The Indian Air Force (IAF) on October 3 introduced the first batch of indigenous light combat helicopters (LCH) capable of destroying enemy air defense systems.
India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, who attended the inauguration ceremony at the IAF’s Jodhpur base in Rajasthan, India, said the ‘Prachand’ LCH would be a ‘great boost to the IAF’s combat power’.
I will be traveling to Jodhpur, Rajasthan tomorrow, October 3rd, to attend the inauguration of the first domestically developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH). The introduction of these helicopters will greatly boost the IAF’s combat strength. looking forward to it. pic.twitter.com/L3nTfkJx5A
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) October 2, 2022
“LCH is the result of research [and] Two decades of development. And the introduction to the IAF is an important milestone in defense production,” Singh said at the ceremony. India today.
The introduction of LCHs follows the Cabinet Security Committee’s approval in March to procure 15 LCHs at a cost of INR 38.8 billion ($476 million), 10 of which will be for the IAF. , five were for the Indian Army.
Singh said the LCH meets the needs of the Indian Army “in a variety of terrains” because it can “fend off enemies, carry a wide variety of ammunition and deliver to the scene quickly”.
The Prachand LCH is a 5.8-ton, twin-engine helicopter manufactured by state-owned aerospace company Hindustan Aeronautics that can be deployed from an altitude of 5,000 meters (16,400 feet) with a large amount of fuel and armament.
According to the LCH, it can carry out combat search and rescue, destroy enemy air defenses and counterinsurgency operations. local report.
With defensive systems and night-attack capabilities comparable to the advanced light helicopter Dhruv, it can attack slow-moving and remotely-controlled enemy aircraft.
India also commissioned its first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, on 2 September. At 262 meters (860 ft) long and 62 meters (203 ft) high, the ship can carry 1,600 crew and approximately 43,000 tons of cargo. According to the Ministry of Defense, it is the “largest ship in Indian maritime history.”
follow
Aldgra Fredly is a Malaysia-based freelance writer covering Asia Pacific news for The Epoch Times.