutar,
Chief of Media Communications,
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited,
Bengaluru

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/letters/hal-and-defence-preparedness/article7282988.ece

 

[Khagesh]

India' LCH(light combat helicopter) under the sun. at aero india 2015

Pic has a natural 3D quality to it. Great shot.

Just wish the photographer had removed that irritating banner before the LCH.

 

[SajeevJino]

_________________________________________________

#HAL completes Hot Weather Flight Trials of Light Combat Helicopter at #Jodhpur, a milestone.
________________________________________________________

 

[SajeevJino]

.

It seems those are Mistrals

..

 

[Prashant12]

HAL’s indigenously designed and developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) attained a milestone by successfully completing the hot weather flight trials for a nearly one week at Jodhpur recently. “Test flights were carried out in the temperature range of 39 to 42 degree Celsius. These were done with the involvement of customer pilots from Indian Air Force and Army in presence of representatives from RCMA and DGAQA”, says Mr. T. Suvarana Raju, CMD, HAL.

LCH prototype, TD-3 was ferried from Bengaluru to Jodhpur to achieve the successful trials. The flight testing covered 'temperature survey of engine bay and hydraulic system', 'assessment of performance', 'handling qualities and loads' at different 'all up weights', 'low speed handling' and 'height-velocity diagram establishment'.

LCH had completed cold weather flight testing at Leh in February 2015. Two LCH – one on static and another on flying display- enthralled people at Aero India 2015 held in Bengaluru earlier this year. The LCH is expected to receive Initial Operational Clearance and enter into series production by the end of this year.

About Light Combat Helicopter (LCH): The Light Combat Helicopter is a twin- engine, dedicated combat helicopter of 5.8-ton class designed and developed by HAL to meet the requirements of Indian defence forces. The helicopter is designed to carry out dedicated combat roles such as Air Defence, anti-tank, scout and support combat search /rescue missions.

The indigenous design of the helicopter incorporates advanced technology features for facilitating combat operations and includes a narrow fuselage with tandem seating configuration for Pilot and Co-pilot / Weapon system operator (WSO). It incorporates a number of stealth features such as reduced visual, aural, radar and infra-red signatures and crashworthy landing gear, armour protection for better survivability. The helicopter is powered by two Shakti engines.

 

[Compersion]

do i taste and sense a making of a really good french red wine in india. irrespective we have to continue and develop more and more on our own. all will appreciate (including the wine experts).

 

[abhi_the _gr8_maratha]

http://defencenews.in/defence-news-internal.aspx?id=w5dsX9YkGsY=
.
hot weather trials cleared by td3

 

[tejas warrior]

What happened to TD4.. we are not hearing any news on this.

 

[power_monger]

What happened to TD4.. we are not hearing any news on this.

We might see it july end or september begning.Dont ask me for source. I really dont remember when i read this.