IAF Prachand: Top facts about India’s own Light Combat Helicopter (LCH)

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The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Monday formally inducted the first batch of its indigenously built Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) ‘Prachand’ to boost its combat prowess. Developed by state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, LCH has many similarities with the Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv, said reports.

Here are some important facts

  • LCH Prachand boasts a 5.8-tonne twin-engine primarily designed for deployment in high-altitude areas
  • It is armed with air-to-air missiles, 20 mm turret guns, rocket systems and other weaponry systems
  • This helicopter has some of the best-in-market stealth features, armored-shield systems, and dark-mode attack capability.
  • Its anti-crash landing gear for better survivability among other tech like radar and IR signatures gives it an additional edge
  • Its aviation technologies like glass cockpit and composite airframe are indigenously built
  • LCH Prachand can take down the enemies over an extended range of region. It also has high altitude performance and all-weather combat besides combat search and rescue capability.
  • It can also fare well in destroying enemy air defence and counter-insurgency (CI) operations
  • Notably, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had approved the procurement of 15 LCH Prachand at a cost of Rs 3,887 crore. While 10 helicopters has been inducted into the IAF, five would be reserved for the Indian Army.