First flight - Indian HAL LCH Light Combat Helicopter

The HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) is a combat helicopter currently being developed in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for use by the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army

In 2006, HAL announced its plans to build a Light Combat Helicopter. Funds for the design and development of the LCH to meet the requirements of the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force were sanctioned in October 2006. The LCH is a derivative of the HAL Dhruv, which has already been inducted into the Indian armed forces. Using a successful and proven helicopter as the base platform is expected to conserve the project costs for the LCH, which is currently pegged at INR 3.76 Billion

The first prototype of Light combat helicopter completed its first ground run on February 4 Based on the LCHs performance that day, its developers believe that the attack helicopter will be ready to fly soon.The new light chopper is currently undergoing functional tests. HAL has already bagged a firm order to deliver 65 LCH to the IAF and 114 to the Army, company sources said.

The LCH TD-1 made its first flight on 29-03-2010. second flight on 28-04-2010 at 15.30 hrs. HAL has performed the maiden flight of its indigenously designed & developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH). The first Technology Demonstrator (TD-1) of the LCH flew the 20 minute flight from HAL's Helicopter Complex, Bangalore on 29th March 2010. This flight provided an opportunity to carry out low speed, low altitude checks on the various systems on-board. The crew reported that the performance of the helicopter and systems was satisfactory.

The LCH will incorporate a number of stealth features and crash landing gear for better 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 hopes to equip the Indian Air Force with about 65 gunships. The helicopter will be powered by the Shakti engine developed by HAL, in association with Turbomeca of France. The helicopter will be equipped with helmet-mounted targeting systems, electronic warfare systems and advanced weapons systems.
In 2006, HAL selected the M621 cannon incorporated in a Nexter THL 20 turret for the gun armament of the helicopter, operated by a helmet mounted sight. Three prototypes will be built. The second version will be fitted with weaponry before its test flight. The Indian Air Force will be provided with the third prototype for user trials.

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.

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 250kph higher. The two pilots in the LCH sit one behind the other, compared to side-by-side in the Dhruv. So all the flight controls, the hydraulics and the fuel system had to be redesigned for the sleeker, heavily armoured LCH. The LCHs many stealth features also necessitated redesigning the fuselage.

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[utubekhiladi]

@shthug

LOL.. a funny comment from a chinese Asshole

[bapun3004]

Some people shit on their pants after seeing this. It's natural. After all u r our neighbor. It is obvious to envy us. U keep on praising the Chinese as ur family wears "made in china" undergarments.. Some how u have to repay them

[MrMaximumFusion]

Looks like the body of a Cherrokee with the cockpit of an Apache.

[hotcafe808]

L.C.H mean Lanti Chutya Hindustani.... hahahahahahaha :-))))

[straightliner15]

@hotcafe808 aala hu fkber!

[shreyasisro5]

@Antifaith29 Haha the cockpit of LCH is much better than comanche! Observe carefully how the radio waves will bounce off the surface and go elsewhere!! I have a question! What does openness have to do with Radar!

[shreyasisro5]

@guayx2 It is not based on looks from where u can conclude it is stealthy! It is the design look ate how it is designed to make radar waves bounce off the surface and go elsewhere! RAM is used where you cannot make the waves bounce and go else where! Eg- Below the HAL sticker at 0.45 that is the place where radio waves can bounce and reach the radar receiver from where it came as that portion is flat, so we coat that area with highly classified RAM coatings (multiple-layers)

[ajitjacobpanicker]

@Rizwan786PAK all planes look alike and all helicopters look alike coz of the aerodynamic design ...so you should say boeing 747 looks like airbus 320 , so its copied? ..i know you cant think more with a pakistani brain ...its not a fault (lack of knowledge) , but remember before posting on an international site...

[rohitb3]

@Antifaith29

No1 is sayin that it has a 0 RCS. It has a Very Low Rcs.