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Another major milestone was
by achieved by Indias state
owned Hindustan Aeronautics
Limited (HAL). According to
our sources the HALs flagship
helicopter development program Light Combat
Helicopters (LCH) second
prototype TD-2 (Technology
Demonstrator) achieved its
first flight at 1500hrs IST. This
a major boost for the program as this prototype is
expected to be a weaponized
version. The nature of this test flight is
not yet clear but it is believed
that the helicopter made low
level hover similar to first test
flight of LCH TD-1. The TD-2
also has lots of Indian Army specific inputs like the
revolutionary digital
camouflage. Also the TD-2 is
100kgs lighter than the TD-1.
TD-2 is also equipped with a
fully functional target acquisition and pilots vision
pod a feature which was not
seen in TD-1. Plan to develop an attack
helicopter was finalized in
October 2006 after the design
concept developed by HAL
was approved by the Indian
Army and the Indian Air Force. Need for a modern
attack helicopter platform
was felt by the Indian
military during late 90s when
its attack helicopter fleet
comprising of some 30 Russian Mi-24s and Mi-35s proved to be
useless at high altitude and
lacked sophistication needed
by complex modern wars. It
was decided to develop an
attack helicopter which could fulfill the unique and different
needs of the Army and the
Air force. LCH was designed out of HALs
highly successful multi-role
utility helicopter Dhruv.
Dhruv first entered service in
2002 and since have carried
out its duties in a very successful manner. Dhruv is
also being exported to many
countries. Developing LCH
from Dhruv saved HAL
preciously needed time. So far
the IAF has placed an order of 65 LCHs and the Army has
placed an order of 114.
According to estimates the
LCH should receive its Final
operational clearance by
2013/2014 after which it will enter service. The LCH incorporates stealth
features, ability to perform
night operations and crash
landing gear for high
survivability. The LCH will
have a narrow fuselage, with two crew stations. The LCH is
being designed to fit into an
anti-infantry and anti-armour
role and will be able to
operate at high altitudes
(16,300 feet). HAL will supply the Indian Air Force with 65
and Indian army with 114
gunships. The helicopter is
powered by the HAL/
Turbomeca Shakti turboshaft
engine. The helicopter will be equipped with helmet-
mounted targeting systems,
electronic warfare systems
and advanced weapons
systems. The LCH is to have a glass
cockpit with multifunction
displays, a target acquisition
and designation system with
FLIR, Laser rangefinder and
laser designator. Weapons will be aimed with a helmet
mounted sight and there will
be an electronic warfare suite
with radar warning receiver,
laser warning receiver and a
missile approach warning system. Complete details are still
sketchy but we working on
getting them. The news of
first test flight of TD-1 was
made public first on 2nd April
2010 in http:// www.defenceaviation.com/2010/04/
indias-light-combat-
helicopter.html
by achieved by Indias state
owned Hindustan Aeronautics
Limited (HAL). According to
our sources the HALs flagship
helicopter development program Light Combat
Helicopters (LCH) second
prototype TD-2 (Technology
Demonstrator) achieved its
first flight at 1500hrs IST. This
a major boost for the program as this prototype is
expected to be a weaponized
version. The nature of this test flight is
not yet clear but it is believed
that the helicopter made low
level hover similar to first test
flight of LCH TD-1. The TD-2
also has lots of Indian Army specific inputs like the
revolutionary digital
camouflage. Also the TD-2 is
100kgs lighter than the TD-1.
TD-2 is also equipped with a
fully functional target acquisition and pilots vision
pod a feature which was not
seen in TD-1. Plan to develop an attack
helicopter was finalized in
October 2006 after the design
concept developed by HAL
was approved by the Indian
Army and the Indian Air Force. Need for a modern
attack helicopter platform
was felt by the Indian
military during late 90s when
its attack helicopter fleet
comprising of some 30 Russian Mi-24s and Mi-35s proved to be
useless at high altitude and
lacked sophistication needed
by complex modern wars. It
was decided to develop an
attack helicopter which could fulfill the unique and different
needs of the Army and the
Air force. LCH was designed out of HALs
highly successful multi-role
utility helicopter Dhruv.
Dhruv first entered service in
2002 and since have carried
out its duties in a very successful manner. Dhruv is
also being exported to many
countries. Developing LCH
from Dhruv saved HAL
preciously needed time. So far
the IAF has placed an order of 65 LCHs and the Army has
placed an order of 114.
According to estimates the
LCH should receive its Final
operational clearance by
2013/2014 after which it will enter service. The LCH incorporates stealth
features, ability to perform
night operations and crash
landing gear for high
survivability. The LCH will
have a narrow fuselage, with two crew stations. The LCH is
being designed to fit into an
anti-infantry and anti-armour
role and will be able to
operate at high altitudes
(16,300 feet). HAL will supply the Indian Air Force with 65
and Indian army with 114
gunships. The helicopter is
powered by the HAL/
Turbomeca Shakti turboshaft
engine. The helicopter will be equipped with helmet-
mounted targeting systems,
electronic warfare systems
and advanced weapons
systems. The LCH is to have a glass
cockpit with multifunction
displays, a target acquisition
and designation system with
FLIR, Laser rangefinder and
laser designator. Weapons will be aimed with a helmet
mounted sight and there will
be an electronic warfare suite
with radar warning receiver,
laser warning receiver and a
missile approach warning system. Complete details are still
sketchy but we working on
getting them. The news of
first test flight of TD-1 was
made public first on 2nd April
2010 in http:// www.defenceaviation.com/2010/04/
indias-light-combat-
helicopter.html
