Light Combat Helicopter (LCH): Updates & Discussions

[marcos]

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German Anti-Tank Missile Tested for India


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The trials are being conducted to sway the Indian army to buy the weapon -- it would be the first export order for PARS 3LR and only the second customer for the weapon

full article:
German Anti-Tank Missile Tested for India

[jupiter2012]

it's good for anti-PLA,

[SpArK]

Indian Light Combat Helicopter TD-2 successfully tested by HAL

Another major milestone was by achieved by India’s state owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). According to our sources the HAL’s flagship helicopter development program Light Combat Helicopter’s (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 HAL’s 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 LCH’s 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.

Indian Light Combat Helicopter TD-2 successfully tested by HAL | Defence Aviation

[Sancho]

Any new pics of the LCH, other than from Aero India? Just asking because we often see pics of the LCA tests, but LCH mainly when it is presented on the air show. Can't wait to see it with a real weapon package. Btw, Thales presented a new version of the Top Owl HMS, which Samtel produces as well, would be interesting to know if LCH will get this helmet, or even the latest version:

http://www.armyrecognition.com/paris...show_2011.html

[wanids94]

Picture of LCH TD-2
For more pics head over to
Tarmak007 -- A bold blog on Indian defence: Just Loving It! Here Comes LCH TD-2!

[Rudrakx]

India flies its second Light Combat Helicopter prototype

Paris/ New Delhi. India has successfully test flown the second prototype of its indigenous high altitude Light Combat Helicopter (LCH).
HAL Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Ashok Nayak told India Strategic in interviews at the Paris Air Show and New Delhi that the second aircraft was a "considerable improvement" over the first prototype as HAL and DRDO scientists had been able to achieve substantial weight reduction.
"Not only that, the human and weapons payload capacity of the rotorcraft had already been exceeded than the parameters mandated by the Indian Air Force (IAF)."
Although a derivative of the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, the LCH has been re-designed and reconfigured from the beginning to operate literally at the Himalayan heights of 20000 feet (about 6 km). It carries two pilots, one as a weapons operator, in tandem seating. The helicopter is powered by the same Shakti engine that is used by the ALH.
The first helicopter was flown last year, for 20 minutes in the first flight, and the second June 2011-end. The combined hours that the two helicopters, prototype-1 and prototype-2, have done by now are 76.

Mr Nayak said the second prototype was flown to a height of 1.5 km with an All Up Weight (AUW) of 4900 kgs. The parametres successfully tested by HAL test pilots included general handling, slow speed handling, basic Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS) checks, up to 1.5 km altitude and with 60 degree bank turns.

Pictures of the helicopter in flight, with digitally designed camouflage paint, have been made available to India Strategic. Later, radar absorbent coating to increase its stealth features would also be added.

After the basic tests are conducted and all parameters established, the helicopter would progressively be taken to higher altitudes like Leh, Kargil and Siachin as also in the desert climate of Rajasthan.
A few more prototypes and several more tests are scheduled before the LCH gets into the production line and becomes operational in about five years. The initial operational clearance (IOC) is however targeted to be achieved in 2013, Mr Nayak said adding that the IAF is actively involved in all stages of the aircraft testing and system approvals.

IAF has a highly reputed Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) in Bangalore which checks and approves all kinds of aircraft. Test pilots constitute the crème-de-la-crème of any air force, and these daredevils take even the new machines to their extremes before they are put into routine flying operations.

Mr Nayak said that the desired weight of the LCH is 5.5 tonnes. Besides the two pilots, it will have a glass cockpit, gun and rocket pods, air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles to attack and destroy hostile positions high in the mountains like the ones set up intruding Pakistani troops inside India during the 1999 Kargil War.

Suitable applications as are found possible during the testing would be carried out to boost the lethality and survivability of the aircraft.

It may be noted that at present, IAF uses the Soviet vintage Mi 35 combat helicopter. These are being replaced with 22 newer combat helicopters, and the IAF is just about to announce its choice from two contestants, an up-rated Russian Mi 35 and the US Boeing Apache AH 64D with a new generation combat radar. The winner is likely to be the one which, first, qualifies in the Air Staff Qualitative Requirements (ASQR) tests, and second, if both go through that, then the lower bidder in terms of initial price, operating costs and life cycle costs over 40 years.

Notably, some aircraft are much cheaper initially, but need too much of periodic maintenance, thereby reducing the availability of the aircraft – which is critical in war times – and long term expenses.

IAF however has already submitted its decision to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), which is due to announce the winner of this competition any time.

As for operations in 20,000 feet terrain, although some helicopters built by leading foreign companies reach those heights, they are not designed to operate from there as nowhere in the world, there are high altitude battle grounds like Siachin, where helicopters are the lifeline to support the troops against foreign intrusions and attacks.

At present, India operates variants of the French Alouette with very limited load carrying capacity to serve the troops posted in high altitude areas.

The LCH requirement is unique for India, and the IAF accordingly had projected a need for several combat helicopter squadrons to operate from the Himalayan bases. The initial requirement was given as 66 in 2006 but the numbers could well touch 100 once the production line is going in about five years.

Notably, for high altitude operations, a substantial chunk of any aircraft or helicopter has to be made of composite materials and metals like titanium to withstand exposure to extreme temperatures and environment. This makes the machine expensive but enables to operate, and that also with higher payloads from high altitude bases.

[PANDORA]

ALL NEW HAL LCH COMPARISON TABLE

[Nirvana]

An Update On India's Helicopter Programme

The delayed weaponised version of India's ALH Dhruv helicopter, designated Dhruv-WSI will begin a fresh a final round of firing trials next month, starting with its 20-mm turret gun, followed by trials of its 70mm rockets and MBDA Mistral air-to-air missiles in November. Aiming for initial operational clearance (IOC) by December this year, deliveries of the production helicopters are set to happen before March 2012. The weapon systems are currently being ground tested in integrated configuration (IADS).

In October, the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) programme will begin its first off-base trials at sea-level, followed by off-based hot weather and cold weather trials at high altitude in Ladakh. Weapons trials will commence between the hot and cold weather trials. HAL aims to finish flight testing by February 2013. A third prototype/tech demonstrator TD-3 is under fabrication and will soon join the test programme. While no firm orders have yet been placed for the LCH, the IAF (primary customer) has confirmed a requirement of 65 units, while the Army has said it intends to order 114.

After freezing configuration in June 2009 and design in August last year, HAL is now in the process of identifying systems and equipment for its Light Utility Helicopter (LUH). The transmission and rotor system design has been completed, and is fully indigenous. Raising of assembly jigs and fixtures is currently in progress. One ground test vehicle (GTV) and three prototypes of the LUH are planned, with a first prototype flight in 2012 and initial operational clearance by 2014. Apart from servicing a requirement of 187 helicopters from the Army and IAF, HAL expects to sell at least 100 to the civil market.

While the weaponised Dhruv and LCH will be manufactured in existing HAL facilities, greenfield production lines will be built for the LUH and medium-lift Indian Multirole Helicopter (IMRH). For the latter, design and development is yet to begin, as HAL hasn't identified a technology/design partner yet.

Livefist: An Update On India's Helicopter Programmes

[Vritra]

^^^That's the Light Combat AIRCRAFT, mate. This is the Light Combat HELICOPTER thread.

[uptotrix]

^^^That's the Light Combat AIRCRAFT, mate. This is the Light Combat HELICOPTER thread.

oops, my mistake.

[Foxtrot]

The LCH will prove to be very useful in the hilly and jungle terrain of the North-East, ladakh.......it will provide the IA air support in the region......it can be used to neutralize enemy artillery by penetrating behind enemy lines......also the road n rail linkages of the enemy can be devastated by the heli.....it will provide a stealth air platform for the army to eliminate enemy positions specially in hilly regions....

[vstol jockey]

Indian Air Force to get 64 LCH for $1.4 billion | Indian Defence

Old news already posted on March 10.

Pls do not give these helos to IAF. They will end up blowing their own Tanks. They sank an IN Boat off Jamnager in 1971.

[vikas jat]

Pls do not give these helos to IAF. They will end up blowing their own Tanks. They sank an IN Boat off Jamnager in 1971.

but it can be happen in war time sometimes there can be a possibility of misunderstanding and friendly fire can take place ......this also can bhe happened if you gave LCH TO ARMY

[vstol jockey]

but it can be happen in war time sometimes there can be a possibility of misunderstanding and friendly fire can take place ......this also can bhe happened if you gave LCH TO ARMY

IAF is a bunch of bafoons who believe in let someone else die. I as a naval officer did a stint with them and to my shock always found them to be below average. In IN you can just forget to be an executive branch officer if you are not atleast a science graduate. In IAF i have come across many who were graduates in languages.

Bunder kay haath main talwar nahin deni chahiyeh. IAF is full of bafoons.

[vikas jat]

may be its true