I just realized that a newly built HAL Dhruv costs the same as a LUH to be purchased from abroad, even assuming 2009 prices (900 million dollars for 197). I'm pretty sure that today the foreign LUH would cost even more. Then why the F do we need the LUHs? Why not use Dhruvs in that role?
Double the production of the Dhruvs, and use a 100 of them to fulfill the LUH role as a stop gap, until HAL LUH gets ready. Heck, even if we dispense with the LUH requirement and use Dhruvs forever for that purpose, it would still be cheaper for us, since we don't spend forex on it. And of course, the Dhruvs are a helluva more capable than LUHs.
This LUH requirement seems an unnecessary purchase, unless it is significantly cheaper than our multirole helicopters. It is like buying reconnaissance UAVs for the same price as a Rafale.
Sorry, I'm not interested in professional clowns. Enjoy your delusions of religious superiority (which has made your country the most desirable on earth).