HAL Light Combat Helicopter
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This article contains information about a scheduled or anticipated future aircraft.
It may contain preliminary or speculative information, and may not reflect the final version of the aircraft.
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| Light Combat Helicopter | |
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| The HAL LCH final design model | |
| Role | Attack helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Hindustan Aeronautics Limited |
| Status | Development |
| Primary users | Indian Air Force Indian Army |
| Developed from | HAL Dhruv |
The HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) is a combat helicopter currently being developed in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd for use by the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army.
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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 starting 2010.[1] 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.[2] HAL has completed development of the phase and it will test fly the helicopter by March 2009, a delay of three months from the initial date of December 2008.[3] 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.[4]
The LCH will incorporate a number of stealth features and crash-worthy landing gear for better survivability. The LCH will have a narrow fuselage, with two crew stations.
The project development cost of LCH is currently pegged at only Rs 376.67 crore since it's basically a derivative of the HAL Dhruv already being inducted into the armed forces. The first prototype's maiden flight in is planned in March 2009, according to HAL LCH should be ready for the initial operational clearance (IOC) by December 2010. With the final operational clearance (FOC) a year or so after that, the newly revised timeframes hold that the 5.5-tonne LCH should be ready for induction into IAF by 2012-2013.[5]
Data from Defense Update[6]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 15.8m (51ft 8in)
- Rotor diameter: 3.55m (11ft 6in)
- Height: 4.7m (15ft 4in)
- Disc area: m² (ft²)
- Empty weight: 2550 kg (5621 lb)
- Loaded weight: 4000 kg (8818 lb)
- Useful load: 2950 kg (6503 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 5,500 kg (12125 lb)
- Powerplant: 2× Shakti turboshafts, 900 kW (1200 hp) each
Performance
- Never exceed speed: 330 km/h (178 knots, 207 mph)
- Maximum speed: 275 km/h (148 knots, 171 mph)
- Cruise speed: 260 km/h (140 knots, 161 mph)
- Range: 700km (297 nm, 342 mi)
- Service ceiling 6400 m (21,300 ft)
- Rate of climb: 12 m/s (2362 ft/min)
- Disc loading: kg/m² (lb/ft²)
- Power/mass: W/kg (hp/lb)
Armament
- Guns: 20 mm gun
- Rockets: Unguided rockets
- Missiles:
- Air-to-surface missiles
- Air-to-air missiles
- Anti-radiation missiles
- Helina ATGM(8)
- Bombs:
Related development
Comparable aircraft
- AH-1 Cobra
- AH-64 Apache
- Denel AH-2 Rooivalk
- Agusta A129 Mangusta
- Eurocopter Tiger
- Kamov Ka-50 Black Shark
- Mil Mi-24 Hind
- Mil Mi-28 Havoc
- WZ-10
Related lists
- ^ Paris Air Show: First flight of HAL`s light combat helicopter in 2008
- ^ "Missile Mirage", Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 1, 2007.
- ^ HAL's Light Combat Helicopter to test-fly by year-end
- ^ Light Combat Helicopter to fly soon
- ^ Indigenous attack chopper to fly in March
- ^ "LCH page on Global Security.org". Retrieved on 2007-04-03.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: HAL Dhruv |
- News Article About LCH
- Photo of HAL LCH mock-up
- Global Security Page
- Light Combat Helicopter will be ready by next year:Baweja
- Video:India unveils high-tech gunship
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