Jodhpur: The Indian Air Force on Monday got the first batch of indigenously developed light combat helicopter. The induction ceremony began with a sarv dharam prayer.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the induction ceremony of the first indigenously developed light combat helicopter (LCH) in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur today. “The induction of indigenously developed Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) will enhance our capability and will boost defence production. There could not have been a better timing for LCH induction than Navratri and in the land of warriors, Rajasthan,” media rooms quoted Defence minister Rajnath Singh as saying.
The Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), developed by state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), has been primarily designed for deployment in high-altitude regions.
The light combat helicopter over the next several years will be the bedrock of attack helicopter formations in the Indian Army and in the Indian Air Force. The 5.8-tonne twin-engine helicopter has already completed various weapons firing tests, the officials said.
The LCH is equipped with requisite agility, manoeuvrability, extended range, high altitude performance and all-weather combat capability to perform a range of roles including combat search and rescue (CSAR), destruction of enemy air defence (DEAD) and counter-insurgency (CI) operations. 95 of these choppers will go to the Indian Army. Approximately 65 will go to the Indian Air Force as well.