Exclusive: Light Combat Helicopter

[Mogambo]

Exclusive: Light Combat Helicopter updates

The Certification of the LCH Will Involve Nearly 500 Test Flights Which Are Expected to be Completed in Two Years’

Chairman, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Ashok Nayak

What is the importance of the maiden flight of Light Combat Helicopter (LCH)?

It is fructification of a new product. The design has been proven in this first flight. Given the extent of manoeuvres and the paces that the helicopter went through, it was a successful flight by any standards.

How many more test flights will take place?

The certification of the LCH will involve nearly 500 test flights which are expected to be completed in two years. I am expecting the Initial Operational Certificate (IOC) and the Full Operational Certificate (FOC) for the LCH in this time frame.

Media reports suggest that the weight of the LCH is more than that stipulated in the Air Staff Requirements (ASR). Are these true?

The weight of the LCH has been brought down substantially in the first prototype itself. By the time the third prototype takes place, we expect that the weight, which at present is 250kg more, to be fully compliant with the design parameters. The designers are already working on how to reduce the weight and optimise the machine.

How satisfied are you with the Shakti (called the Ardiden 1H by Turbomeca, is a turbo-shaft helicopter engine jointly developed by India and France, which also powers Dhruv ALH. The first test flight of the Dhruv ALH with the new Shakti engine took place on 16 August 2007) engine that powers the LCH?

The Shakti engine has been successfully tested in the high altitude areas, and the user is satisfied with its performance in the ALH. For this reason, Shakti was chosen for LCH to be a common engine for the two platforms. Needless to add, this gives a lot of advantages to the LCH and ALH.

What commonality does LCH share with ALH?

The commonalities are: transmission system, gearbox, blades, some of the avionics and cockpit layout.

Can you please give a run down on the LCH project since its inception?

The project was sanctioned sometimes in 2006. Right now, the infrastructure for this project is in the existing buildings, but new buildings are coming up adjacent to the helicopter complex in Bangalore. These helicopters will be built in the new buildings that are expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Considering that the LCH is a light helicopter, why is it being called an attack helicopter?

It is an attack helicopter in the 5.5 tonne class. At present it has a canon and a rocket pod. In terms of weapons load, LCH will be armed with anti-tank, air to air, and air to ground missiles.

 

[Mogambo]

‘We Have Shown an Interest in Buying 65 LCHs, but the Final Order Would Depend Upon Whether HAL is Able to Keep its Present Timeline’

Vice Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal P.K. Barbora PVSM, VM, ADC

LCH’s Debut

Very few countries in the world have the capability to produce a platform of this nature. Hence, when Light Combat Aircraft (LCH) took off, my first sentiment was of extreme pride. I was very proud of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and the Defence Research and Development Organisation. LCH is a gradual progression of the capabilities achieved with the production of Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), which, as we all know, took a long time to fructify.

LCH takes the manoeuvrability of the ALH to another level; even when ALH is a highly manoeuvrable helicopter as its Sarang aerobatic team has proved. In several respects, LCH is an offshoot of ALH, with greater manoeuvrability and the capacity to carry weapons. And like any other offshoot, sure it has inherited some of the problems of the ALH, which had and still has a few issues that need to be resolved. I am sure HAL would be working on this and will make the design changes that would be needed to resolve these issues. All in all, one major step has been taken, but it is a long journey ahead. I reckon, if all goes well then HAL should be ready for the IOC and the FOC in two to three years time.

IAF’s Interest

We have shown an interest in buying 65 LCHs. But the final order would depend upon whether HAL is able to keep its present timeline. As I said, there is a long way to go and hence there is no point in placing any orders at the moment. We will do so once we feel that the helicopter meets our Staff Requirements. Earlier LCH was overweight by about 600kg, but by the time of the first prototype flight, they had managed to reduce the weight by about 300kg by substituting metal with composites wherever

possible. They still have to reduce the weight. I don’t know how it will be done, but it has to be done, perhaps by miniaturising whatever is possible. After all, it is a combat helicopter and it has to be able to perform with the full weapon load. We would like to carry rockets, missiles, guns and bombs on it. I am keen that we buy LCH, after all then we will be spending in rupees and not dollars. But if it does not meet our requirements in the time that we want, we may have to go for something else in the interim. Take the example of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). The IAF waited a certain period for the fighter to become operational but when it did not, we had to go for other aircraft to fill our operational voids. I don’t believe that LCH will go the LCA way because LCA is a very complex machine and testing of each parameter takes time. Now that the EADS has been collaborating on testing of the LCA, I am sure that the fighter will become operational soon. But coming back to the LCH, the first flight has shown a lot of promise. Even if it comes 85-90 per cent closer to what we desire, it should be acceptable to us. The IAF is looking at LCH as a mother platform, from which other and better platforms would emerge. This is the reason we are supporting the project.

Roles of LCH

We will employ LCH to not only deliver weapons but also take care of the threat from the air. We would also operate in the high altitude areas in support of the army. For that it has to be able to maintain a power to weight ratio.

 

[Ammyy]

Mogambo khush hua

 

[Adam Gilchrist]

The blades are same in ALH and LCH...arn't the attack helicopters supposed to have stronger blades which gives them protection against AAA?