The HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) is a multirole
combat helicopter being developed in India by Hindustan Aeronautics
Limited (HAL) for use by the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army.
The
failure of the Russian built Mi-35 to perform satisfactorily in the
high altitude battle zones of Kargil highlighted the requirement of an
attack helicopter specially made for such operations.In
2006, HAL announced its plans to indigenously design and build the
LCH; funds for designing and developing the LCH to meet the requirements
of the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force were sanctioned in October
2006. The helicopter has a maximum weight of 5.5 tonnes, and has a
service ceiling of 6,500 meters.
The LCH is a derivative of the HAL Dhruv, which was inducted into the Indian armed forces. Basing on an existing helicopter is expected to greatly reduce LCH project costs, which is pegged at
3.76 billion.
The Indian Air Force is to acquire 65 LCHs and Indian Army is to acquire 114 LCHs.
The LCH was expected to be ready for the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) by December 2010 with the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) in 2011. However, the revised timeframes for LCH should be ready for induction into IAF by 2012-2013.
The first prototype of LCH completed its first ground run on 4 February 2010.
HAL has a firm order to deliver 65 LCH to the IAF and 114 to the Army. HAL has performed the maiden flight of its LCH on 29 March 2010.
The first LCH Technology Demonstrator (TD-1) flew a 20 minute flight from HAL's Helicopter Complex, Bangalore. It carried out low speed, low altitude checks on the systems on board. The crew reported that the performance of the helicopter and systems were satisfactory.
The third test flight of the LCH was successfully made on 23 May 2010; it fulfilled the desired parameters and allowed for further armed tests to proceed. The second prototype, which has been weaponized, was unveiled at Aero India 2011 in February 2011.
The second LCH prototype (TD-2) featured substantial weight reductions over the earlier TD-1.
Ashok Nayak, chairman of HAL, stated that the project has exceeded human and payload requirements mandated by IAF for the development.Light Combat Helicopter TD-2 achieved its first flight on 28 June 2011.Two more prototypes are under construction to speed up its induction into the Indian Air Force in 2012.
On 1 July 2012, the LCH begin a series of trials near Chennai; amongst other elements, the LCH's air speed measurement system will be trialled and various component stresses gauged measured. The third prototype of the LCH is about to be delivered and is expected to be different from the LCH-1 and LCH-2.
The third prototype is said to be significantly lighter than its predecessors..
The LCH second prototype, TD-2 completed sea level trials conducted in late June to early July 2012. The trials covered helicopter performance, loads measurement, and handling qualities.
LCH
is intended for use in air defense against slow moving aerial targets
(e.g. aircraft and UAVs), Counter Surface Force Operation
(CSFO),destruction of enemy air defence operations, escort to special
heliborne operations (SHBO),
Counter-insurgency operations (COIN), offensive Employment in Urban Warfare, support of combat search and rescue operations (SAR) operations, anti-tank role and scout duties.
It will also be capable of high-altitude warfare (HAW) since its operational ceiling will be 6,000–6,500 metres (20,000–21,300 ft).
General characteristics:
* Crew: 2
* Length: 15.8 m (51ft 8in)
* Rotor diameter: 13.3 m (43 ft 6 in)
* Height: 4.7 m (15 ft 4 in)
* Disc area: 138.9 m² (1472 ft²)
* Empty weight: 2550 kg (5621 lb)
* Loaded weight: 4000 kg (8818 lb)
* Useful load: 2950 kg (6503 lb)
* Max takeoff weight: 5,500 kg (12125 lb)
* Powerplant: 2× HAL/Turbomeca Shakti turboshaft, 900 kW (1200 hp) each
Performance:
* Never exceed speed: 330 km/h (178 knots, 207 mph)
* Maximum speed: 275 km/h (148 knots, 171 mph)
* Cruise speed: 260 km/h (140 knots, 161 mph)
* Range: 550km (297 nm, 342 mi)
* Service ceiling: 6500 m (21,325 ft)
* Rate of climb: 12 m/s (2362 ft/min)
* Disc loading: 39.59 kg/m² (8.23 lb/ft²)
* Power/mass: 327 W/kg (0.198 hp/lb)
Armament:
* Guns: 1× 20 mmM621 cannon on Nexter THL-20 turret
* Rockets: 60/80 mm caliber rockets
* Missiles: air-to-surface, MBDA air-to-air, anti-radiation, and Helina anti-tank missiles
* Bombs: Gravity bombs, cluster bombs, grenade launchers
The LCH is a derivative of the HAL Dhruv, which was inducted into the Indian armed forces. Basing on an existing helicopter is expected to greatly reduce LCH project costs, which is pegged at
3.76 billion.The Indian Air Force is to acquire 65 LCHs and Indian Army is to acquire 114 LCHs.
The LCH was expected to be ready for the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) by December 2010 with the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) in 2011. However, the revised timeframes for LCH should be ready for induction into IAF by 2012-2013.
HAL has a firm order to deliver 65 LCH to the IAF and 114 to the Army. HAL has performed the maiden flight of its LCH on 29 March 2010.
The first LCH Technology Demonstrator (TD-1) flew a 20 minute flight from HAL's Helicopter Complex, Bangalore. It carried out low speed, low altitude checks on the systems on board. The crew reported that the performance of the helicopter and systems were satisfactory.
The third test flight of the LCH was successfully made on 23 May 2010; it fulfilled the desired parameters and allowed for further armed tests to proceed. The second prototype, which has been weaponized, was unveiled at Aero India 2011 in February 2011.
The second LCH prototype (TD-2) featured substantial weight reductions over the earlier TD-1.
Ashok Nayak, chairman of HAL, stated that the project has exceeded human and payload requirements mandated by IAF for the development.Light Combat Helicopter TD-2 achieved its first flight on 28 June 2011.Two more prototypes are under construction to speed up its induction into the Indian Air Force in 2012.
On 1 July 2012, the LCH begin a series of trials near Chennai; amongst other elements, the LCH's air speed measurement system will be trialled and various component stresses gauged measured. The third prototype of the LCH is about to be delivered and is expected to be different from the LCH-1 and LCH-2.
The third prototype is said to be significantly lighter than its predecessors..
The LCH second prototype, TD-2 completed sea level trials conducted in late June to early July 2012. The trials covered helicopter performance, loads measurement, and handling qualities.
Counter-insurgency operations (COIN), offensive Employment in Urban Warfare, support of combat search and rescue operations (SAR) operations, anti-tank role and scout duties.
It will also be capable of high-altitude warfare (HAW) since its operational ceiling will be 6,000–6,500 metres (20,000–21,300 ft).
General characteristics:
* Crew: 2
* Length: 15.8 m (51ft 8in)
* Rotor diameter: 13.3 m (43 ft 6 in)
* Height: 4.7 m (15 ft 4 in)
* Disc area: 138.9 m² (1472 ft²)
* Empty weight: 2550 kg (5621 lb)
* Loaded weight: 4000 kg (8818 lb)
* Useful load: 2950 kg (6503 lb)
* Max takeoff weight: 5,500 kg (12125 lb)
* Powerplant: 2× HAL/Turbomeca Shakti turboshaft, 900 kW (1200 hp) each
Performance:
* Never exceed speed: 330 km/h (178 knots, 207 mph)
* Maximum speed: 275 km/h (148 knots, 171 mph)
* Cruise speed: 260 km/h (140 knots, 161 mph)
* Range: 550km (297 nm, 342 mi)
* Service ceiling: 6500 m (21,325 ft)
* Rate of climb: 12 m/s (2362 ft/min)
* Disc loading: 39.59 kg/m² (8.23 lb/ft²)
* Power/mass: 327 W/kg (0.198 hp/lb)
Armament:
* Guns: 1× 20 mmM621 cannon on Nexter THL-20 turret
* Rockets: 60/80 mm caliber rockets
* Missiles: air-to-surface, MBDA air-to-air, anti-radiation, and Helina anti-tank missiles
* Bombs: Gravity bombs, cluster bombs, grenade launchers
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