HAL's Light Utility Helicopter On Display

[zeus]

Hal at the official First flight of LCH (Light Combat Helicopter) also displayed the full scale mockup of the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH); LUH will be replacing current work horse Chetak, Cheetah of Indian Army and Indian Ari force, Requirements put forward by both the forces are around 384 helicopters.

In latest Mock up it seems that HAL is sticking with Conventional Tail rotor instead of shrouded tail rotor which was first displayed in Aero India 2009 model. Aero India model of LUH had shrouded tail rotor which is also known as Fenestron or Fantail in aviation circle. Our Defence expert Rajesh Sharma told idrw.org that it might have been done to keep the construction cost lower and ducted fan tail rotor adds weight to helicopter , LUH is supposed to be a 3 ton helicopter powered by a single HAL/Turbomeca Shakti engine. The aircraft will have a range of up to 500km (270nm) and a 500kg (1,100lb) payload. LUH will be used in Higher Attitude region.

Since these requirements are on urgent basis all 384 helicopters will not be sourced from HAL only, around 187 LUHs (126 for the Army and 61 for the Air Force) initially will be sourced from a foreign vendor, Trials for LUH are been carried out at this moment and participating companies are Euro copter with its AS550 Model, Agusta Westland with AW119 and Russia’s Rosoboron export with Kamov-226.

Recent media reports suggest that AW119 LUH from Agusta Westland has been disqualified from the trails for bring a civilian variant to the competition, and reports of again competition heading for cancellation have been reported due to irregularities by vendor companies.

Please give the article source

HAL’s Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) Mock up emerges idrw.org

 

[IndianArmy]

Wonderful, India is on The run

 

[gowthamraj]

Link doesn't work, however that still does not make sense, because the 197 helicopters meant for that role should be the winner of the LUH competition. One of their roles are recon, but they are also meant for more which the LCH is not. That's why I said, cancelling the competiton for LCH makes no sense, you could only think about a reduction of the number and order LCH instead for recon role only.

sorry for that wrong link

here is the link:
8ak - Indian Defence News

Besides the Indian Air Force, the helicopter has also impressed the Army Aviation Corp who could use it in a surveillance role as they await the Light Observation Helicopter which will be a single engine version for high altitudes. Operational clearance is expected in 2012 with EcoTimes reporting that induction will begin in 2014.

Meanwhile, DNA reported on May 12 that the procurement of 197 reconnaissance & surveillance helicopters meant for Army Aviation may be cancelled.

 

[IndianArmy]

Why does this Look Like dhruv ALH?

 

[gogbot]

Why does this Look Like dhruv ALH?

Because it is essentially the ALH with but smaller and with single engine

 

[DMLA]

sorry for that wrong link

here is the link:
8ak - Indian Defence News

Besides the Indian Air Force, the helicopter has also impressed the Army Aviation Corp who could use it in a surveillance role as they await the Light Observation Helicopter which will be a single engine version for high altitudes. Operational clearance is expected in 2012 with EcoTimes reporting that induction will begin in 2014.

Meanwhile, DNA reported on May 12 that the procurement of 197 reconnaissance & surveillance helicopters meant for Army Aviation may be cancelled.

If you read the above quote, it does not say that LCH will "replace" LUH requirement. The army aviation corps needs LUH replacement which are used in the siachen/ kargil/ northeastern sectors for transport and logistical support. The "interest" being talked about is understood for a long time now!

A march Business standard article stated:

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has said that it needs 65 LCHs; the army wants another 114. If the development programme is not delayed further, the LCH will enter service by 2015-2016. To meet its needs till then, the Ministry of Defence floated a global tender for 22 attack helicopters. With only three companies responding, that tender was cancelled last year.

link: India's Light Combat copter makes first flight

 

[sancho]

sorry for that wrong link

here is the link:
8ak - Indian Defence News

They are talking about 2 unrelated reports here, one that the Forces are impressed of LCH, but the other report was about the LUH competition that could be cancelled because of irregularities by vendor companies (check post #10 from marcos98), so that has nothing to do with LCH.