HAL-built Light Combat Helicopter successfully completes air-to-air weapon trials

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) designed and developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) has successfully carried out air to air missile firing on a moving aerial target. Other weapons on the LCH include a 20mm Turret gun and 70 mm Rockets, the firing trials of which have already been completed last year.

"This is the first time in the country that a helicopter has carried out air to air missile engagement. None of the helicopters with the military services in the country has demonstrated such a capability. With this, LCH has successfully completed all weapon integration tests and is ready for operational induction," Shri R Madhavan, CMD-HAL said in a press release. 

(Image courtesy: Sanjay Simha)

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LCH is the only attack helicopter in the world capable of operating at altitudes as high as Siachen glacier. Designed and developed by Rotary Wing Research & Design Centre (RWRDC) of HAL in response to the operational needs of Indian Armed Forces and its capabilities far exceed that of contemporary attack helicopters of its class.

"During the tests conducted in integrated test range at Chandipur, Odisha recently, Wg Cdr Subash P John, VM (Retd), test pilot, Col Ranjit Chitale, (Retd), Flight Test Engineer from HAL and Gp Capt Rajeev Dubey, test pilot from IAF executed a flawless mission and achieved a direct hit on the aerial target, destroying it completely," statement released by HAL.

Equipped with Helmet mounted sight and a forward-looking infrared sighting system, LCH pilots can now detect and destroy any target without having to turn the helicopter. The fire and forget missile is effective against all types of aerial threat including UAVs and microlight aircraft.

With these types of equipment, the pilots now can launch a missile onto any target without having to turn the helicopter.

Capable of operating from dispersed locations and flying at ultra-low levels, the helicopter can now effectively provide umbrella from aerial threats. Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has accorded approval for procurement of initial batch of 15 LCHs, 10 for IAF and 5 for the Army.

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(With ANI inputs)