HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) has projected an ambitious plan for the development, designing and manufacturing of over 1,500 helicopters in the next 10 years.

A senior HAL Official stated that 100 of those are expected to be advanced light helicopters (ALH), 300 light utility helicopters (LUH) and the remaining 1100 – multi-role helicopters (MRH). $4.4 billion will be invested by HAL in order to expand their manufacturing plants and quicken the execution of orders worth $22 billion.

A prototype of the LUH attracted viewer’s attention at the Aero India show. The three-ton-class helicopter is projected to fulfill both military and civil requirements. The helicopter will also be capable of meeting the Indian Armed forces requirement for 384 reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters which are going to replace the aging Cheetah/Chetak series.

The armed forces have ordered another competition for the RSH program which was called in 2009. The trials of the Russian Ka-226 against the AS550 C3 Fennec have ended and the report is going to be released in a couple of weeks. 197 foreign helicopters and 187 LUHs will be procured in order to fulfill RSH’s requirements.

The LUH is expected to be powered by one Shakti engine which is developed with Safran. The chopper will be capable of delivering speeds up to 120 knots and a service ceiling of 21,300 feet. A 900-pound payload can be transported at approximately 190nm. The complete design of the LUH will be presented by HAL by August and it is expected that the first three will fly in 2013. Mass production of the LUH is scheduled to begin in 2015, at first 10 per year and then gradually increase to 36 year. All of the 187 LUH’s are expected by 2022. The Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), developed by HAL, debuted at the Aero India show and completed 50-60 flying hours. There was also a second LCH which was only a static display.