HAL LCH| Updates and Discussions

[hkdas]

Rudra is a minor development, since it's a modification of the available version. LCH might have common systems, but is a complete re-design and the first one we do, which explains why they have to re-work the design so often, also that it's far more than a minor development.

by minor modification i mean the modification from the TD1(1st flight) to TD3(20XX) of LCH.

 

[sancho]

by minor modification i mean the modification from the TD1(1st flight) to TD3(20XX) of LCH.

Well, it might look minor for us forumers, but the work behind it surely wasn't a pice of cake. Keep in mind that they have changed the air intake position from TD1 to 2 and now exhaust as it seems, the modified the stubwing at least 3 times if my memory is right, they modified the externals to reduce drag (gun, gears, air intakes, stubwings) and now changed the design of the cockpit windows too. There surely were credible wind tunnel testing, which then resulted in design and production of new parts, apart of the flight testing that we see or read about in the media.

 

[hkdas]

Well, it might look minor for us forumers, but the work behind it surely wasn't a pice of cake. Keep in mind that they have changed the air intake position from TD1 to 2 and now exhaust as it seems, the modified the stubwing at least 3 times if my memory is right, they modified the externals to reduce drag (gun, gears, air intakes, stubwings) and now changed the design of the cockpit windows too. There surely were credible wind tunnel testing, which then resulted in design and production of new parts, apart of the flight testing that we see or read about in the media.

yes i agree with you...

 

[fsayed]

These are India's two recently developed attack-role helicopters .

RUDRA&LCH

First thought always comes in mind is that what is difference between these two .
Second, They both are attack helicopters but which one of them is better than other .
The RUDRA attack helicopter is multirole weaponised DHRUV and the LCH is entirely attack-role helicopter that means LCH have only task and that is to attack and destroy the enemy . The very reason behind it's development .
But is the LCH is superior in attack-role ?

Lets take a look at them .

COMPARISON
1] General Characteristics :- It doesn't look there is much difference other than a major one i.e. Capacity .

RUDRA

Crew: 1 or 2 pilots
Capacity: 12 passengers (14 passengers with high density seating) or 4 stretchers.
Length: 15.87 m (52 ft 0.8 in)
Rotor diameter: 13.20 m (43 ft 3.7 in)
Height: 4.98 m (16 ft 4.06 in)
Disc area: 137 m² (1,472 ft²)
Empty weight: 2,502 kg (5,515 lb)
Useful load: 2,600 kg (5,731 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 5,500 kg (12,125 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × HAL/Turbomeca Shakti turboshafts, 1,000 kW (1,400 shp)
Alternate engine: 2 x Turbomeca TM 333-2B2 turboshaft, 746 kW (1,000 shp) each

LCH

Crew: 2
Length: 15.8 m (51 ft 8 in)
Rotor diameter: 13.3 m (43 ft 6 in)
Height: 4.7 m (15 ft 4 in)
Disc area: 138.9 m² (1,472 ft²)
Empty weight: 2,250 kg[citation needed] (5,975 lb)
Useful load: 3,350 kg[citation needed] (7,410 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 5,800 kg (12,787 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × HAL/Turbomeca Shakti turboshaft, 1,067 kW (1,430 shp) each

The engine provides power is same in both i.e. HAL/Turbomeca Shakti

2] Performance :- Looks like RUDRA have upper hand but mostly same .

3] Armament :- The one very area where importance of LCH should seen more than RUDRA . But still it's the same .

RUDRA
Guns:
1 x 20mm M621 cannon into the Nexter THL-20 chin mounted gun turret (Air-Force & Army version)
Missiles:
8 Helina (Helicopter-launched Nag) Anti-tank guided missiles (planned for Air-Force & Army version)
4 MBDA Mistral short-range Air-to-air missiles (Air-Force & Army version)
4 x 68 mm or 70 mm Rocket Pods (Air-Force & Army version)
2 Torpedoes or Depth charges(Navy version)
2 Anti-ship missiles (Navy version)

LCH
Guns: 1× 20 mmM621 cannon on Nexter THL-20 turret
Rockets: 60/80 mm calibre rockets[21]
Missiles: air-to-surface, MBDA air-to-air, anti-radiation, and Helina anti-tank missiles
Bombs: Gravity bombs, cluster bombs, grenade launchers

The surveillance , imaging , tracking and targeting devices are same .

In fact, RUDRA looks better equipped .

4] Avionics :-
RUDRA
Elbit CoMPASS optoelectronic suite for reconnaissance and target acquisition
SAAB IDAS-3 self-protection suite

The helicopter is fitted with an integrated defensive aids system (IDAS-3) from SAAB, which delivered the system’s components while the aircraft integration was provided by HAL. IDAS-3 utilizes UV missile approach warning sensors, LWS-310 laser warning sensors and RWS-300 radar warning receivers and flare dispensers. Two units are clearly visible on the upper cockpit sides .

70% hardware of these both helicopters are same that may be easier for maintenance but does not gives LCH much of importance .

In the end, there is only one thing to say and that is LCH's final prototype[TD3] yet to be seen and for now only TD1 and TD2 are produced but it is said that there isn't much difference between the latest TD2 and the final prototypes TD3 and TD4 . Hopefully TD4 will emerge as a true attack helicopter .

Guys, hope u like the comparison .
Images from different sources .
More info -
HAL Rudra - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
HAL Light Combat Helicopter - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Superboy]

LCH is scout and light attack like WZ-19 not heavy attack like WZ-10.

 

[Arya Desa]

Such a sexy picture:

 

[Brahma Bull]

LCH TD3 is ready for its flight at 2.30 PM !!
via-Tarmak007

 

[Arya Desa]

LCH is scout and light attack like WZ-19 not heavy attack like WZ-10.

That's why it is called Light Combat Helicopter?

 

[jaiind]

Hal is ready for test flight of LCH TD 3 at 2:30 pm today.

 

[Superboy]

That's why it is called Light Combat Helicopter?

I suppose so.

 

[nomi007]

RUDRA is better

 

[abhi21]

beautiful...

 

[SpArK]

 

[SrNair]

Success LCH and HAL Rudra would create a successful full fledged world class heli industry in our nation.

 

[fsayed]