HAL LCH| Updates and Discussions

[SR-91]

Old pic of TD2

Nice!!!!!

I'll call it "SLIM SHADEY".

When is TD4 due?

 

[Water Car Engineer]

Nice!!!!!

I'll call it "SLIM SHADEY".

When is TD4 due?

Beginning of 2015...

 

[Abingdonboy]

When is TD4 due?

Beginning of 2015...

Around September/October 2015 according to HAL a few months ago.

 

[Ankit Kumar 001]

Reports suggest the TD4 structure is almost complete. Engines and some other systems have also been installed. Some ground tests will be done in the HAL assembly itself before rolling it out.

 

[SR-91]

Beginning of 2015...

Around September/October 2015 according to HAL a few months ago.

you mean its been flying and we haven't seen it yet

 

[Ankit Kumar 001]

First week of November will be more realistic.
After all the electric and other installations quite a few tests are conducted on the vehicle.

 

[Water Car Engineer]

Reports suggest the TD4 structure is almost complete. Engines and some other systems have also been installed. Some ground tests will be done in the HAL assembly itself before rolling it out.

I've heard those reports way back in 2014-2015, not sure what's taking so long.

 

[Ankit Kumar 001]

Same here sir, but there could be a probability. Remember those reports also mentioned that They will incorporate some improvements suggested by the Army. I think that Army would have suggested something which might be being worked upon.

But it is only a probability. Cannot say about the exact reason.

 

[Perpendicular]

Test, induct and then upgrade them in a scheduled manner via roadmap.

About time HAL should start working on further upgraded design derivative of LCH.

 

[Ind4Ever]

@abingd @PARIKRAMA LCH : The twin-engine ,Double trouble for our enemies

@Areesh @Imran Khan bhai log Dar ayenga kya

 

[knight11]

HAL Completes Hot and High Altitude Trials of LCH at Leh
-First Attack Helicopter to Land at Forward Base

Bangalore. HAL has successfully carried out the hot and the high-altitude trials of the indigenously designed, developed attack chopper Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) at Leh recently.


“These seasonal trials - including cold weather trials carried out at Leh during February this year - have been completed as part of the certification process. The flight trials at Leh have established hover performance and low speed handling characteristics of the helicopter under extreme weather conditions at different altitudes (3200 to 4800 m). During the trials, the helicopter and systems performed satisfactorily," according to Mr T Suvarna Raju, CMD, HAL.


LCH also has proven its capability to land and take off at a Forward Landing Base in Siachen, he said pointing out that LCH is also the first attack helicopter to land at such heights.

The trials were carried out on the third prototype of LCH (TD3) at Leh at the temperatures ranging from 13 to 27 degree centigrade with the participation of user pilots from Air Force, Army and representatives from CEMILAC and DGAQA. Various tests included assessment and validation of flight envelope in ‘Hot-and-High’ conditions, culminating in landing at forward bases at geographic elevations of 13,600 feet to 15,800 feet. These landings and take-offs were demonstrated with reasonable amount of weapon load and fuel.

Challenges at Leh
The upper reaches of the Indus river and its tributaries, Nubra and Shyok are home to the mighty Ladakh and Eastern Karakorum Ranges, with multiple lofty peaks over 25,000 feet and an average ridgeline elevation of 20,000 feet. It is also home to the largest glaciated area outside the Polar Regions and is sometimes called the ‘Third Pole’.

Siachen is the largest glacier here and is central to this region. The area experiences a period of summer during July-August in which temperatures soar to 30 degrees above standard atmosphere conditions. This mix of extreme altitudes and relatively high temperatures (‘Hot-and-High’) saps helicopter performance and as such, a few types of helicopters are able to operate effectively all year around.

LCH Progress
With the extensive trials carried out on three prototypes at Bangalore, sea level at Chennai in November 2013, cold weather at Leh during January/February 2015, hot weather at Jodhpur in July 2015 and hot and high altitude trials at Leh recently, the performance and handling qualities of the helicopter have been established for basic configuration (with EO Pod, Rocket launchers, Turret Gun and Air-to-Air missile launchers). The system functionalities have been assessed and found satisfactory during the trials and long-duration ferry across India.

Further development activities are under progress and the weapon firing trials are planned in the middle of 2016, Mr Raju said.

The advantage of indigenous development of helicopters such as ALH, LCH and LUH at HAL is that the users’ requirement are well captured right from early design stage and are fine-tuned as the project progresses with the involvement of users so that the product complies to the stringent operational requirements at high altitudes (Himalayan and North Eastern terrains).


© India Strategic

 

[Ind4Ever]

HAL Completes Hot and High Altitude Trials of LCH at Leh
-First Attack Helicopter to Land at Forward Base

Bangalore. HAL has successfully carried out the hot and the high-altitude trials of the indigenously designed, developed attack chopper Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) at Leh recently.


“These seasonal trials - including cold weather trials carried out at Leh during February this year - have been completed as part of the certification process. The flight trials at Leh have established hover performance and low speed handling characteristics of the helicopter under extreme weather conditions at different altitudes (3200 to 4800 m). During the trials, the helicopter and systems performed satisfactorily," according to Mr T Suvarna Raju, CMD, HAL.


LCH also has proven its capability to land and take off at a Forward Landing Base in Siachen, he said pointing out that LCH is also the first attack helicopter to land at such heights.

The trials were carried out on the third prototype of LCH (TD3) at Leh at the temperatures ranging from 13 to 27 degree centigrade with the participation of user pilots from Air Force, Army and representatives from CEMILAC and DGAQA. Various tests included assessment and validation of flight envelope in ‘Hot-and-High’ conditions, culminating in landing at forward bases at geographic elevations of 13,600 feet to 15,800 feet. These landings and take-offs were demonstrated with reasonable amount of weapon load and fuel.

Challenges at Leh
The upper reaches of the Indus river and its tributaries, Nubra and Shyok are home to the mighty Ladakh and Eastern Karakorum Ranges, with multiple lofty peaks over 25,000 feet and an average ridgeline elevation of 20,000 feet. It is also home to the largest glaciated area outside the Polar Regions and is sometimes called the ‘Third Pole’.

Siachen is the largest glacier here and is central to this region. The area experiences a period of summer during July-August in which temperatures soar to 30 degrees above standard atmosphere conditions. This mix of extreme altitudes and relatively high temperatures (‘Hot-and-High’) saps helicopter performance and as such, a few types of helicopters are able to operate effectively all year around.

LCH Progress
With the extensive trials carried out on three prototypes at Bangalore, sea level at Chennai in November 2013, cold weather at Leh during January/February 2015, hot weather at Jodhpur in July 2015 and hot and high altitude trials at Leh recently, the performance and handling qualities of the helicopter have been established for basic configuration (with EO Pod, Rocket launchers, Turret Gun and Air-to-Air missile launchers). The system functionalities have been assessed and found satisfactory during the trials and long-duration ferry across India.

Further development activities are under progress and the weapon firing trials are planned in the middle of 2016, Mr Raju said.

The advantage of indigenous development of helicopters such as ALH, LCH and LUH at HAL is that the users’ requirement are well captured right from early design stage and are fine-tuned as the project progresses with the involvement of users so that the product complies to the stringent operational requirements at high altitudes (Himalayan and North Eastern terrains).


© India Strategic

Firing trails only in mid 2016 ... Are we going very slow ? Prototype flying for very long time ? Any idea hoe far we are running behind when compared with chinese or russian ?

 

[ni8mare]

Firing trails only in mid 2016 ... Are we going very slow ? Prototype flying for very long time ? Any idea hoe far we are running behind when compared with chinese or russian ?

too slow ..by now they should have got IOC

 

[Ind4Ever]

too slow ..by now they should have got IOC

Do need to relax our norms for induction ? Like china which could had inducted LCH by now and would had gone for mass production . While keeping the upgrades alive . Best way to gain number amd quality superiority . Our standards are cery high even compared to many western countries.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Do need to relax our norms for induction ? Like china which could had inducted LCH by now and would had gone for mass production . While keeping the upgrades alive . Best way to gain number amd quality superiority . Our standards are cery high even compared to many western countries.

Optimising a design to operate across the entire spectrum of theatres the Indian military operates in from the Thar to Siachin and everything in between is no joke it takes a hell of a lot of time and effort. That the LCA, ALH and LCH all have a perfect flight safety record during development speaks volumes.