HAL Prachand - Light Combat Helicopter (LCH)

Vijyes

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helina is not ready ...till now

also ia is facing problems in equipping rudra
Nope, it is almost ready. We have test fired Nag recently and it worked fine. Its range however decreased by 25% in 50 degrees Celsius heat. In normal places, it works well. It will take a year or two for induction. But the LCH will also take 2-3 years to be produced in large numbers and to be equipped with various systems
 

S.Balaji

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Nope, it is almost ready. We have test fired Nag recently and it worked fine. Its range however decreased by 25% in 50 degrees Celsius heat. In normal places, it works well. It will take a year or two for induction. But the LCH will also take 2-3 years to be produced in large numbers and to be equipped with various systems
I was at the DRDO defense expo at Chennai last month...the imarat guy said that nag has completed development trials..currently awaiting orders.. reworked seeker hits the target at the range of 3.2 Kms during 12 noon to 1pm ...range during other parts of the day in Rajasthan desert is same as the stated range of 4kms.

RCI mmw is planned to be used in future iterations for terminal phase guidance making nag an all weather potent platform..

Usually for validation of subsystems of a new platform (LCH), done using proven subsystems (eg:- Mistral,) and not in-development systems like Helina.....for eg Astra was tested on mki and not on Tejas.....
 

Prashant12

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Desi combat chopper to begin production; Jaitley to inaugurate unit on Saturday


BENGALURU: Nine months after the Defence Acquisition Committee (DAC) gave its in-principle approval for the procurement of 15 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the army at the cost of Rs 2,911 crore, defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is all set to begin production.

Official sources in HAL confirmed that Defence Minister Arun Jaitley will inaugurate the production line on Saturday. The choppers are being procured under the buy Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured (IDDM) category.

The twin engine LCH is in the 5.8 tonne class featuring narrow fuselage and tandem configuration for pilot and co-pilot weapon system operator. "The raksha mantri (Jaitley) has confirmed his participation on Saturday and he will be launching the production facility at about 6pm on Saturday," a source in the know told TOI.

The chopper has been designed by HAL's Rotary Wing R&D and the basic version has already got the clearance from CEMILAC (Center for Military Airworthiness and Certification). "The helicopter has indigenous state-of-the-art technologies like integrated dynamic system, bearingless Tail Rotor, anti-resonance vibration isolation system, crashworthy landing gear, smart glass cockpit, hinge less main rotor, Armour Protection and stealth features from visual, aural, radar and IR signatures," the official added.





Equipped with 20mm Turret gun, 70 mm Rocket, air-to-air missile and Helmet pointing system, the helicopter can carry out operational roles under extreme weather conditions at different altitudes from sea level, hot weather desert, cold weather and Himalayan altitudes.

The LCH has already demonstrated capability to land and take off from Siachen Range with considerable load, fuel and weapons that are beyond any other combat helicopter.

Jaitley, who is also the finance minister is likely to visit other defence PSUs like BEL and BEML, but sources said those visits are largely to deal with their financial matters.





Besides LCH, Jaitley will also visit the Hawk hanger at HAL. HAL produced its 100th Hawk jet trainer aircraft with designation as Hawk-i (Hawk-India), which the PSU says is its "indigenous role change development programme to convert the jet trainer into a Combat-Ready platform."

Hawk-i, HAL says, is capable of delivering precision munitions including air-to-ground and close combat weapons, self defence capabilities through electronic warfare (EW) systems, digital map generator among other features.
The aircraft is upgraded with indigenously designed avionics hardware, software and system architecture enhancing operational role from a trainer aircraft into a Combat-ready platform.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...on-saturday/articleshow/60208239.cms?from=mdr
 

Vijyes

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Can anyone tell me if LCH uses Indian engines or the same Mecca :shock:(Turbomecca) engines?
 

Vijyes

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Helina Missile test is being readied with a new electromechanical actuators and higher resolution IIR seeker, I just don't know when it will be tested.
They never release any news about helina tests. Even the Rustom-1 test was not released but luckily someone took a photo
 

Vijyes

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My wish is IA/IAF park some LCH and LCA on field near northeastern border ASAP. It will give lizard something more to think about. :daru:
Helicopters are not that effective in scaring anyone, especially in mountain warfare. Helicopter can't even launch missiles and can be taken out by stinger missile quite easily
 

Adioz

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Helicopters are not that effective in scaring anyone, especially in mountain warfare. Helicopter can't even launch missiles and can be taken out by stinger missile quite easily
By your logic, jet fighters are not that effective in plains warfare cause they can be taken out by SAMs quite easily.
Attack helicopters are very effective in mountain warfare. And HELINA, Stinger and Hellfire are missiles. Their mobility provides for the best alternative to tanks. Stingers can be spoofed or avoided altogether by improving deployment patterns. Attack helos are not a stand-alone asset. They are part of a combined formation. And so is the enemy air defence. In a battle between a system of systems, considering a system in isolation is not prudent. Tactics are the most critical part of any engagement.
 

Suryavanshi

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Official sources in HAL confirmed that Defence Minister Arun Jaitley will inaugurate the production line for 15 HAL LCH on Saturday.
LCH,three prototypes together, isn't it cool? By the way what can be It's official name?View attachment 19257
Helina Missile test is being readied with a new electromechanical actuators and higher resolution IIR seeker, I just don't know when it will be tested.

_______________________________________
 

Chinmoy

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By your logic, jet fighters are not that effective in plains warfare cause they can be taken out by SAMs quite easily.
Attack helicopters are very effective in mountain warfare. And HELINA, Stinger and Hellfire are missiles. Their mobility provides for the best alternative to tanks. Stingers can be spoofed or avoided altogether by improving deployment patterns. Attack helos are not a stand-alone asset. They are part of a combined formation. And so is the enemy air defence. In a battle between a system of systems, considering a system in isolation is not prudent. Tactics are the most critical part of any engagement.
And you have forgotten one major point.

By logic, HAL and others are a bunch of fools and buffoons who have invested precious time in tailor making a helo for Himalayan warfare................... :facepalm:
 

Prashant12

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Arun Jaitley inaugurates manufacture of light combat helicopter at HAL

Also, launches upgrade of Hawk jet trainers into combat aircraft


Light combat helicopter designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics. Beyond the current initial order, the Indian Army has committed to ordering 114 LCHs, and the Indian Air Force another 65

On Saturday in Bengaluru, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley underlined the growing capabilities of Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) by inaugurating the production of the indigenous design Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), which HAL has designed, developed and will now manufacture.

On November 7, 2016, the defence ministry had cleared a Rs 2,911-crore procurement of 15 LCHs as a “limited series production” (LSP) order – a little under Rs 200 crore per helicopter. But top HAL sources tell Business Standard the final cost would work out to Rs 231 crore per LCH at 2017-18 prices.

This is less than half the cost of the AH-64E Apache attack helicopters the Indian Air Force (IAF) has bought from Boeing, US. The Apache is more heavily armed and armoured and has the sophisticated Longbow fire control radar. The LCH does not yet have radar, but HAL intends to develop one before mass production begins.

HAL is building the 15 LSP choppers at its Bengaluru helicopter complex. However, the army has committed to ordering 114 LCHs, and the air force another 65, which could be built at an upcoming helicopter production facility in Tumkur.

HAL has custom-designed the 5.8-tonne LCH to provide fire support to the army at mountainous deployment areas on the northern borders, which can be as high as 6,000 metres (almost 20,000 feet).

At these rarefied altitudes, where the shortage of oxygen prevents troops from carrying heavy weapons into battle, the LCH will provide crucial fire support with its 20-millimetre turret gun, 70-millimetre rockets and, to be incorporated later, a guided missile.

“The LCH has demonstrated [the] capability to land and take off from Siachen Range (sic) with considerable load, fuel and weapons that are beyond any other combat helicopter,” stated HAL on Saturday.

Highlighting the LCH’s versatility, HAL stated: “The helicopter can carry out operational roles under extreme weather conditions at different altitudes from sea level, hot weather desert, cold weather and Himalayan altitudes.”

The superb high-altitude performance of the LCH, like that of its precursor in service, the Dhruv advanced light helicopter (ALH), stems from twin Shakti engines, designed for HAL by French helicopter engine maker Turbomeca (now Safran Helicopter Engines), and built in Bengaluru. While the Shakti’s performance at low altitudes is comparable to other engines of its size, it outperforms them significantly at altitudes above 5,000 feet.

The LCH has a narrow fuselage, in which two pilots sit one-behind-the-other in an armoured cockpit that can protect them from small arms firing. Like the Dhruv ALH, on which many of the LCH’s flying technologies were tested, the new attack helicopter has a hinge-less main rotor, a bearing-less tail rotor, integrated dynamic system, crashworthy landing gear and a smart all-glass cockpit.

The LCH’s weapons and sensors were developed and tested on an armed variant of the Dhruv, called the Rudra. HAL’s chairman, T Suvarna Raju, says this evolutionary approach drastically cut down on the LCH’s development time.

The current order does not include a provision for “performance based logistics” (PBL), which constitute an HAL guarantee that a specified percentage of the fleet is available at all times.

As Business Standard reported on March 30 (In a first, HAL assures 75% availability of Dhruv fleet) HAL signed its first PBL contract for the Dhruv, requiring it to position maintenance teams in up to 40 army aviation bases and two maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) hubs in the north and east, from where repair teams could respond to maintenance requests from aviation bases.

Hawk trainer upgrade

Jaitley also inaugurated an HAL-BAE Systems development programme that aims to enhance the Hawk trainer aircraft from an advanced jet trainer (AJT) into a combat-capable platform that “is capable of delivering precise munitions, including air to ground and close combat weapons”, according to HAL.

Unlike most fighter aircraft, including the Tejas, the Hawk cannot fly at supersonic speeds. Yet, there is a need for lower-performance combat aircraft that can fly and manoeuvre in valleys to support army soldiers in an environment where there is no major enemy air threat.

While the IAF has not yet committed to buying the so-called “combatised Hawk”, the presence of Jaitley at the dedication ceremony is significant.

http://www.business-standard.com/ar...-combat-helicopter-at-hal-117082600691_1.html
 
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