Must Know about HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH)

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Hello Folks, I hope you are applying every inch of hard work and effort to earn the prestigious uniform of the Indian Armed Forces. In this appreciable blog, I am going to profile one of the elite combat helicopters i.e. HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH)

Interesting Features of the HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH):

ROLE

Attack helicopter

COUNTRY

India

CREW

Two (Pilot and Co-Pilot)

ENTRY INTO SERVICE

2013

MAXIMUM SPEED

275 km/h

ROCKETS

Unguided rockets

MISSILES

MBDA air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, anti-radiation missiles and Helina anti-tank guided missiles

BOMBS

Iron bombs, cluster bombs and a grenade launcher

MANUFACTURER

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)

OPERATORS

Indian Army and Indian Air Force

• The Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) was designed and built by Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL). 
• It is an attack helicopter derived from the existing Dhruv helicopter.
• The LCH can be deployed in various roles including tracking slow-moving aerial targets, insurgency, destroying enemy defences, search rescue, anti-tank and scouting. 
• A data link system transmits mission data to mobile platforms and ground stations operating within the network.
• The LCH was developed to meet the requirements of the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army, who have ordered 62 and 114 units respectively.
• The Indian Air Force procured 64 LCHs as part of a $4 billion contract signed with Hindustan Aeronautics in March 2011. 
• The helicopters are armed with Helina missile with an extended range of 7 km, a missile warning system and anti-missile countermeasures.

Design and Development of the HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH):

• The LCH is effective as both, an anti-infantry and anti-armour helicopter. 
• The main and tail rotor diameters of HAL LCH are 13.3 m and 2.05 m respectively. 
• The two-seater craft also has a tricycle crashworthy wheel landing gear and stealth capabilities. 
• The flight controls and hydraulics of Dhruv have been redesigned for the Light Combat Helicopter.
• The HAL unveiled its plan to build the LCH in 2006, and it was approved by the Indian Government in the year of 2007 at a development cost of INR 3.76 billion.
• The prototype LCH helicopter was showcased at the Aero India Show in 2007. 
• It successfully completed a flight test in March 2010, which included low-speed and low-altitude runs.

Armament and Cockpit of the HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH):

• The helicopter is equipped with electronic warfare systems and advanced weapons systems, including a chin-mounted, twin-barrel M621 20 mm cannon on a Nexter THL-20 turret, 70mm rockets, MBDA air-to-air, air-to-surface and anti-radiation missiles, and Helina anti-tank guided missiles. 
• The explosive ordnance includes iron bombs, cluster bombs and grenade launchers.
• The LCH has a glass cockpit accommodating two crew, who sit one behind the other. 
• The cockpit is equipped with multifunction displays, target acquisition and designation systems, and a digital video recorder to capture footage of the battlefield for use in debriefing. 
• A helmet-mounted target system controls the turret guns mounted on the helicopter’s fuselage.

Sensors and Countermeasures of the HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH):

• The LCH is equipped with state-of-the-art sensor suite. 
• It includes a charge-coupled device camera, a forward-looking infra-red camera and a laser designator. 
• The two cameras capture the location and position of enemies, ensuring clear visibility during bad weather conditions. 
• The helicopter is also fitted with radar and laser warning receivers, a missile approach warning system, countermeasure dispensing systems and a missile jammer.

Engine and Performance of the HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH):

• The helicopter is powered by two HAL/Turbomeca Shakti turboshaft engines.
• An engine generates up to 871 kW and can run for up to 3,000 hours without any maintenance. 
• Each engine weighs 205 kg and has an output speed of 21,000 rpm.
• The engine received European Aviation Safety Agency certification in 2007 and features a Full Authority Digital Electronic Control System, which decreases the work of the pilot by automatically counting engine cycles.
• The LCH has a cruise speed of 260 km/h and a max speed of 275 km/hr with a never-exceed speed of helicopter is 330 km/h.
• The LCH can climb at a rate of 12 m/s, and hits its maximum altitude and service ceiling at 2,743 m and 6,500 m.

I hope the article was helpful for all the defense aspirants, if you have any doubt at all or you want to suggest anything then please leave a comment to help you in the least possible time!!

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