LCH is getting ready for a maiden test flight

[LCA Tejas]

New Delhi: India’s first indigenous light combat helicopter (LCH) may embark on its first flight this month.

Being built at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) facility in Bangalore, the LCH completed its first ground run on February 4.

Based on the LCH’s performance that day, its developers believe that the attack helicopter will be ready to fly soon.

“There are some minor issues to be taken care of. Its performance [during the first ground run] was more than satisfactory,” a senior HAL official said.

There have been enough indications that the LCH — to be armed with guns and different types of missiles and rockets — would be inducted in large numbers into the air force and the army by the end of 2011.

Almost 200 of them are expected to be in service with the Indian military.

The ground run, carried out for the first time on February 4, would be repeated regularly in the next few days. During these ground runs, the LCH would be fine-tuned for its first flight.

The LCH was announced in 2006 to meet the operational requirements of both the air force and the army for close air support and anti-infantry and anti-armour roles. It would also work in very high altitudes.

The twin-engine LCH is derived from the HAL’s Dhruv advance light helicopter, which is already in service. The LCH flies on the Shakti engine, which is jointly developed by HAL and Turbomeca of France.

Over the next two years, HAL officials are hopeful of obtaining the final operational clearance for the LCH and starting December 2011, it could be ready for induction.

According to the present design projections, the LCH would be heavily armed — it would carry a 20-mm cannon, four types of missiles (air-to-air, air-to-ground and anti-radiation, and anti-tank), rocket pods, grenade launchers and cluster bombs.

Indigenous attack copter ready for first flight - dnaindia.com

 

[LCA Tejas]

Can anyone share more about this helicopter?

 

[lockh33d]

It has stealth faceting on its fuselage but its wheels kill the overall RCS reading?

 

[LCA Tejas]

The LCH will 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.

 

[LCA Tejas]

Is there any other plans for the HAL such as these when it comes to helicopter? Armed dhruv is one...

 

[unicorn148]

Is there any other plans for the HAL such as these when it comes to helicopter? Armed dhruv is one...

presently HAL is developing three kinds of helicopter
1.HAL Dhruv (armed and transport version)
2.HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH)
3.HAL Light Observation Helicopter (LOH)

 

[LCA Tejas]

presently HAL is developing three kinds of helicopter
1.HAL Dhruv (armed and transport version)
2.HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH)
3.HAL Light Observation Helicopter (LOH)

Wow, Now HAL must build something heavy... after everything Light...

 

[Mister X]

Is there any other plans for the HAL such as these when it comes to helicopter? Armed dhruv is one...

India already have HAL Dhruv's weaponised version called "Dhruv WSI"

 

[LCA Tejas]

now that dhruv looks deadly, dosent it? wow...... India must build heavy choppers.... Regards to HAL

 

[Mister X]

presently HAL is developing three kinds of helicopter
1.HAL Dhruv (armed and transport version)
2.HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH)
3.HAL Light Observation Helicopter (LOH)

Weaponised Dhruv ALH, LCH

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), which has been associated with the tedious and long-drawn process of designing, developing and series-producing the ‘Dhruv’ advanced light helicopter (seven of which have been ordered by Ecuador’s Army), believes that the ‘Dhruv’ 5-tonne multi-role light medium twin-engined design does not represent a zero-sum game, that it is possible to wrap a slim, tandem-seat fuselage around the existing powerplant, transmission and rotor systems of this proven helicopter and derive two distinct derivatives: a light combat helicopter (LCH) optimised for high-altitude warfare; and an armed aeroscout capable of operating in the plains (for operating in tandem with fast-moving mechanised and armoured formations) and over jungle terrain in support of special operations forces and also taking part in combat search-and-rescue operations. Yet, as of now, only the IAF has committed to placing limited firm orders for the LCH, while Army HQ has refused to even examine the LCH’s obvious potential as an armed light observation helicopter (LOH), preferring instead to separately procure single-engined LOHs of an altogether new design of foreign origin. As things now stand, both the IAF and the Army have projected a requirement for 187 LOHs of which the majority will go to the Army. All these will be delivered during the 11th (2007-2012) and 12th (2012-2017) Defence Plans.

The LCH programme took off in early 2003 when the IAF ‘verbally’ pledged Rs3 billion to HAL for designing and developing the helicopter over a 24-month period. The 5.5-tonne, twin-engined LCH at that time was conceptualised as being optimised for all-weather observation and counter-insurgency operations at high altitudes. It will also be armed and equipped with weapons and nose-mounted mission sensors to intercept unmanned aerial vehicles, escort heliborne special operations forces, provide offensive firepower for ground operations urban terrain/built-up areas and for combat search-and-rescue operations, and undertake anti-armour operations. The airframe was to feature a narrow fuselage housing a pilot and a gunner/co-pilot in tandem configuration. The glass cockpit and windshield was required to have armour protection against 12.7mm armour-piercing rounds. Optronic sensors, including a FLIR/thermal imager and laser rangefinder/designator, were to be installed inside a nose-mounted gimballed payload assembly developed by the DRDO’s Dehra Dun-based IRDE facility. The electronic warfare suite was to include a DRDO-developed radar warning receiver, plus chaff/flare dispensers and a missile approach warning system. Things began to move in October 2006 when the MoD released initial R & D funds to HAL and authorised the IAF’s projected procurement request for 65 LCHs. As per present plans, HAL is due to roll out the first of three LCH prototypes early next year, with initial operational clearance being granted by March 2010, and full certification of airworthiness being granted by January 2011, 25 months after the LCH’s first flight.

Though the LCH is derived from the ‘Dhruv’ and will carry the same weapons package now being qualified on board the armed ‘Dhruv’ (that have been ordered by the Army for its projected Combat Aviation Brigade), the IAF has specified a top speed 25kph higher to allow it to run down and kill snooping UAVs if necessary. To make the LCH a survivable platform, HAL is following NATO’s MIL-STD-1290 crashworthiness standard, is designing its own impact absorbing landing gear and will improve on the Dhruv’s ballistic tolerance with up to 100kg of composite-/ceramics-based modular armour, whose positioning is based on an IAF study of the areas most likely to suffer bullet damage. The tandem-seat cockpits will each have twin side-by-side AMLCDs, will be NVG-compatible, will provide NBC protection to the crew, and will have a helmet-mounted targeting system co-developed by HAL and Israel’s Elbit Systems. The LCH will be capable of operating at heights of up to 6,000 metres or 18,000 feet, and will be powered by twin Ardiden 1H (1,200shp TM333-2C2 Shakti) engines co-developed by HAL and Turbomecca. The main and tail rotor blades will be of all-composite construction, with the main rotor blade tips featuring BERP-style sections for increased cruise speed.

The LCH’s armaments suite will comprise a THL-20 chin-mounted turret containing a 20mm Nexter Systems-built M-621 gun firing at a rate of 800 rounds per minute, stub-wing-mounted Forges de Zeebrugge-built LAU-FZ-231 launchers carrying 2.75-inch rockets, MBDA-built Mistral ATAM air-to-air missiles, or the DRDO-developed Nag anti-armour guided-missiles, which will have a maximum engagement range of 6km and will use a nose-mounted millimeter-wave radar for target acquisition-sum-homing. The LCH’s four-axis auto-hover and digital automatic flight control system have been developed in-house, while the Bangalore-based DARE is developing along with EADS the defensive aids suite. DARE has also developed in-house the digital mission computer and pylon interface boxes. The flight control actuator system has been co-developed by HAL and the UK-based APPH.

For the LOH requirements of the Army and IAF, HAL recently proposed a lighter LCH-derived platform powered by a single TM333-2C2 Shakti engine. The LOH will feature a roof-mounted stabilised optronic turret housing an integrated long-range observation system comprising a thermal imager, laser rangefinder and daylight TV.—Prasun K. Sengupta

 

[Laughing Buddha]

Hi All

Can anyone pls tell me how to insert Image?

I have pasted few link of LCH.

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/media...lls/LCH_HAL/HAL+LCH+-+Armament+Model.jpg.html

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/media/AeroIndia2007/Display_Stalls/LCH_HAL/HAL_LCH_13.jpg.html

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/media/AeroIndia2007/Display_Stalls/LCH_HAL/LCH_Front_Cockpit.jpg.html

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/media/AeroIndia2007/Display_Stalls/LCH_HAL/LCH.jpg.html

 

[Srinivas]

Hi All

Can anyone pls tell me how to insert Image?

I have pasted few link of LCH.

HAL LCH - Armament Model [www.bharat-rakshak.com]

HAL_LCH_13.jpg [www.bharat-rakshak.com]

LCH_Front_Cockpit [www.bharat-rakshak.com]

LCH [www.bharat-rakshak.com]

Upload your pics in facebook account and insert the links here it will work i guess.

 

[Hyde]

Hi All

Can anyone pls tell me how to insert Image?

I have pasted few link of LCH.

HAL LCH - Armament Model [www.bharat-rakshak.com]

HAL_LCH_13.jpg [www.bharat-rakshak.com]

LCH_Front_Cockpit [www.bharat-rakshak.com]

LCH [www.bharat-rakshak.com]

remove .html from your links and it should work fine (ending at .jpg)...... or if doesn't work then open that link and right click on that image and click on "Copy Image Location" if using firefox

1 sample is posted below

 

[LCA Tejas]

LCH is going to hit the market with utmost success guys....

 

[sancho]

Wow, Now HAL must build something heavy... after everything Light...

As far as I know, they want to go for a medium class helicopter in the 10t class, comparable to these maybe:

AgustaWestland AW101 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sikorsky S-92 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This size could replace Mi 17 in IAF, but personlly I would like to see a bigger Dhruv around the weight and size of these:

UH-60 Black Hawk - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

NHIndustries NH90 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

to replace especially Sea King and Kamov naval helicopters in IN, but also some older Mi 17 and Dhruv in IAF too. If you have these and LUH in numbers, you could add some real heavy helicopters later.

LCH is going to hit the market with utmost success guys....

Doubtful, because way too many different combat helicopters are already available. For India they will be good, but for exports???